Questions That May Help Avail Better Cancer Care

If you or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, you will likely feel a range of powerful emotions, from shock and confusion to fear and determination. And chances are one of your first questions will be: What’s my treatment plan?

To find out, you first have to choose and meet with an oncologist.

Asking the right questions can help you learn more about your diagnosis and treatment plan which allows you to take an active role in assessing your cancer care. Analyses have shown that people who are well-informed about their disease and therapy options usually have better outcomes and face fewer side effects. So the expert oncologists at Dr. Manoj Dongare have listed below ways that can help you look after your loved ones and improve their cancer care experience. He is one of the best Cancer Surgeons in Pune and has treated more than 5000+ Cancer Patients to date and provides better care with advanced treatments.

1. Educate yourself about cancer therapy and hospital: Cancer treatment varies from person to person based on their condition. So get in touch with your consulting doctor and ask for study material that can help you understand the treatment better. Know what to expect and what needs to be avoided to prevent a situation from worsening. Also, look up the hospital’s website to learn about available cancer treatments
2. Stay organized: File up every paper related to the treatment. Keep your records in one place to avoid chaos in times of emergency. This will also help you track the therapy process.
3. Pin the contacts: Always pin the important information like the doctor’s name, timings, and days (they are available) pinned at a place that is easily accessible to all. This will help others (in your absence) to get medical help without delay.
4. Don’t force your loved one Instead of directing, let patients freely express themselves. Being positive can be difficult for them as a lot goes through their mind that they may not say. So rather than bottling up their feelings, let them know they can freely express their concerns and tensions. This will help in controlling their blood pressure and stress levels which can be helpful during the therapy.
5. Bad days need extra care: If your loved one is being cranky or depressed or showing a range of emotions just be patient. On bad days patients need extra love, care, and attention. Sometimes this response could be due to serious medications that they have been on. On these days, often tell them you love them and help them see good in them.
6. Cancer break is important: When somebody is fighting cancer, the topic becomes inevitable. Somehow or the other it will pop up in your conversations. But take a break from it! For a day or a few hours leave cancer behind and talk about something else like what they want to do at the moment. Shift your focus and spend some quality time. This will relax you both.
7. It’s okay to remember the past: Grieving is also very important. Many people just keep hustling, suppressing uncomfortable emotions like grieving. But if you once let out everything, it will assist you with thinking all the more sensibly. Consider what you can do now and take one day at a time, understanding there will be both good and bad days.
8. Prioritize your responsibilities: While there is no scope for add-on work, you must prioritize your task list every day. Instead of running different errands by yourself just postpone or delegate short tasks to other people. This will allow you to unwind as well. You can also let them do some tasks as it will give them the feeling of being independent and boost their confidence.

Dietary changes are inevitable with any treatment. But before you go for any diet changes you must remember two things:

• No diet can cure cancer
• Every patient is different and has varied needs so before opting for any dietary changes consult your oncologist.

A healthy diet is a balanced diet. You can add lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while limiting the intake of sugar, caffeine, and salt. Completely stop the consumption of alcohol and cigarettes.

The two most common cancer therapies are radiation therapy and chemotherapy. But no therapy is side-effect-free. The side effects of chemotherapy contrast depending on the medication kind, dose, and general health of the patient. While chemotherapy has effects on the entire body, radiation therapy has its effects mainly on the treatment area, though it depends on the total dose, site of the body, technique, etc.

Some typical side effects of the cancer therapy that a patient may experience are:

• Fatigue
• Pain
• Soreness
• Issues with the Digestive System
• Skin Problems
• Weight Variations
• Hair loss

While undergoing the cancer treatment patient and their family’s minds will race through a series of questions related to the do’s and don’ts.

Do’s:

• Regular exercise: This will help you maintain your health. Don’t overdo it as it might drain your energy levels but a moderate regular exercise routine can help you stay healthy and may help you in reducing the impact of the side effects.
• Keep your mind relaxed: Different feelings can trigger while undergoing the therapy but don’t worry yourself. Talk to your loved ones about your thoughts and concerns as it will help you keep your mind calm.
• Consume fruit and vegetables: Have a healthy diet. A healthy diet is the best diet for you as we discussed above.

Don’ts:

• Avoid smoking and avoid being around someone who is smoking by sitting far away from them.
• Give up drinking
• Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. You may get the advantages of vitamin D through moderate sun exposure, but excessive exposure to the sun might increase your risk of developing cancer.
• Avoid foods and beverages that are excessively hot, spicy, fried, preserved, processed, and junk food.
• Reduce stress and sedentary behavior.

Most doctors would love to answer your questions regarding your diagnosis, treatment, etc. Some steps that you can follow to improve the communication are:

• Avoid going alone to your appointment. Take someone along with you who can help ask questions or write down information.
• Don’t hesitate to inquire again if you fail to understand something. Medical methods can be difficult.

Your doctor understands your state of mind and will never want you to refrain from asking any question that may help you adhere to the treatment better. If your doctor avoids taking questions from you or you feel that you lack a connection with him/her, taking a second opinion can help. Cloverleaf Speciality Clinic, Wakad is a group of super-speciality clinics. Dr. Manoj Dongare provides one of the best Cancer treatments in Pune. With the help of state-of-the-art facilities, we can look after our patients. We confirm that we can help the family by doing everything we can. So if you are looking for treatment options or guidance get in touch with our oncologist, they will help you through the process and cancer treatment. If you are at risk of Cancer then you must call 9226022020 / 9881379573 or click on Book an Appointment with our expert today.

Always remember that you might not be able to control cancer but you can always battle it!