Information Can Reduce Fear
Many cancer patients overestimate the threat posed by their disease, in part because the benefits and risks of various treatments are so complex and difficult for doctors to communicate, according to "Fear itself," an article that ran in the Boston Globe on March 10, 2008. Getting the right information to understand their disease is not just the key to making good treatment decisions, researchers say — it is the key to hope. So some researchers and doctors are experimenting with better ways to provide information to patients.
One way to increase communication between doctors and patients is through a treatment plan- a written plan outlining the core elements of planned treatment, including (but not limited to) diagnosis, type and length of treatment(s), and potential side effects. NCCS has been working closely with the American Society of Clinical Oncology to develop templates for treatment plans, treatment summaries, and survivorship care plans.
Related Resources
- Find out why care plans are important and what information they should include.
- Read about comprehensive cancer care, which includes receiving the information you need to make key decisions.
- Learn how to communicate better with your doctor in our publication, "Teamwork: The Cancer Patient's Guide to Talking with Your Doctor."
- Learn about the importance of hope in "You Have the Right to Be Hopeful."
Speak Up to Make a Difference
- Tell your elected members of Congress that coordinated care, which includes care planning to increase communication, is important to you. Simply fill out our online form and your letter will be sent directly to your Congressperson.
- Share your story so that your Survivor Profile may be featured on our site.
- Comment on this article and read what others have said below.
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