AACSN REFERENCE & HELPFUL MATERIALS


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1. Download ABOUT AACSN Trifold
2. Download AACSN Chemotherapy Trifold
3. Download AACSN Radiation Trifold

New Health Information Resource from Tufts for Asian-Language Speakers

The most important things to remember when you have been diagnosed with cancer:

1. Write your questions down. Don't think that any question is too "dumb" to ask, or that you need to ask the same question again and again. Your doctor and nurse (usually specialists in cancer care or "oncology") want you to be "informed", to understand your disease and your treatment.

2. Always bring a family member or friend with you to your doctor's visits and treatments with the oncology nurse. They can make sure that you remember to ask your questions, and they can help to remember and understand the answers. You can bring a tape recorder to record your doctor or nurse's answers.

3. Take care of yourself. Get enough sleep, and try to organize your life to decrease the stress and demands you face every day. Ask your family and friends for help with your children, with your household duties, and with your work responsibilities.

4. Ask your doctor or nurse for the name of a social worker or counselor who works with cancer patients a lot. It oftentimes helps to talk with a professional person about the family, financial, insurance issues and work related stresses that you are concerned about. They can refer you to resources that can help you, or they can do some counseling with you and your family.

5. Ask your nurse for advice about your diet while you are on treatment. Certain treatments can make eating difficult. There are things you and your family can do to help you with your nutrition.

6. Getting cancer treatments, visiting the doctor, having tests performed, can all be very stressful. There is a lot of waiting, and procedures can be uncomfortable. You can bring a tape recorder or CD player. Listen to music or books on tape that you enjoy. Some people like to write or draw during these frequent waiting periods. Bring plenty of water, juices and snacks to help you get through these long stretches. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Some people learn how to do focused relaxation exercises. There are specialists who can teach you how to do self-relaxation exercises so you can tolerate the sometimes-uncomfortable treatments you may experience. Ask the social worker for some recommendations.

7. If you don't like how things are going, if they are not what you expected, or if you don't understand what is being done and why, speak up. Talk with your doctors or nurses. They are very experienced in working with patients with your type of disease and treatment. They want to help you do your very best. They will do their best to answer your questions, to change your medications if necessary, and to make you more comfortable.

8. Finally, be hopeful. You have a great "team" looking out for you. Work WITH them. Take care of yourself. Keep your appointments. Communicate with your doctors and nurses so they understand how you are doing, and what needs to be done to help you do better. Communicate with your family and friends.