http://community.lls.org/blogs/lls The Official Blog of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:46:34 GMT Clearspace 2.5.5 (http://jivesoftware.com/products/clearspace/) 2008-11-17T17:46:34Z http://community.lls.org/blogs/lls/2008/11/17/healthcare-questions-to-ask-if-you-have-been-diagnosed-with-a-blood-cancer <!-- [DocumentBodyStart:43a3f9c2-5380-4c35-977c-0f4dcd89b2da] --><div class='jive-rendered-content'><p>Hearing the words, “You have cancer” can make you feel like your life has changed in an instant. You may feel worried about making treatment decisions and handling money matters.&nbsp; Many people with cancer say they wish they had more information right from the start. Over time they found that taking an active role in choosing doctors and making other treatment decisions had a positive effect on their health and quality of life.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p>But it can take a while to get your thoughts together. So we offer printable healthcare question guides on many topics (in .pdf format). These will help you get the information you need to be involved in your treatment to look forward to recovery. You can select the topics you want and have these with you when you talk to your doctor and other members of your medical team.&nbsp; </p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Choosing a Specialist</strong></p><ul><li level="1" type="ul"><p><a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/graphics/National/Allquestionsworksheets/QuestionsaboutchoosingaspecialistPS171R.pdf">Questions to ask when you are in a discovery consultation session with a specialist.</a></p></li></ul><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Treatment</strong></p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><ul><li level="1" type="ul"><p><a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/graphics/National/LabInsertFinal.pdf">Questions to ask when discussing lab and/or imaging tests.</a></p></li><li level="1" type="ul"><p><a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/graphics/National/Allquestionsworksheets/QuestionsabouttreatmentPS172R.pdf">Questions to ask when discussing treatment options.</a></p></li><li level="1" type="ul"><p><a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/graphics/National/Allquestionsworksheets/QuestionsabouttreatmentsideeffectsPS173R.pdf">Questions to ask when discussing treatment side effects.</a></p></li><li level="1" type="ul"><p><a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/graphics/National/Allquestionsworksheets/QuestionsabouttakingmedicationsathomePS1711R.pdf">Questions to ask when discussing at-home medications.</a></p></li></ul><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Clinical Trials</strong></p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><ul><li level="1" type="ul"><p><a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/graphics/National/Allquestionsworksheets/QuestionsaboutclinicaltrialsPS176R.pdf">Questions to ask when discussing clinical trials with your oncologist.</a></p></li></ul><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Complementary and Alternative (CAM) Therapies</strong></p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><ul><li level="1" type="ul"><p><a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/graphics/National/Allquestionsworksheets/QuestionsaboutCAMtherapiesPS177R.pdf">Questions to ask when discussing CAM therapies.</a></p></li></ul><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Second Opinion Consultations</strong></p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><ul><li level="1" type="ul"><p><a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/graphics/National/Allquestionsworksheets/QuestionsaboutsecondopinionPS174R.pdf">Questions to ask during a second opinion consultation.</a></p></li><li level="1" type="ul"><p><a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/graphics/National/Allquestionsworksheets/QuestionsaboutyourinsurerandsecondopinionsPS175R.pdf">Questions to ask when discussing second opinion consultations health insurance coverage.</a></p></li></ul><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p>Learn more about the issues surrounding these topics by visiting <a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://www.lls.org/whattoask">www.lls.org/whattoask</a>.</p><p style="min-height: 8pt; height: 8pt; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p>Have questions for us? Contact our Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572 or via our <a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_page?item_id=353528">Contact Us</a> form.</p></div><!-- [DocumentBodyEnd:43a3f9c2-5380-4c35-977c-0f4dcd89b2da] --> newly_diagnosed questions_to_ask_your_doctor choosing_a_specialist cancer_treatment clinical_trials complementary_and_alternative_therapies second_opinion Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:55:55 GMT communityreply@lls.org http://community.lls.org/blogs/lls/2008/11/17/healthcare-questions-to-ask-if-you-have-been-diagnosed-with-a-blood-cancer 2008-11-17T17:55:55Z 1 year, 3 days ago http://community.lls.org/blogs/lls/comment/healthcare-questions-to-ask-if-you-have-been-diagnosed-with-a-blood-cancer http://community.lls.org/blogs/lls/feeds/comments?blogPost=1245