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REFER A PATIENT
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Frequently Asked Questions for Patients
There are many questions and issues that follow a diagnosis of cancer. In addition to understanding the type of cancer you have and the treatment you will need, you may have questions about your health care team, other medical services, how to find your way around Stanford, and availability of support services for you and your family, including financial assistance. Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
Understanding the kind of cancer you have, the treatment options that might be available, and what to expect when treatment begins can be confusing and overwhelming. It is important to have reliable information to help you make decisions that are right for you. We encourage you to write down your questions and discuss them with your health care team.
Health information can be found on the internet and in libraries. The medical librarians and specially trained volunteers at the Stanford Health Library can help you find materials that offer a solid foundation of evidence-based information. They can help you check out a book or e-book concerning a specific diagnosis, condition or issue such as coping, caregiving, pain management and nutrition. The Stanford Health Library has access to many resources that are not available to the general public and they will conduct a comprehensive literature search to answer your specific questions. The librarian or a volunteer can deliver the results of your search to you in the hospital or during a clinic appointment.
Stop by, call, or email your questions
Stanford Cancer Center
1st floor near the café
Phone: 650-736-1713
Online resources
A wide range of information is available on the internet. Below is
a list of some websites that patients and their personal caregivers
have found especially useful. This is not an exhaustive list but may
be helpful in your search for information.
Stanford Health Care
Our website has a primer on cancer, including information about the broad range of services available within the Stanford Cancer Center and at Stanford Health Care.
MedlinePlus
The National Institute of Health's website for information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues. It includes a medical dictionary, videos and illustrations. There are links to the most recent medical research, and information about clinical trials.
Cancer.Net
Provides timely, comprehensive, oncologist-approved information from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), with support from the Conquer Cancer Foundation. This site provides expertise and resources to help patients and loved ones make informed health care decisions.
Cancer.gov
Carries a wide range of information about cancer, treatment, coping, and causes as well as complementary and alternative medicines. It is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, part of the NIH. Information is also available at 1-800-4CANCER.
NCCN.org
National Comprehensive Cancer Network is a research alliance of industry drug developers and academic institutes. It supports preclinical, translational and clinical research at the NCCN Member Institutions. The primary goals are to improve quality of life for patients and reduce cancer-related deaths by advancing cancer therapies through research.
Cancer.org
The American Cancer Society (ACS) website. ACS is a national, non-for-profit, voluntary health organization. It conducts and funds cancer research while providing cancer information to the public: patients, families and health care providers. ACS operates a Cancer Information Helpline (1-800-227-2345).
NCCAM.NIH.GOV
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine is part of the NIH. It provides information and research about clinical trials, herbs, supplements, products, health information and Complementary and Alternative Medicine training.
We know that it may be hard to remember everything the doctor tells you during your appointments. It can be helpful to bring a family member or friend along with you to your appointment.
You might also find it is useful to record the discussion, especially if you cannot bring someone with you, as a lot of information will be covered during the appointment. If you want to record the discussion, make sure you bring a recording device that you know how to use, like a tape recorder or a cell phone. Tell your doctor you would like to record the discussion and the doctor will let you know the best time to start recording.
Patients and families find it is extremely useful to bring a list of questions to appointments. The Cancer.net website has a list of questions that might be a useful guide when you are preparing questions for your health care team. Rank your questions in order of importance and, when you meet with your doctor, begin with the most important ones. If there isn’t enough time to have all of your questions answered during the appointment, ask your doctor who you can speak with to get your other questions answered.
You may want someone with you at your appointment, to help you ask questions, understand answers or provide emotional support. We encourage you to bring a family member or friend with you. You will hear a lot of information during the appointment, and your family member or friend may be able to help you remember what the doctor says. They may also help explain other considerations (i.e., cultural issues, religious customs, financial needs, transportation) to your health care team.
Stanford provides professional interpreters who can assist you in understanding your cancer diagnosis and treatment plan and help you ask your health care team questions. For example, patients often have questions about other medicines they take, or about side effects of treatment and which foods may not work well with their medicines. Family members and friends may assist, but medical terms are sometimes more easily explained if a professional interpreter works with you, your family and your doctor.
If you would like to have an interpreter at your appointment, please let the staff who schedules your appointment know, and tell them your preferred language. Learn more information about Interpreter Services or call 650-723-6940.
The Stanford Health Library can do searches for you in other languages: Stanford Health Library's multilingual collection.
The physicians and staff at Stanford are world class and they are committed to providing personalized care. Please share your health and treatment concerns with your doctor and, when necessary, request that adjustments be made to better meet your needs.
Your opinions and reactions are always welcomed and respected as an essential part of your care. Expressing your concerns about the management of your healthcare will not adversely affect your care at Stanford. Transferring your care to another doctor can be arranged, although in some treatment areas, doctors work as a team, so excluding or including a particular doctor may be challenging.
If you prefer to discuss these issues with someone other than your doctor, you can meet with your Multidisciplinary Care Coordinator (MCC) or your Cancer Care Program (CCP) Manager. A member of your health care team or someone at your clinic's front desk can provide their contact information.
"Staging" describes the extent or severity of a person's cancer. Physical exams, imaging procedures, laboratory tests, pathology reports, and surgical reports provide information to determine the stage of a cancer. Staging is important because it helps the doctor plan appropriate treatment. Learn more about staging from Cancer.gov.
Cancer treatment may change your appetite and the way that food tastes to you. It can change the chemistry in your mouth – more or less saliva, sore gums, dry mouth, and tooth health/decay. It may make your gums sensitive, altering your ability to eat and to get the nutrition that you need. These are some of the reasons it is important that you have your teeth checked by a dentist before, during and after your cancer treatment.
We know that cancer is a scary word. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, it is important to know what to expect and what can be done to reduce your fear, stress and anxiety. Many resources, available at Stanford, in the community and on the internet, are available to help you and your family to understand and cope. Ask your health care team or the Stanford Health Library to help you identify resources that may be most useful to you and your family/personal caregiver. They may be able to recommend a variety of services, including a support group, a professional therapist, an exercise or stress-reducing class, and online resources.
A support group is a group of people who have a similar diagnosis, experience and/or concerns. These group meetings, facilitated by a trained professional (e.g., a social worker, a psychologist, or another medical practitioner), encourage the attendees to offer emotional support, advice, and encouragement to each other. Support groups can address a variety of topics, including active treatment, side effects, coping, caregiving, living life after treatment, and many other relevant matters.
Visit the Stanford Health Library and ask for suggestions for support services or contact the Stanford Health Care Social Work and Case Management Department at 650-723-5091.
Some of our patients and families have found the sites below helpful. We offer these as a starting point in your research.
American Cancer Society
The Cancer Survivors Network is a free online program created by and for people with cancer and their families.
I Can Cope is a free online educational
program of self-paced classes for people facing cancer and for their
families and friends, which can be taken at any time. Topics range
from managing treatments and side effects; healthy eating during and
after treatment; communicating with family and friends; finding
resources and more.
Cancer Support Community
The Cancer Support Community provides support, education and hope to people affected by cancer. Featured programs include a cancer support helpline, live chat, distress screening, and online cancer support groups.
Cancer CAREpoint
Cancer CAREpoint offers a convenient, welcoming environment for patients and their families and caregivers to come for help through the cancer journey. Information about cancer, treatments, side effects, prevention and support groups is available. You can request a one-on-one private consultation, free of charge.
While no two patients are exactly alike and responses to treatment and related issues may differ, getting support from someone else who has “walked the walk” can be very helpful, comforting and encouraging. In some areas, we have a formal Peer to Peer support program or support group. If you are interested, please ask your doctor or nurse if these resources are available to you.
MyHealth is a free internet service available to all Stanford Health Care patients. It gives you secure, anytime access to your health information and to your Stanford team. MyHealth enables you to schedule many appointments, keep track of your office visits, view or update your health record, see and keep track of your lab results, communicate with your health care team and pay your bill.
You can sign up for myHealth during your next clinic visit or online any time through the myHealth website and selecting Request an Account. If you experience a problem with myHealth, please visit the myHealth Service Desk or call 1-866-367-0758.
An Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD) is an important written legal document in which you designate another person (your "agent") to make health care decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself. The AHCD allows you to give instructions to your agent about your wishes for your health care. If you haven't already completed an AHCD, you may be asked to complete one, or you can request one from your physician, social worker or your spiritual care advisor. Printed copies in English and Spanish are available in the Stanford Health Library at the Cancer Center, and you can find a copy in a number of languages at iha4health.org.