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You are here: Home1 / Resources2 / Taking Charge of Your Care

Taking Charge of Your Care

The Know Yourself Worksheet helps patients prepare for a visit to their doctor and discuss their preferences with their family and health care team.

Essential Questions to Ask Your Doctor:

  • What information do I need to help me make a decision about treatment?
  • What information do you use to make treatment recommendations for me?
  • What are your realistic goals for my treatment?
  • What are the chances that I can be cured?
  • What are my chances of a long-term response with good quality of life?
  • Are there clinical trials available to me?
  • How will I feel during treatment? Will I be able to work?
  • Take care of my family? Travel? Be around young children?
  • What help will I need in managing the side effects of treatment? When and for how long?
  • Should I consider a second opinion regarding my diagnosis and treatment?
  • Are there different approaches to treating my kind of cancer?

The worksheet explores:

  • Hopes and goals about diagnosis and prognosis
  • Personal goals and milestones
  • Quality of life during and after treatment
  • Impact of disease and side-effects
  • Other concerns

Order the Take Charge Toolkit with Essential Questions in our online store for FREE and take it with you to your next appointment.

Download the Essential Questions PDF Order the Free Take Charge Toolkit

Use these prompts to help you prepare for your doctor’s visit and discuss your wishes with your physician and your family.

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Be Your Own Advocate

Ask Your Physician About Care Planning

Will you give me a written or electronic plan that summarizes our discussion, my treatment choices, and advice for managing treatment and side effects?

Teamwork: Start a Conversation

For more about talking to your oncologist and other medical professionals, check out our publication “Teamwork: The Cancer Patient’s Guide to Talking With Your Doctor” online or order a low-cost copy from our store.

What is cancer care planning?
Learn about best practices, sample templates, and more.

Ask Questions, Start a Conversation

Get the most out of your cancer care–learn effective ways to communicate with your doctor. Get the information you need to make decisions about your treatment that are right for you.

Essential Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Health Care Professionals:

If you are a health care professional and would like bulk quantities of the Take Charge Toolkit with Essential Questions, please visit our online store.

“The Essential Questions” © 2013, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced, displayed, modified, or distributed without the express prior written permission of NCCS. For permission, contact info@canceradvocacy.org.

Resources

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Latest News

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NCCS, Cancer Groups Urge CMS to Withdraw Most Favored Nation (MFN) Medicare Part B Rule That Will Harm Patients and Reduce Access to Care

December 22, 2020
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) joined other member organizations…
Read more
https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/HHS-Humphrey-bldg-1200.jpg 600 1200 NCCS Staff https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NCCA-Logo.png NCCS Staff2020-12-22 20:27:262021-01-04 21:38:15NCCS, Cancer Groups Urge CMS to Withdraw Most Favored Nation (MFN) Medicare Part B Rule That Will Harm Patients and Reduce Access to Care
NCCS Letter to HHS

NCCS Letter to HHS: Proposed Regulatory Review Rule Would Create Unnecessary Uncertainty for Patients

December 9, 2020
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) recently submitted comments…
Read more
https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/HHS-Humphrey-bldg-1200-1030x515-1.jpg 515 1030 NCCS Staff https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NCCA-Logo.png NCCS Staff2020-12-09 17:30:502020-12-10 08:22:55NCCS Letter to HHS: Proposed Regulatory Review Rule Would Create Unnecessary Uncertainty for Patients
HHS Humphrey bldg 1200

NCCS Opposes Most Favored Nation (MFN) Rule: New Medicare Part B Drug Payment Model Will Harm Patients

December 3, 2020
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) opposes the Most Favored Nation…
Read more
https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/HHS-Humphrey-bldg-1200.jpg 600 1200 NCCS Staff https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NCCA-Logo.png NCCS Staff2020-12-03 21:26:462020-12-03 21:28:06NCCS Opposes Most Favored Nation (MFN) Rule: New Medicare Part B Drug Payment Model Will Harm Patients

Take Action

Stovall Award

The Ellen L. Stovall Award for Innovation in Patient-Centered Cancer Care is a unique opportunity for patients and survivors to recognize pioneers who are transforming the cancer care system.

Join CPAT

The NCCS Cancer Policy & Advocacy Team (CPAT) is a program for survivors and caregivers to learn about pressing policy issues that affect quality cancer care in order to be engaged as advocates in public policy around the needs of cancer survivors.

Share Your Story

NCCS represents the millions of Americans who share a common experience – the survivorship experience – living with, through and beyond a cancer diagnosis.

STAY CONNECTED

Together we can improve cancer care for survivors! Sign up to be the first to know about cancer policy issues and ways to take action

  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Our History
    • Our Leadership
      • Policy Advisors
    • Employment
    • Partnerships
    • Financial Information
  • Policy
    • Quality Cancer Care
    • Access to Care
    • Health Equity
    • Redefining Functional Status (RFS)
    • 2020 State of Cancer Survivorship Survey
    • Cancer Care Planning and Communications Act (CCPCA)
  • Get Involved
    • What is Advocacy?
    • Cancer Policy and Advocacy Team (CPAT)
    • Elevating Survivorship
    • Survivor Stories
    • Cancerversary
    • State Based Cancer Advocacy
  • Resources
    • Survivorship Checklist
    • Cancer Survival Toolbox
    • Telehealth
    • Publications
      • Talking With Your Doctor
      • Self Advocacy
      • Employment Rights
      • Remaining Hopeful
    • Taking Charge of Your Care
    • Care Planning for Cancer Survivors
    • Tools For Care Providers
    • COVID-19 Resources for Cancer Survivors
    • Order Our Resources
  • News
    • Cancer Convos Podcast
  • Events
    • Ellen L. Stovall Award
      • 2020 Stovall Awards
      • Honorees
      • Sponsors
      • Committees
      • Reception
      • Nominations
    • Cancer Policy Roundtable
      • Fall 2020 Cancer Policy Roundtable
      • Spring 2020 Cancer Policy Roundtable
    • Cancer Policy and Advocacy Team (CPAT) Symposium 2020
    • Webinars
  • Contact Us

National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
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877-NCCS-YES  |  info@canceradvocacy.org
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National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, NCCS, Cancer Survival Toolbox, and related Logos are registered in the United States as trademarks of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.

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Harmar Brereton, MD

Founder
Northeast Regional Cancer Institute

 

“Perhaps one of the most impactful collaborations in Dr. Brereton’s extraordinary career remains his early work and long friendship with Ellen Stovall. Through him, and in turn through the thousands of lives he has touched, Ellen’s work continues, and her mission lives on.”

—Karen M. Saunders
President, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute