Creating Your Cancer Treatment Plan
Your cancer treatment plan outlines, in detail, the path forward for treating your cancer. Establishing a cancer treatment plan with your doctor can be a very involved process that comes with a lot of information. Read on to find out what is involved.
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Where do I start?
It takes a team to treat cancer. You and your healthcare team will work together a lot during your cancer journey, so it is important to develop a strong relationship with them.
To create a cancer care plan, your doctor will first assess the stage and the type of cancer. As part of your plan, you may need to see different specialists. These different healthcare professionals will make up your healthcare team. Together you can efficiently manage your cancer treatment plan and find resources you need to ensure you receive quality cancer care. Here is a list of specialists who may be on your healthcare team:
- Primary care doctor is your "everyday" doctor who you will still see for regular checkups and non-cancer medical issues
- Specialist is a doctor who specializes in one or a few parts of the body. They may have helped diagnose your cancer
- Oncologist is a doctor who specializes in cancer, they help diagnose and treat cancer
- Surgeon is a doctor who performs surgery if the removal of cancerous cells, tissues, or tumors is needed
- Pathologists are specialized doctors who examine your cells and tissues, are responsible for the accuracy of laboratory tests, and provide you and your doctors with information about your tumor to determine what your cancer treatment plan will be
- Radiologists are specialized doctors who read and interpret imaging tests like X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRIs
- Oncology nurse practitioner (also known as an NP) or oncology physician assistant (also known as a PA) can diagnose and treat cancer patients, and may see you with your doctor or independently
- Nurses are a direct point of contact for support and to answer your questions. They are also an important part of putting your cancer treatment plan into action
- Patient/nurse navigators can help you communicate with your healthcare team, set up appointments, and help you get financial, legal, and social support
- Psychiatrists/psychologists help you cope, understand, and manage your feelings, thoughts and concerns. Psychiatrists are doctors that can prescribe medication for your mental health
- Registered dietitian can help you learn what to eat during your cancer treatment
How is my cancer treatment plan created?
Cancer treatment is based on the stage of the cancer, the type of cancer, and the goal of the treatment. The goal of some cancer treatments is to cure cancer. However, it may not be possible to cure every type of cancer, so the goal of cancer treatment can vary and include goals like reducing the spread of cancer, or reducing cancer pain or side effects.
As you start to talk about cancer treatment options with your healthcare team, it is important that you see yourself as a partner in making treatment decisions and planning your care. Asking questions and doing your own research about the possible cancer treatment options can help you better understand your own cancer treatment plan.
Some common ways to treat cancer are:
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Targeted therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Stem cell or bone marrow transplant
Once the type of cancer treatment is determined, your healthcare team can help you start creating a cancer treatment plan. This is a step-by-step process that should reflect your individual cancer journey, including the type and stage of cancer you have, your overall medical condition, and your personal needs. Here is a list of items that should be included in a cancer treatment plan for you:
- Your cancer diagnosis and stage of cancer
- Any test results like X-rays, blood tests, genetic test, or tests that help physicians understand more about the characteristics of a tumor
- Any planned cancer treatments you will receive along with the exact doses that will be given, the schedule for the cancer treatment, and how long the cancer treatment will last
- A schedule that includes the dates and location of the cancer treatments
- Possible side effects of cancer treatments and guidance on how to manage them
- Information on scheduling follow-up visits, tests, and any other appointments you may need
- Contact information for all of the members of your healthcare team
- Access to supportive cancer treatments or therapies that you might need like pain medicine, physical therapy, or medical equipment
- Information on who will be responsible for helping you with your care
- Resources for emotional support, mental health issues, or social concerns
- How to manage your financial concerns
Make sure you understand what is in your cancer treatment plan. There can be a lot of information to digest. If you don’t understand something, ask your healthcare team to explain it to you. It may also help to relay the information back to your physician to ensure you are clear on what is happening. You can even ask your doctor or your oncology nurse to write out your cancer treatment plan. This can help you in your communications with your healthcare team, keep you organized, and may help prepare you for what is ahead.
A cancer treatment plan shows you and your caregivers what path you will be taking in your cancer journey. You may have different specialists and physicians who will be responsible for your care at different times, so it is important to stay organized and informed.