Tips from Nurses on the Best Ways to Work
with Your Medical Team
The following tips are provided by nurse breast specialists Linda Fiske, RN, MSN, Exempla Lutheran Medical Center; Sandra Walters, RN, Andre Center for Breast Education and Navigation; and Peggy Thomas, RN, Memorial Hospital. Find a competent, caring, and compassionate staff. All offices are busy, but find out how things work. If you know in advance about the office “rules” for returned calls, off-hour calls, and the like, you’ll be better able to work with the system. Get to know the nurses. The oncology nurse can be your best advocate, can answer most of your questions, and will call you back in a timely manner. Let them educate you. You will spend more time with them than you will with the doctor. Use this to your advantage. Be organized. Have a notebook with sections for each doctor. Write down your questions for each doctor, and prioritize your questions to make the best use of your time with the doctor. If you have lots of questions you may need to call the physician’s office and schedule extra time for your appointment. Let them know early in each appointment what is on your mind. Be honest and open even if it is embarrassing at first. Your medical team cannot guess what you need; you have to let them know. Let the staff know how you are feeling emotionally and physically. Report all symptoms to your doctor. Use “I” statements to communicate, such as “I feel, I think, I need.” Communicate in a positive mode. Be courteous and respectful and expect the same from them. Let them know if you feel you are not “on the same page” with them or not getting what you need. Express your appreciation if you’re pleased with the communication and care you’re receiving. Never be afraid to ask questions. You can’t ask a question too many times. If you don’t understand something you’ve been given to read or that you are told, ask for an explanation. Bring a friend or family member with you to appointments, because two sets of ears are better than one. Always have a paper and pen with you so you can write down your questions and answers. It may even be helpful to bring a tape recorder so that you can review the discussion when you get home. Keep a list of recent tests and where they were done, a list of all your medications and allergies, and a list of contact information for your pharmacist and other healthcare professionals on your team. Provide each doctor with information on your health history and lifestyle, including the use of over-the-counter supplements and complementary medical care. Get and keep copies of all of your films and reports, and take them to each appointment. If you are very comfortable with your doctor, don’t feel like you have to get a second opinion, but it is always okay to request a second opinion. Your Primary Care Physician can be very helpful in referring you to experienced specialists, but the choice of doctors and treatments is yours. You don’t have to accept any recommendation you are not comfortable with. Your doctor should always be on your side if you are seeking the best standard-of-care treatment from physicians who specialize in breast cancer treatment. You are an important part of your medical team. The doctors will treat the disease, but they should treat you as a whole person, because you are not your disease. You are in charge of your health and your life. Remember that the rest of your medical team works for you! See out a nurse who specializes in breast cancer and understands the complexities of a breast cancer diagnosis. These nurses act as educators and coordinators in addition to the medical team and may be available through hospital systems, usually the breast center. You can also go to www.andrecenter.org, a non-profit community outreach program, to find out more about how a nurse specializing in breast cancer can be helpful to you. |
CWCCI Community GroupsCommunity groups have been formed to promote breast and cervical health in each of the five state regions of the Women's Wellness Connection (WWC). For more information on the WWC, call the Community Coordinator near you. BJ Boucher Pam Chavez Maria Cuthbert Lupe Harbison Mary Kuhn Olivia Martinez Bev Reddick-Jenkins Marcia van de Boogaard Matilda Velasquez Tammy Westerman
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Colorado Breast Cancer Task ForceThis task force of the Colorado Cancer Coalition meets on the second Wednesday of the month, 8:00 to 9:30 a.m., at the American Cancer Society office in Denver. Meetings are open to everyone. Conference call access is available across the state. For more information, visit the Colorado Cancer Coalition website: |
