Hearing the words “you have cancer” isn’t something we imagine happening to us until it does. All of a sudden we have to become educated about a disease we might know little about, including all the ways to treat it. Not to mention we have to make a plan for handling everyday tasks that used to be simple but will now require extra planning. It’s easy to be overwhelmed and you’re sure to have lots of questions.
We encourage everyone who comes into our office to bring their questions with them. Please don’t be afraid to ask us anything, we are here to make this experience as comfortable as possible.
You’re always free to call us, but we understand the urgent need to find answers to a foreign diagnosis. As we live in the age of the internet and it’s tempting to hop on Google and search for answers, make sure you are using trusted websites.
Here are a few places to start:
RT Answers
This website was created by members of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) to help people understand how radiation oncologists use radiation therapy to safely and effectively treat cancer.
The information on the site is created by physicians and members of the radiation oncology team who are experts in radiation therapy.
Visit RT Answers and search for answers to all your radiation oncology questions.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network
NCNN is an alliance of 28 cancer centers that are committed to providing patient care, research and education. They put together the NCCN Guidelines for Patients and the NCCN Quick Guide to empower people to make informed decisions about their care. They also have created a number of cancer-specific guides.
Check out all of NCCN’s resources.
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a familiar name but do you know about all the resources they offer? They fund and conduct research so they can share expert information to support patients. They have a great section on their website about radiation therapy. From the basics to specific cancer treatments, the information on their website can be very valuable.
Find it all on the American Cancer Society website.
