Cancer Fighters Thrive is a quarterly print and online magazine bringing readers practical, innovative and inspirational information about cancer treatment and survivorship.
Issue link: http://cancerfightersthrive.epubxp.com/i/197379
SPECIAL FEATURE regi? RECUR BENIGN metastasis RENCE CANCER CELL "I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT LEARNING ALL THE TERMINOLOGY HAS HELPED A GREAT DEAL. ANYTIME I READ SOMETHING ABOUT STAGE IV BREAST CANCER, I AM ABLE TO UNDERSTAND IT, PRINT IT OUT AND DISCUSS IT WITH MY ONCOLOGIST." —COLLEEN LOGAN HOFMEISTER cfthrive.com about [the diagnosis], the more empowered you will feel in your ability to live with it," she explains. She also says that her familiarity with cancer terms has helped her start important discussions with her care team: "I absolutely believe that learning all the terminology has helped a great deal. Anytime I read something about stage IV breast cancer, I am able to understand it, print it out and discuss it with my oncologist." Tap Your Resources Goodwin advises starting with your care team—nurses, doctors and other professionals—to help build a cancer vocabulary. As a patient, she explains, you are not expected to know terminology when frst diagnosed, so she encourages you to ask the experts around you. "This is what we went to school for," Goodwin says of her and her colleagues' medical vocabulary. "Feel free—ask away. That's what we're here for." There is no shame in not knowing these terms, Goodwin says, adding that your providers want to know what you do not understand so that they can better explain things. If you want to learn more vocabulary on your own, Goodwin recommends reviewing your resources with your care team. She says that though there is a wealth of information out there—on the Internet in particular—not all of it is accurate; a med- FOR A FREE PRINT SUBSCRIPTION GO TO CFTHRIVE.COM STAGE ONCO LOGIST ical professional can help you fnd reliable information. As with many aspects of treatment, Colleen recommends turning to your friends for help in building a cancer vocabulary. "I would advise newly diagnosed patients to fnd someone in their circle of support to be the research person." Even if you think you can handle the task yourself, Colleen says that you'll likely have enough on your mind already: "When reeling from the diagnosis and sorting out treatment possibilities, the last thing you need to worry about is cramming as much cancer-related information as possible into your already inundated mind." Winning Words It may be hard to believe that something as complicated as cancer can be made less formidable by something as simple as vocabulary, but expert and patient experience proves that this is indeed the case: By learning key terminology, especially the words used by your providers, you'll be better prepared to take control of your experience and outcome. winter 2013 | cancer fighters thrive 13