talking with health professionals

• It may help to take a family member or friend with you when you go to see your doctor. Afterwards, they can help you to remember what has been said.
  
  
• Take a pen and paper with you. You could make some notes during your meeting, or ask your companion to make the notes, while you listen and ask questions. You can also request a copy of 'Your Treatment Diary' where you can ask for key information to be written down for you.
  
  
• You could ask your doctor if you may make a tape recording of your meeting. You would then be able to listen to it later, and share it with your family.
  
  
• Don't be afraid to tell your doctor if you don't understand. If you don't say anything, s/he'll carry on explaining things in exactly the same way and will never realise there is a problem.
  
  
• You can help your doctor by telling them what they can do to make things clearer.

For example you could ask them to…

- repeat what they've said, or

- speak more slowly, or

- use different words.

• You can also help your doctor by saying how much information you want… and what you need to know.

You could say something like… "I think you've told me enough about the type of cancer I have, but what I'm really worried about is what my life will be like after my operation. Could you tell me more about what things I will and won't be able to do?"

• Feel free to ask for more information, if you think you haven't been given enough.
  
  
• You might like to ask your doctor for some written information that you can take away and read later.
  
  
• Remember your rights as a patient. You have a right to as much information as you need, before you agree to a particular procedure or treatment.
  
  
• Ask your doctor who you can speak to if you have more questions later on.
  Try to get the names and contact details of people who may be able to help you.
  
  
• For those whose first language is not English, the health care team can arrange an interpreter to help. An interpreter will translate the conversations the patient has with his/her doctors, nurses and other carers. Please ask if you need this service.
  
  
• Don't see your doctor as the only source of information - talk with the rest of your health care team, too.

It may seem natural to see your doctor as the source of information about your cancer and treatment. After all, s/he is the one who has given you your diagnosis and discussed the treatment options with you.

But your doctor is just one person in the health care team, and there are other people who are also able to help.

For example, clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) are trained to help people to cope with cancer and its symptoms. Some specialise in helping patients with a particular type of cancer, and you may be offered the support of a CNS from diagnosis onwards. For example, CNSs work as breast care nurses, as bowel cancer nurses… and so on. Some specialise in giving chemotherapy treatment.

Your nurse can tell you a great deal about your illness and treatment. S/he will be able to explain some of the things your doctor may have said to you, that you didn't understand.

Others in the health care team - radiographers, speech and language therapists, dieticians and physiotherapists, for instance - will be able to give you information on particular aspects of your disease, its treatments and after effects.

Please think of everyone in your team as a possible source of information and support. They are all here to help you.