Counseling is working with a mental health professional to cope with the challenges that come with a cancer diagnosis. Counseling can help you understand your feelings and reactions, and it provides a safe place to talk about your worries.
A counselor cannot always solve your problems. But they can provide a helpful, outside viewpoint and they are trained to help you deal with difficult situations.
Watch the "Moving Forward" video series for young adults, adapted from this content.
Having cancer as a young adult or teenager is very different from having it as a child or later in life. Getting a diagnosis and treatment can be challenging for many reasons. For example:
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a U.S. federal health care law. It was passed in March 2010 and changed many rules about health insurance in the United States.
Talking about your financial concerns with others can be difficult, especially if you are not sure what to say or what questions to ask. It is not always clear who you can talk to.
This article will help you decide who to talk to about your financial concerns and give you some questions to help you get the conversation started.
The best place to start is having a conversation with your oncologist or other member of your health care team. Other people and groups who can help you find answers include:
At some point during your cancer treatment or follow-up care, you may need to search for a new doctor. There are many reasons why you may need a new doctor. For example, if your doctor retires, if you or your doctor needs to move, if your health insurance changes, or if you do not feel like you and your health care team are a good fit.
"Home care" is health care and supportive services given by a trained professional at a patient's home. A person may need home care to recover from surgery or a long hospital stay. Other people need more long-term home care during and after cancer treatment.
There are many reasons to consider bringing a professional caregiver into your home. For example, home care can help you or your loved one spend less time in the hospital. This includes people with advanced cancer, who can receive hospice care in the home.
After you are diagnosed with cancer, you will need to choose the doctor who will manage your cancer care. You may continue seeing the doctor who diagnosed you with cancer or you might go to another specialist. Often, this doctor is an oncologist. Oncologists specialize in treating cancer.
