You will likely want and need support during your cancer treatment. Your health care team, family and friends, and other people with cancer can all support you in different ways. This article gives you information on the types of support available to you and how to ask for help when you need it.
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:
Asking your health care team questions is a good way to learn more about your treatment and follow-up care. In fact, doctors and nurses like to know what concerns you have and what topics may be confusing. Asking questions helps give you more control over your care and cope with cancer and its treatment. Here are some tips to make talking with your doctor easier:
If you are a teenager, let your parents or guardians know that you want to be involved ahead of time so they can make sure you are included.
ON THIS PAGE: You will read about your medical care after cancer treatment is completed and why this follow-up care is important. Use the menu to see other pages.
Care for people diagnosed with cancer does not end when active treatment has finished. Your health care team will continue to check that the cancer has not come back, manage any side effects, and monitor your overall health. This is called follow-up care.
ON THIS PAGE: You will find a list of the common tests, procedures, and scans that doctors can use to find the cause of a medical problem. Use the menu to see other pages.
Doctors use many tests to find, or diagnose, leukemia. They also do tests to learn if cancer has spread to another part of the body from where it started. If the cancer has spread, it is called metastasis. Doctors may also do tests to learn which treatments could work best.
ON THIS PAGE: You will read about your medical care after amyloidosis treatment is completed and why this follow-up care is important. Use the menu to see other pages.
Care for people diagnosed with amyloidosis does not end when active treatment has finished. Your health care team will continue to check to see if amyloidosis has come back, manage side effects, and monitor your overall health. This is called follow-up care.
You will have many medical appointments throughout your cancer experience. Learning the basics about these appointments beforehand will help make sure you get the most out of each visit. It can also help reduce stress and anxiety. Consider asking the following questions when scheduling an appointment.
What is the doctor's full name and title?
How can I contact the office?
What forms will I need to fill out when I arrive? What information will I need to do that?
Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging test that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed, computer-generated images of your breast tissue.
This test has many uses:
Screen for breast cancer in people who are at a high risk for the disease or have a personal history of breast cancer.
Some symptoms of cancer treatment make it difficult to eat certain foods. These may include:
Pain in the mouth
Stiffness or pain in the jaw muscles
Problems with the teeth
Work with your health care team to manage difficulty chewing. Otherwise, you may avoid certain foods or eat smaller portions. This can keep you from getting enough calories and nutrients.
Cancer care and treatment can be expensive. And many people have unplanned expenses related to their care.
Finances can be a source of stress and anxiety, and the topic may feel overwhelming. Sometimes, costs keep people from completing cancer treatment. This increases health risks. It may also lead to more expenses in the future.
