The purpose of this summary is to present an evidence-based approach used in the development of the screening summaries. Evaluating screening requires weighing risks and benefits. Monetary cost and cost-effectiveness are not considered when evaluating the evidence. Levels of evidence are assigned when evaluating...
Cancer screening is looking for cancer before a person has any symptoms. Screening tests can help find cancer at an early stage, before symptoms appear. When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat or cure. By the time symptoms appear, the cancer may have grown and spread. This can make the...
The stage of a cancer describes how much cancer is in the body and where it is located. If the cancer has spread, the stage also includes how far it has spread. The grade describes how tumor cells look under a microscope compared to cells from healthy tissue near the tumor. The tumor grade may help predict how quickly...
Doctors are experts on medical care. But you are the expert on yourself and your life. That's why it's important to be an active patient. When you're actively involved in decisions about your care, you can be sure that your choices reflect your values and beliefs. Here are some ways to become more active and involved in...
Finding out that you have cancer changes your life. Making decisions about your care and facing cancer treatment may feel overwhelming. This is a time to become informed, find the support you need, and focus on what gives you hope. Find the information you'll need. Doctors and others may offer you lots of information...
When you have cancer, you may have a lot of different feelings, like anger, sadness, and fear. And your feelings can change from day to day, and even moment to moment. Most people who have cancer deal with feelings like this. Although it may be hard at first, look for things each day that help you find a new sense of...
Cancer can impact your family in many ways. Fear and other emotions can cause stress. Financial worries about how to pay medical expenses may strain relationships. And family roles and routines may change as you go through treatment and need more help from others. It helps to think about how and what you want to tell...
Everyone reacts differently to being diagnosed with cancer. It's common to have many emotions, or none. And your feelings may change often, without warning. You may feel like your world has turned upside down and you've lost all control. Worry and distress may seem to be taking over your life. You may have anxious...
Everyone who goes through cancer has a time of adjustment afterward. This is part of your recovery, and it may take longer than you expect. These tips may help. Give yourself time to make sense of it all. Surviving cancer is something to celebrate. But many people find that the time after treatment is different than...
There's a lot you can do to lower your stress when you have cancer. The key is to find one or two ways of coping with stress that work for you. Pick at least one you can do when your energy is low. Try different things until you find what works for you. For example, you could try relaxation exercises like progressive...
When cancer comes back or spreads, you may find yourself looking for ways to cope with what is happening. Your past experience has taught you a lot about what helps you in tough situations. Think about how that can help you now. Use what you learned before. Every life has challenges, and you have learned things from all...
This cancer information summary provides an overview on cancer therapy interactions with different foods and dietary supplements. This summary contains the following key information: The combination of cancer drugs taken by patients and the complementary and alternative medicine used may interact, causing adverse...
Over a third of adults with cancer in the United States use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) product. CAM products may include dietary supplements, herbal products, and special teas. Taking anticancer drugs and CAM products together may cause a person to have an undesired (adverse) reaction...
Some treatments for cancer can cause infertility in both men and women. Also, cancer treatment in children may affect their future fertility. Infertility from cancer treatment may be temporary or permanent. Whether or not your cancer treatment will affect your fertility depends on many things, such as how many radiation...
Learn what you can do to help with throat pain and eating challenges caused by cancer treatment.
Learn ways to manage nausea and loss of appetite from cancer treatments.
For a number of years, investigators have reported stress- or trauma-related symptoms such as avoidant behaviors, intrusive thoughts, and heightened arousal in survivors of cancer.[ 1, 2, 3, 4] These symptoms resemble those seen in individuals who have experienced traumatic events such as:[ 5] Military combat. Violent...
People react in different ways when they hear they have cancer. Patients have a range of normal reactions when they hear they have cancer. These include: Repeated frightening thoughts. Being distracted or overexcited. Trouble sleeping. Feeling detached from oneself or reality. These reactions may also be symptoms of...
Learn to check in with yourself and to be aware of your feelings when you have cancer.
Discusses how cancer pain can almost always be relieved if you work with your doctor to find treatments that are right for you. Covers using a pain diary and getting the most benefit from your medicine. Briefly discusses self-care and complementary medicine options.
Offers tips to help with nausea and vomiting from cancer treatment. Covers steps you can take before, during, and after treatments.
Learn ways to cope with the stress of having cancer.
Learn how meeting your spiritual needs can help you cope with cancer.
Learn ways to cope with your feelings when dealing with cancer.
Learn how you can feel less tired when you're getting treatment for cancer.
These ideas can help you manage constipation caused by cancer or cancer treatment. If your doctor has given you instructions to treat constipation, be sure to follow them. Drink plenty of fluids. If you have heart failure or kidney failure, talk to your doctor about what amount of fluid is right for you. Avoid alcohol...
Diarrhea is a common problem for people getting cancer treatment. Diarrhea can be caused by: Some medicines that damage the lining of your intestines. Radiation therapy aimed at your belly or pelvis. Surgery to remove part of your intestines. A side effect of bone marrow transplants called graft-versus-host disease...
Fatigue, or feeling very tired, is a common side effect of cancer treatment. See if any of these ideas are helpful. Check to see if your pain is under control. Pain that isn't managed can make fatigue worse. Get extra rest during treatment. Fatigue is often worse at the end of treatment or just after treatment is...
A painful sore or ulcer inside your mouth may make it hard to eat and drink. Be sure to let your doctor know you are having mouth sores. You may need to have your medicines adjusted. And try some of the following home treatment measures to help ease pain and speed healing. What to eat and drink Drink a lot of water...
The best way to control nausea and vomiting is to start treating it before you start your cancer treatment. Your doctor may give you medicines to control nausea. There are also home treatments that can help you manage these symptoms. Take anti-nausea medicines as your doctor recommends. Be sure to tell your doctor if...
