From organizing medical records and preparing questions to bringing a support person and seeking second opinions, this practical guide helps cancer patients and survivors become informed, confident participants in their care.

In my forty years of practice, relationships among providers have improved enormously. I now refer to and receive referrals from across the medical landscape with confidence and ease. My relationships with experts who offer different kinds of care continue to improve. I know when my own oncologist sends me his mother for treatment of unrelated issues, that mutual respect is palpable. Most essentially, this is paramount for our patients to have the capacity to create a medical dream team they deserve. This is especially true for those in treatment for cancer. As a three-time cancer survivor/thriver myself (breast, ovarian, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia/stem cell transplant), I wish I had a list early on, like the one I’ve created below.

Empowering our patients to arrive prepared, to ask questions, to come from a place of curiosity and confidence, with the expectation to be treated as an individual – not a diagnosis – not only makes the arduous task of getting through treatment easier but positively impacts health outcomes. Please feel free to copy and share with your patients.

“I encourage my patients to demand more, to strive for the best quality of life possible, and to use the dream team they’ve created.”

1. BRING A FRIEND OR SUPPORT PERSON TO ALL YOUR APPOINTMENTS. You don’t have to go at it alone. If you do not have anyone to bring, ask if a social worker or patient advocate can accompany you.
2. CREATE A FOLDER OR NOTEBOOK, or create one on your computer to keep and organize all relevant information. Date everything collected. Categories to include:  pathology reports, laboratory results, chemotherapy prescribed, radiation treatment schedule, surgical notes, genetic testing, current medications, supplements and insurance information.
3. CREATE AN UP-TO-DATE HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS SUMMARY, a one-to-two-page synopsis of your cancer-related story to share with any new provider and to refer to during an initial visit. Include: date of diagnosis, what the diagnosis was, if you had a biopsy, what it revealed, treatments taken or currently taking, and how you tolerated or tolerate treatments, current concerns, and over-the-counter or natural medicine approaches you are using or have tried.
4. PRINT OUT OR HAVE HANDY RECENT LAB WORK AND SCAN REPORTS, when relevant, unless your provider can easily access clinic or hospital portal. You may want to review these pages, especially before meeting with a new provider, and update periodically.
5. BRING YOUR OWN HEALTHY FOOD OR SNACKS TO HOSPITALS OR CLINICS WHEN POSSIBLE. Bring your own water bottle and stay hydrated. Learn where the bathrooms are at the clinic.
6. YOU WILL OFTEN ENCOUNTER LONG WAITS. Bring a book, tablet, phone, knitting, or whatever you like for entertainment or distraction. If your provider typically runs thirty to forty-minutes late, hopefully they will also take extra time with you should you ever need it.
7. CONSIDER MEETING YOUR PROVIDER FULLY CLOTHED so you are seen as a person first, a patient second.
8. DO YOUR HOMEWORK OR HAVE A LOVED ONE DO IT FOR YOU. Read about options related to your care -plan. Are there new approaches being considered?
9. ASK FOR A REFERRAL to the person at your medical facility overseeing clinical trials. Often there are relevant trials you might be eligible for and interested in.
10. HAVE YOUR WRITTEN LIST OF QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS with you, and be sure to let your doctor know from the outset you have questions to ask. Write down the answers or have the person with you do so.
11. CONSIDER ASKING YOUR PROVIDER IF YOU CAN MAKE AN AUDIO RECORDING OF YOUR VISIT if you are more of an auditory learner.
12. ASK WHAT THE BEST WAY TO CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IS. Find out how you can make appointments and ask follow- up questions without long waits or the maze of automated phone directories.
13. LEARN TO USE ONLINE PORTALS. Consider sharing login information with a trusted family member or friend. You may be able to make or change appointments, view and pay bills, send a brief note or question to your provider, review records of your procedures and treatment, request pharmacy refills, and laboratory results, and access support services.
14. YOU DON’T NEED TO EXAMINE EVERY PIECE ON THE PORTAL. Health history, laboratory results, or scan reports can be overwhelming. Access the portal only as needed. Or deputize someone else to look for you if it causes undo stress.
15. RECALL THE SECOND OPINION. Patients diagnosed with cancer are entitled to a second opinion, and it’s never too late to ask for one. Even when care is completed, if you are looking for other approaches to help improve your quality of life or reduce your risk for recurrence, another provider may have a fresh perspective.
16. SHARE FEEDBACK. Doctors need feedback too. If you see or feel something that does not feel right related to your care, share your concerns.
17. EXPRESS GRATITUDE AND KINDNESS TO YOUR PROVIDERS. Thank-you notes, small tokens of appreciation and kind words go a long way in conveying your appreciation. Who does not want to be appreciated and reminded of the positive impact of their work?

It’s also true that for many cancer patients, once treatment is completed, it can feel like they were dropped off the edge of care. I like to work with patients at this time to remind them there is so much that naturopathic and integrative medicine does to help address symptoms that remain from the cancer itself or from side effects of treatment. As a naturopathic doctor, I encourage my patients to demand more, to strive for the best quality of life possible, and to use the dream team they’ve created.

Author: NDNR-emmabelle-2026.