Just Diagnosed

• The type of cancer
• The grade of the cancer (e.g., what does it look like under a microscope? How aggressive is it?)
• The stage of the cancer
• If it has spread to other parts of your body
• What treatment is suggested for you
• Is there a clinical trial that is right for you

If there is something you do not understand or want to know more about, do not be afraid to ask. Sometimes it can be confusing to understand the details about your diagnosis or treatment. Cancer can bring a new language into your life so let your team know if there is something that is not clear. They can explain it in a different way or write it down if you want to look for more information later.

You can also call the Canadian Cancer Society’s Cancer Information Service line toll-free at 1-888-939-3333. The helpline is available to cancer patients, caregivers, families, friends, the general public, and health care professionals. An information specialist will answer your questions and provide you with information.

Your first visit may last several hours. It depends on many things, including the types of tests that need to be done and how many members of your health care team you will meet that day. 

You will experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms related to your diagnosis and treatment. To better understand how you are feeling before you start treatment, you will be asked to rate your symptoms at a touch screen computer called a kiosk. A volunteer can assist you if you would like help. You can also complete this online.

You will also be asked to rate how the disease is impacting your daily life. Your answers will help you and your health care team identify changes in your symptoms and get you the support you need. A symptom screen report must be completed at every visit.

Your Voice Matters is a survey that gives you the chance to share your thoughts about each visit to your cancer centre or hospital. You can complete the Your Voice Matters survey at the same kiosk where you do your symptom screening questionnaire.

Clinic appointments can be delayed if another patient is unwell or if there is an emergency. Your appointment may also start late if there is a delay with a computer, machine or blood work results. This will not affect the amount of time your health care provider spends with you.

It takes time for blood work results to come back from the lab. Arrive at the time that you are instructed to so that your results are back before your scheduled appointment with your doctor.

• You have a concern not related to cancer, e.g. a heart condition, high blood
  pressure, diabetes, etc
• You have any changes in your health between visits to the LRCP such as a
  cold or the flu
• You need a refill on a prescription that is not related to your cancer care
• You need a regular check-up

This involves about speaking with family and friends, especially your ‘substitute decision-maker’, and writing down your wishes. It may also include talking with health care providers, financial specialists, and legal professionals about your care choices.

An advance care plan can be written down or simply told to someone who is authorized to speak for you, such as a substitute decision-maker. It can guide your substitute decision-maker to make medical decisions on your behalf if they are asked by a health care provider.

A person who makes medical decisions on your behalf when you are not able to express your wishes on your own. This person might also be known as a health representative or a Power of Attorney for Personal Care.

Power of Attorney / Power of Personal Care - A person who is legally chosen to speak on your behalf. To make it legal, you need to have a written document naming your Power of Attorney / Power of Personal Care and what their responsibilities are. If you do not select someone as your Power of Attorney, your health care team will ask the person closest to you based on a list of substitute decision-makers set by law.

You can create a power of attorney yourself, using the free kit provided by the Ontario government. For more information, visit the Make a Power of Attorney page. 

To get a Power of Attorney kit:

• Download the Power of Attorney kit
• Call ServiceOnatrio toll free at 1-800-267-8097 to have one mailed to you.

This means that you are giving health care providers permission for medical inquiries and/or treatments. Health care providers give you detailed explanations of the inquiries/treatments and their risks before you verbally agree or sign the consent form.

This refers to medical procedures used to restart your heart and breathing when the heart and/or lungs stop working suddenly. CPR can be mouth-to-mouth breathing, pumping of the chest, electric shocks that restart the heart or machines that breathe for you.

A do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order tells medical professionals to not perform CPR. This means that doctors, nurses and emergency medical staff will not attempt emergency CPR if you stop breathing or your heartbeat stops.

This refers to care provided when you have a life-threatening illness. Palliative care is effective early in the development of illness and can be used with other therapies that may help lengthen life (e.g. chemotherapy and radiation therapy). It focuses on providing a good quality of life and keeping you as comfortable and free of pain as possible. Palliative care may involve medicines, treatments, physical care, psychological services, social services, and spiritual support. This can be provided for both you and
for those who are helping to care for you. A Palliative Care Outreach Team may be involved at some time along your cancer journey.

Death and dying can be difficult subjects to think and talk about. If you are
thinking about medical assistance in dying, talk to someone who can help you understand your options: a doctor, nurse practitioner or other health care provider. For more information, view the MAID pdf. 

What You Can Do:

• Talk with your family, friends, and health care team about your wishes for
  treatment and medical care.
• Choose your substitute decision-maker.
• Document your wishes in a ‘Power of Attorney for Personal Care’ form. 

Radiation therapy works better if the level of oxygen in your body is normal. When you smoke, carbon monoxide gets into the blood and makes it harder for radiation to do its job. If you do not quit smoking, you can improve your treatment by not smoking at least two hours before and two hours after radiation therapy treatment.

When you smoke, the nicotine in tobacco makes some chemotherapy drugs less effective. This means that they may not work as well as they are supposed to. Quitting smoking can improve the results of your cancer surgery

Patients who quit before surgery:

• Use less sedation medication
• Have a lower risk of heart and lung complication
• Are at a lower risk of developing infections
• Heal faster
• Have a safer surgery

If you do not quit smoking, it is helpful to not smoke one week before your
scheduled surgery date

The office will gladly accept your forms by mail, fax or in person. They will make sure your doctor’s office completes them. After they are completed, they will be returned to you or the party that requested them. The office keeps track of your requests and makes sure that your private information is allowed to be released. They will attach copies of all required medical records to the form. 

Please look for the space to fill in your name and date of birth on your form. It is also important to sign and date the form before we give it to your doctor to complete. If needed, the office has a consent form that can be completed and signed by you to release your records to another party.

*Please note that the office does not keep a supply of forms, they only accept the forms that you give them.

If you need help with Drug Coverage and forms related to drug coverage, please call the Drug Access Facilitator at 519-685-8500 extension 54519.

If you need help finding financial support and services in your community or help completing the patient/claimant part of forms, you can contact a member of the social work team. See the ‘Counselling’ and ‘Finances’ sections for more information. 

If you would like to request a letter from your doctor, the office will make that request for you. You may request a letter by telephone, in person, mail or fax. They will contact you when the letter is ready. 

If your doctor or healthcare provider need copies of your medical records, they can fax a request on their letterhead to the office. The office will send them the requested information.

You can also complete a request/consent form for the health records office. They can send your records as directed by you.

The office will provide copies of your medical records at your request. They need a completed consent form and will need to view your government issued photo ID. The office charges a small fee to process your request. Please contact the office in person or by telephone for more information.

The office will print a list of appointments for the time period that you need. They will need a completed consent form and will need to view your government issued photo ID. Please contact the office in person or by telephone for more information. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please call or visit in person during office hours (Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.). 

The Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre - Health Information Management 
800 Commissioners Rd. E., Room A3-828 
PO Box 5010 London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5W9 

• Telephone: 519-685-8630 / 519-685-8500 extension 53254 
• Fax: 519-685-8628