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Our 24/7 cancer helpline provides information and answers for people dealing with cancer. We can connect you with trained cancer information specialists who will answer questions about a cancer diagnosis and provide guidance and a compassionate ear.
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Our highly trained specialists are available 24/7 via phone and on weekdays can assist through online chat. We connect patients, caregivers, and family members with essential services and resources at every step of their cancer journey. Ask us how you can get involved and support the fight against cancer. Some of the topics we can assist with include:
For medical questions, we encourage you to review our information with your doctor.
Survivorship: During and After Treatment
Good communication among patients, families, and health care team members is very important. Cancer treatment and follow-up care are intense and complex. Everyone involved must have confidence and trust in one another and be able to work well together.
Most of the time, children with cancer and their families develop a bond with the doctors, nurses, and other team members. But sometimes, personalities and styles may clash, and all may not go smoothly. Still, patients and parents usually find that there are certain team members with whom they can communicate well and form helpful relationships.
Confidence comes with knowing that all team members are well trained and experienced in treating cancer in young people, and that the facility meets the highest standards. Information about the education and credentials of all team members should be readily available. The institution’s status and reputation can be researched quickly. No matter what you know about training, it will take time to form relationships and build trust with the team.
Parents are the experts when it comes to their children. It’s important for them to have that expertise recognized, just as it’s important for professionals to have their knowledge and skills recognized. Parents can help team members learn how best to work with their children. On the other hand, health professionals who’ve worked with many children with cancer can often give parents new ideas to try when the old ones don’t work. Good communication comes from mutual respect for what each person brings to the joint effort to give the child with cancer the best possible care.
Because of the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis, it’s often necessary to repeat things and ask questions more than once. This is normal, and it’s better to do this than have misunderstandings.
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as editors and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Last Revised: September 20, 2017
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
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