Prepare for cancer treatment
Getting organized for a long road, one step at a time.
You've got this. Preparing today is how tomorrow gets easier.
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Overview
A cancer diagnosis brings a flood of information at the worst possible moment. Preparation here is about organizing that information, understanding the plan, and setting up the practical support you will need for months.
What to expect
- Several appointments before treatment even begins
- A multidisciplinary team — oncology, surgery, radiation, nursing, social work
- Staging tests and possibly genetic or biomarker testing
- A written treatment plan you can take home
Questions to ask
What is the exact diagnosis and stage, in writing?
What is the goal of this treatment — cure, control, or comfort?
This one question reframes everything else.
What are the alternatives, including clinical trials?
What side effects are likely, and how are they managed?
Who is my point of contact between appointments?
What financial help and support services are available here?
In plain language, what is happening and why is it recommended now?
Plain language is your right. Ask again if the answer is technical.
What are my options, including waiting or doing nothing?
How will this change what I can do day to day, and for how long?
What should I do to prepare?
Who do I call with questions, and what number do I use after hours?
What would make you want to see me sooner?
This turns vague worry into a clear trigger for calling.
Interactive checklists
Check items off as you go. Progress is saved on this device so you can continue later.
Private to this device. Included when you print, export, or save to your Health Binder.
For caregivers and family
What caregivers can expect
- A repeating schedule that reshapes the week
- Good days and hard days in the same cycle
- Fatigue that is physical, not attitude
How caregivers can help
- Share driving with others so it is sustainable
- Track side effects in one place
- Protect rest, fluids, and simple food
Questions caregivers should ask
- Which side effects need a call today rather than at the next visit?
- What is the plan for infection risk?
- What support services are available to us?
Recovery and what happens next
Before the first session
Set up the practical side.
- · Confirm schedule and coverage
- · Ask about side-effect medicines
- · Plan rides and rest days
Each session
A rhythm you will learn quickly.
- · Bring water, snacks, layers, and something to do
- · Report new symptoms before treatment starts
- · Log how you felt afterward
Between sessions
Recovery happens here.
- · Rest and hydrate
- · Watch for fever
- · Keep a symptom diary for your team
Watch for: Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher — call immediately
Long-term
Survivorship and follow-up.
- · Ask for a written survivorship or maintenance plan
- · Schedule surveillance appointments
- · Address fatigue, mood, and nutrition
Risks and warning signs
Possible risks to ask about
- Every procedure and medicine carries some risk — ask for yours in numbers, not adjectives
- Reactions to medicines, contrast, or anesthesia
- Infection
- Delays or the need for a repeat visit
Warning signs — call your clinician
- · Fever, chills, or a wound that becomes red, warm, swollen, or leaks fluid
- · Pain that keeps getting worse instead of slowly better
- · New confusion, dizziness, or fainting
- · Nausea or vomiting that stops you from keeping fluids down
Red flags — seek emergency care
- · Trouble breathing or shortness of breath at rest
- · Chest pain or pressure
- · Heavy bleeding that will not stop
- · Sudden weakness, facial droop, or trouble speaking
- · Signs of sepsis — fever with fast heart rate, confusion, clammy skin, or a feeling that something is very wrong
In an emergency, call 911. Do not wait for a call back.
Follow-up care
- Keep the schedule for labs and imaging between cycles
- Report new symptoms between visits rather than saving them
- Ask for a written summary of what has been given so far
Frequently asked questions
Helpful resources
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Prepare Me is educational preparation support from Phoenix Health Compass. It does not diagnose, recommend treatment, or replace the guidance of your clinician. Checklists and notes stay on this device unless you save or share them yourself.