Caregiving for Prostate Most cancers – HealthyWomen

Picture

Dialogue

Polly and Pete sitting at a eating room desk.

Pete has an open binder in entrance of him.

Polly has a pocket book in entrance of her and she or he has a pen in her hand.

Polly: We’ve received your checklist of medicines and medical information within the binder. Now let’s write down any questions we’ve got about your prostate most cancers prognosis to your appointment.

Pete: OK, good thought.

Pocket book web page with questions on it

Questions caregivers could wish to ask the HCP:

What remedies can be found?

What unwanted side effects can we anticipate?

Can Pete work throughout therapy?

How will we contact you if we’ve got questions?

Will I be capable to take care of Pete or will we want in-home assist?

SUPER: The following day …

Pete and Polly are sitting within the physician’s workplace throughout from a desk. Polly has the pocket book in her lap and her smartphone. They’re having fun with one another’s firm.

Pete: Thanks for coming with me, Polly. What would I do with out you?

Polly: You wouldn’t have remembered the pocket book, that’s for positive.

The physician enters the room and shakes arms.

Physician: Good to satisfy you each.

Pete: I’m Pete.

Polly: I’m Polly, Pete’s associate.

Physician’s workplace

Polly: Do you thoughts if I file our dialog? I do know we’ll be going over a whole lot of vital particulars, and I don’t wish to miss something.

Physician: Positive! That’s nice with me.

Physician’s workplace

Physician: Pete, I see that we discovered your prostate most cancers throughout a routine screening. Inform me, are you experiencing any signs like frequent urination?

Pete: I don’t assume so.

Thought bubbles over Polly of Pete getting as much as go to the toilet through the night time (or possibly mild beneath the door of the toilet?)

Polly: Effectively, you could have been getting up through the night time these days.

Pete: Oh you’re proper … I didn’t take into consideration nighttime.

Physician’s workplace

Physician: It’s at all times good when the individuals round us discover issues we don’t, so I’m glad you’re each right here and we are able to work collectively as a crew. Now, let’s go over your therapy plan.

Pete: Nice! We additionally introduced an inventory of questions we’ve got for you.

SUPER: Every week later …

Polly and Pete’s home: Polly and Pete are sitting on the sofa. The binder and the cellphone are on the espresso desk.

Polly: I up to date your medicine checklist with room to jot down any signs.

How are you feeling at the moment after therapy?

Pete: I’m actually drained. Do you assume I needs to be involved?

Polly seems to be at her smartphone.

I feel I bear in mind the physician speaking about fatigue … let’s verify the recording.

Smartphone enjoying a voice memo

“Fatigue is a standard facet impact of the therapy …”

Polly and Pete on the desk

Pete: Thanks, that makes me really feel higher.

Polly: I’ll write it down, and we are able to carry it up with the physician if it continues.

Every week later …

Physician’s workplace

Physician: How are you feeling, Pete?

Pete: I’ve been actually drained since I began therapy.

Physician: Effectively, feeling drained is a standard facet impact.

Physician’s workplace

Pete: Polly saved a log and located the fatigue lasts a lot of the day however is most intense within the afternoon. I’m nonetheless exercising and consuming — however the fatigue is absolutely affecting my potential to work.

Physician: Ah, I see. Thanks for letting me know that it’s impacting your on a regular basis life. Let’s strive adjusting your medicine, and if that doesn’t work, we are able to strive a brand new one.

Physician’s workplace

Pete: That sounds good to me.

Polly: Thanks for listening to our considerations.

Physician’s workplace

Physician: After all! Good communication helps me enable you.

Finish bar

Caregiver Communication Ideas:

Write down questions you could have earlier than the appointment.

Take notes or file the workplace go to.

Be clear and concise about your considerations.

Ask the HCP to make clear something you don’t perceive.

Document and share all bodily and psychological unwanted side effects of therapy.

Set up contacts for follow-up questions and emergency conditions.

For extra data, please go to HealthyWomen.org