Lung Cancer

Learning as much as you can about the specific lung cancer diagnosis and treatment plan will enable you to become a valuable resource. Your loved one may feel more comfortable asking you questions, and educating yourself about the situation may enable you to ease their fears about their condition.

Begin gathering information by reaching out to the nurse navigator, doctor, nurse or another member of the team. Building strong relationships with the health care team paves the way for comfortable and open communication. However, before they will communicate with you about any patient-specific information, you must be authorized to receive and share certain information about your loved one. If you have not signed the appropriate forms or are unsure whether you have, a member of the team can assist you.

Some key questions to ask include the following:

• What lung cancer education resources are recommended? They can provide names of reliable websites and advocacy groups that offer accurate information. Also see Assistance resources on page 16.
• Are resources for caregivers available? Although part of your work as a caregiver involves responding to your loved one’s concerns, keep in mind that you do not need to know the answer to every question. Educating yourself is important, but don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Simply being there is also comforting.
• Are telehealth appointments an option? These can be helpful on days when your loved one does not feel well enough to leave home. They are also more convenient if you live far from a medical office, in addition to limiting possible exposure to infections in clinics.

An important aspect of caregiving is the organization and management of the information you have gathered.

Once you are cleared to give and get information, do the following:

• Log on to the medical portal. It is an easy way to communicate with the medical team, especially for topics that are not time-sensitive.
• Use a tracking tool to ensure all medications are taken on time and in the right amount.
• Track symptoms and side effects with detailed notes about the frequency, intensity and duration. Indicate whether anything helps to relieve them. Take this log to doctor’s appointments to use as a reference point for questions you or your loved one may have. Make a special note of any specific symptoms that could warrant a call to the doctor.
• Keep an organized calendar of doctor’s appointments and any other important medically-relevant dates. A shared calendar allows everyone who needs to be informed to be kept apprised of this important information.
• Choose a format for updating family and friends. Key updates can be shared via email or online. This allows everyone to be informed at once and prevents you from having to communicate with friends and family on separate multiple occasions. Make sure your loved one is comfortable sharing information and approves who is receiving it.