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https://www.cancer.org/

Cancer

1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. If you’ve been recently diagnosed, or know someone who has, we’re here with answers, guidance, and support.

Understanding Your Diagnosis

Finding out you have cancer can bring many changes for you and your loved ones. 
Here, we answer many questions about cancer and making treatment decisions. We also tell you what you can expect from the people and services that are there to help you cope with cancer.
This information is not meant to replace the advice of your health care provider. Please keep in mind every patient's situation is different. Because of this, there are questions you will need to ask your doctor.  Talking with them is the best way to understand what’s going on with your body, what you can expect, and how treatment will help. AFTER DIAGNOSIS: A GUIDE FOR PATIENTS AND FAMILIES [PDF BOOKLET]

Questions About Cancer

Cancer can start any place in the body. It starts when cells grow out of control and crowd out normal cells. This makes it hard for the body to work the way it should.

How Cancer Is Diagnosed

Learn about the tests used to diagnose and stage cancer, and get help understanding your test results.

If Cancer Has Advanced
Questions to ask your Doctor

Advanced cancers have usually spread from where they started to other parts of the body. This is known as metastatic cancer. But not all advanced cancers are metastatic.

Making Treatment Decisions

Before getting any treatment, your doctor will first need to learn more about your cancer. The results of a biopsy, blood tests, physical exams, and imaging tests (x-rays or scans), along with any problems the cancer is causing are used to decide which treatment options might be best for you. Your doctor may also talk with other experts to get their opinions. Your doctor will then discuss the goal of treatment and the pros and cons of each treatment option with you.

How Do I Talk to People About Having Cancer?

It can be hard to talk about cancer, even with the people you love. Your loved ones may also have a hard time talking about cancer. It’s not easy for them to know what to say to help you or make you feel better. Here are some tips to help you and your loved ones deal with cancer.

How Do I Cope?

At first, most people need some time to adjust to the fact that they have cancer. It’s normal to feel disbelief, shock, fear, and anger. You may need some time to absorb and understand what your diagnosis and treatment options mean for you and your loved ones.

Caregivers and Family

A cancer diagnosis affects close friends and family too. Find out what to expect if you become a caregiver for a person with cancer, and get tips for making sure that you take care of yourself as well. READ MORE

Interactive Caregiver Resource Guide

This online, interactive guide can empower caregivers with the resources and information they need – from anywhere and at any time. It can help you: 

  • Learn how to care for yourself as a caregiver. 
  • Better understand what your loved one is going through.
  • Develop skills for coping and caring.
  • Take steps to help protect your health and well-being.

This guide is also available as a downloadable PDF .  READ MORE

Caregiver Support Video Series

This video series offers educational support as you assist with the everyday needs of your loved one, as well as self-care techniques to improve your own quality of life.

  • Physical Care Training: drain care, lifting, pain management, medication management, symptom/side effect management, and identifying signs of infection.
  • Caregiver Self-Care: nutrition, physical activity, stress management and coping, dealing with fear of recurrence, and deep breathing/meditation.
  • Advocacy: how to effectively communicate your loved one’s needs to the cancer care team.
  • Caregiver Stories: caregivers share their experiences through the ups and downs of their journey. This series is also available in Spanish.

How to Care for Someone With Cancer

Here you'll find information on what to expect if you are caring for someone with cancer, and find out what you need to know when caring for a loved one at home.

Taking Care of Yourself as a Caregiver

Caring for someone who is sick, taking on new responsibilities, and worrying about the future can be exhausting at the very least. Here you can find tips on making sure you also take care of yourself. You'll also find checklists that can help caregivers spot signs of anxiety or depression in yourself or others.

How to Be Supportive to Someone With Cancer

If someone close to you has cancer, do you find it hard to talk to them about it? Do you worry that you'll say the wrong thing? If so, you're not alone. Find out how to be supportive and helpful when you talk with someone who has cancer.

When Your Child Has Cancer

If your child or teenager has cancer, go here to get information about what to expect. You can find information on coping with the diagnosis, dealing with financial and insurance issues, and nutrition for children with cancer, as well as detailed information about many cancers that affect children and teens. READ MORE

American Cancer Society Support Programs and Services

The American Cancer Society has programs and services to help people with cancer and their loved ones understand cancer, manage their lives through treatment and recovery, and find the emotional support they need. And best of all, our help is free.

Online Communities and Support

If you’re facing a cancer diagnosis, learning more and connecting with others can be a source of support and comfort. Visit these resources from the American Cancer Society and our partners to find what’s right for you. https://www.cancer.org/support-programs-and-services/online-communities.html 

Treatments and Side Effects

In this section you'll find general information about the types of treatments used against cancer. This includes both traditional therapies (such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy), newer forms of treatment (including information on clinical trials), and complementary and alternative therapies. We'll also discuss the possible side effects of these treatments.

Preparing for and Getting Treatment

If you or someone you care for is facing treatment for a new cancer diagnosis or cancer that has come back,  you probably have lots of questions that need answered. Learn about how to approach making decisions about treatment, and what to ask your health care team. 

Learn about Treatments

Planning cancer treatment can take time. Find out what you need to know about the most common types of cancer treatment, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy.  Learn how they work and what to expect if they are part of your treatment plan. 

Dealing with Side Effects

Get information about the physical side effects that can be caused by different cancer treatments and what you can do to manage them.

More Resources and Information

Find your cancer type for more specific information on how a certain type of cancer is treated, or see the latest news in cancer treatment.

ACS Patient Programs and Services

The American Cancer Society offers programs and services to help you during and after cancer treatment. Below are some of the resources we provide. We can also help you find other free or low-cost resources available.
24/7 Cancer Helpline
Our 24/7 cancer helpline provides support 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. 
Call us at 1-800-227-2345

Lodging During Treatment

For cancer patients, getting the right treatment sometimes requires traveling away from home. Lodging expenses can present a significant financial barrier to receiving lifesaving treatment, and financial barriers are known to contribute to disparities in cancer outcomes. We help remove that financial barrier through our Hope Lodge program, lodging grants to local healthcare system partners, and a partnership with Extended Stay America.

Rides to Treatment

If transportation to treatment is a concern, we may be able to help.  In some communities, our Road To Recovery volunteer drivers provide rides to patients who have no way to get to their cancer treatment. We also provide transportation grants to local healthcare systems partners so they can provide transportation assistance to their patients.

Connecting Cancer Survivors

The Cancer Survivors Network provides a safe online connection where cancer patients and caregivers can find others with similar experiences. You can participate on discussion boards, join a chat room, and build your own support network.

Breast Cancer Support

If you have breast cancer, you may want to connect with someone who knows what you’re feeling – someone who has “been there.” Through our Reach To Recovery website and app, you can match with a trained volunteer who is a breast cancer survivor.  

Hair Loss and Mastectomy Products

Cancer and cancer treatment can alter a patient’s appearance. Our “tlc” Tender Loving Care program offers affordable wigs, hats, scarves, and mastectomy products.

SEARCH FOR PROGRAMS IN YOUR AREA

One-on-One Support 

You don’t have to face a cancer diagnosis alone. Talk or chat live with a trained cancer information specialist or find support in your own community. Call us: 1-800-227-2345 
Source: https://www.cancer.org/