Create a Care Plan
Every patient needs a care plan. Care plans are an essential part of helping you and your caregiver move forward with your treatment confidently and knowledgeably. During each appointment, discuss with your team any side effects, results, options, and questions that you may have. Building goals together will help you track your progress and plan your next steps.
Forming a care plan helps:
- Set goals
Your care plan will help you to form goals with your treatment team and can be revisited, reviewed, and revised as goals are met and updated.
- Track your progress
With a care plan, you can easily track your progress and gauge the questions that need to be addressed and the team member that might assist. You can keep a clear process by discussing with your treatment team the importance of creating a plan and keeping track of your progress.
- Identify and monitor side effects
Every treatment and response is unique which means that your plan should be unique. Keep a journal of any side effects so that they can better managed. You can adjust your plan as needed depending on side effect, response, and continued goals.
- Form questions and communicate with your treatment team
Care plans are most effective when you follow them through and communicate any questions and concerns that you may have. Completing a care plan and maintaining open communication will motivate you to move forward.
- Plan next treatment steps
Once a treatment goal is met or altered, it is important to plan both present and future treatment steps for several response scenarios. For example, if the treatment creates tumor shrinkage what is the next step. If the tumors remain stable, what next? Or if cancer continues to spread or multiply, what plans will bring about best results? Review care plan and prepare for the next treatment decisions.