Tag Archive for: care

Why Should Endometrial Cancer Patients Engage in Their Care?

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What role do patients play in their endometrial cancer care and treatment decisions? Gynecological cancer expert Dr. Nita Karnik Lee explains the shared decision-making process and discusses the benefits of engaging in conversations with your healthcare team. 

Dr. Nita Karnik Lee is a Gynecologic Oncologist at The University of Chicago Medicine. Learn more about Dr. Lee.

See More from Evolve Endometrial Cancer
 

Related Programs:

What Are Common Endometrial Cancer Health Disparities?

What Are Common Endometrial Cancer Health Disparities?

 Tools for Improving Access to Quality Endometrial Cancer Care

Tools for Improving Access to Quality Endometrial Cancer Care

 Advances in Endometrial Cancer Treatment and Research

Advances in Endometrial Cancer Screening and Detection

Transcript:

Katherine Banwell:  

Would you define shared decision-making, Dr. Lee? Tell us why it’s so important for patients to engage in their care.  

Dr. Nita Karnik Lee:  

Shared decision-making is sort of the idea model, right? It’s this idea that we want to, as physicians, know what values my patient has, and I want to be able to impart information that I think will be helpful for them to make a decision. Sometimes the decisions are do I want to do surgery or not? Sometimes the decision are do I want to do chemo or continue chemotherapy? Those are very different decisions, and shared decision-making is a way of saying we’re going to have some kind of communication back and forth where I’m like, hey, this is what I think is happening. These are the choices that you have.  

And you telling me, okay, these are the things that I’m worried about. These are the things that align with what I want to do. I think it’s really important, though, to not have physicians put it out as, oh, well, I just let the patient decide, right, because just like when my car breaks down or my lights don’t work at my house and I get an electrician to come and see, I have no idea what they’re talking about.  

I have no concept. I really rely on them to say, well, I don’t know what kind of wire for you to use in my house. I have no idea. So, we really want to be careful that shared decision-making doesn’t turn into a menu of choices that we, the physicians, are actually giving up their role in advising if that makes sense. A lot of shared decision-making is in that relationship of trust and saying I really get this. I get what you’re telling me.  

I have patients, for example, who are on chemotherapy for a recurring disease, either uterine or ovarian cancer, and a lot of times you’re making these decisions of, okay, quality of life, like, what are events that are coming up? Sometimes they don’t always align with what I think is best, but if somebody tells me, you know what, I’m going to do these three cycles, but my son’s wedding is coming up. And I really need a month off beforehand, that aligns for me because I think that’s important, but maybe it’s not the standard.  

And so, kind of really knowing your patient, from my perspective, and also, as patients, not being afraid to say these are my values, and this is what’s really important to me. People will hear it, and they’ll feel better equipped to be able to help you guide those decisions with the caveat that sometimes I’ll say, look, you know what, I’m pretty worried about you. Yes, let’s give you a month off before, but let’s scan right after the wedding and see what’s going on.  

And then we can decide what we’re going to do after that. Or holiday times are oftentimes where I really give people sometimes a break. If they’ve been on chronic chemotherapy, sometimes this is a time where I’d say I’m really worried. I don’t think we can give you a break. People will tell me I know you’re worried about me, but this is really important. And we work together on it. I think it’s knowing the medical background, and then making sure you know what your patient wants, from that perspective.  

Katherine Banwell:  

And having an open line of communication. 

Dr. Nita Karnik Lee:  

Yes. 

Katherine Banwell:  

That’s what you’re saying. 

Dr. Nita Karnik Lee:  

Exactly. I think you hit it on the nail. Having an open line of communication, and not feeling that you need to hold back from that. I think it’s much easier for our whole team. I work really closely with our nurses and PAs, and sometimes one of the nurses will be like, you know what, she really wants to talk to you about this. Sometimes it’ll be maybe not even talking to your doctor first, but talking to the person on your team you feel closest to, to say I’ve been really thinking about this. I know Dr. Lee wants to do this, but this doesn’t align with my kid’s graduation, or my grandkid’s something, and those things are really important to get that open.

Tools for Improving Access to Quality Endometrial Cancer Care

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What proactive steps can endometrial patients take to access the best care? Gynecological cancer expert Dr. Nita Karnik Lee walks through self-advocacy steps that may encourage improved patient outcomes. 

Dr. Nita Karnik Lee is a Gynecologic Oncologist at The University of Chicago Medicine. Learn more about Dr. Lee.

See More from Evolve Endometrial Cancer
 

Related Programs:

What Are Common Endometrial Cancer Health Disparities?

What Are Common Endometrial Cancer Health Disparities?

 Why Should Endometrial Cancer Patients Engage in Their Care?

Why Should Endometrial Cancer Patients Engage in Their Care?

 Advances in Endometrial Cancer Treatment and Research

Advances in Endometrial Cancer Screening and Detection

Transcript:

Katherine Banwell:  

How is the medical community dealing with these disparities? How are they handling them? 

Dr. Nita Karnik Lee:  

You know, I think a lot of it is, again, sort of educating. You have to think about you want patient education. You want provider education. Sometimes I have patients who come to me and say, you know what, I reported these symptoms to my doctor, and they said it was nothing, or they told me it was a UTI. So, we often think about, when we’re making an intervention, we want to make sure that providers who are seeing patients first-line are also hearing about this as in their differential diagnosis, and that patients have enough knowledge that they feel really comfortable advocating for themselves. Many of our patients who are cancer survivors will tell us. 

Or when they speak on their own in different ways or say listen to your body, make sure you’re advocating for yourself, and if somebody doesn’t listen, find another doctor. I hate to say it, but you just have to know that those are things that happen. I think structurally, as providers, we have to be really aware of our own biases that we bring to patients and their families and our own health system.  

How are we set up to help people more? I think a lot of it is quick access to care. And so, I think that’s where we try to make some differences in terms of both policy and policy within a health system, and then larger policy that’s kind of maybe more not just one hospital, but statewide or nationwide.  

Katherine Banwell:  

You mentioned advocating for oneself and how important that is. If a patient feels like they’re not receiving good care or they’re being treated unfairly, what steps should they take to access better overall care? 

Dr. Nita Karnik Lee:  

Well, I mean, a little bit of it’s complicated, because so many of us are kind of limited by our insurance. We don’t always have the ability to do all the things. It can be scary, and it can be intimidating. I think one of the things that could be very helpful is to prepare yourself with a list of questions, to be like these are the questions. These are the things that I’m not feeling are being heard, and potentially even getting a second opinion. You can say this in a way that you can sort of feel like your doctor doesn’t need to feel bad. 

I even think second opinions, for me, I’m all for them. More information is better. That’s a way of positing it and saying, look, I know we’ve gone through these symptoms. These are my concerns. I don’t think they’re being addressed, and I would really like to get another opinion. Physicians are often like, yes, get another opinion. And so, those are ways that I think people can find the right fit for the physician that they want. 

What Are Common Endometrial Cancer Health Disparities?

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How can a patient’s individual circumstances impact the quality of their endometrial cancer care? Gynecological cancer expert Dr. Nita Karnik Lee reviews common health disparities and their impact on patient outcomes. 

Dr. Nita Karnik Lee is a Gynecologic Oncologist at The University of Chicago Medicine. Learn more about Dr. Lee.

See More from Evolve Endometrial Cancer
 

Related Programs:

Tools for Improving Access to Quality Endometrial Cancer Care

Tools for Improving Access to Quality Endometrial Cancer Care

 Why Should Endometrial Cancer Patients Engage in Their Care?

Why Should Endometrial Cancer Patients Engage in Their Care?

 Current Endometrial Cancer Treatment Approaches

Current Endometrial Cancer Treatment Approaches

Transcript:

Katherine Banwell:  

Dr. Lee, disparities in healthcare can impact a patient’s experiences and their outcomes. What are common health disparities that gynecological cancer patients can face? 

Dr. Nita Karnik Lee:  

Yeah, this is really – I always think about the cancer care continuum. This is the model that I think of. I think of what is risk reduction and prevention? What is early diagnosis and getting to the right person to take care of your cancer? Did you get the right treatment? And then did you get the right follow-up? 

Disparities can happen along those ways, and some of it can be related to access to care. Access, oftentimes, people just think it’s insurance, but it’s not. It is insurance. That’s a big part of it. We know that our states that don’t have as much insurance support for our patients who are poorer actually do worse. There’s worse survival. 

But I think it’s also does the person feel comfortable with the healthcare system? Are they connected with their doctor? Is it a language issue? Is it a bias issue that they’ve felt that they haven’t been comfortable in their health system before? All of those things can create these roadblocks along that whole cancer care continuum. Access really means more than just like it has to be acceptable. It has to be available. 

It has to be something that the person can feel comfortable with when they make a decision about treatment. That’s where we see things like people say, oh, that person declined surgery. I’m like, but did they really decline? Why did they decline? Did anyone get into what they were worried about, what their experience had been? So, we can’t just blame the patient and say, oh, they just didn’t want treatment. It’s really a complex area. The biggest disparity we see is in uterine cancer. 

So, Black women are much more likely to die of uterine cancer at any stage, especially older Black women. Some of this is access, but some of this is that there are actually differences in biology, and it’s kind of tricky because nobody thinks there is. Race is really a construct, right? It’s not really a biological difference, but there are differences in the types of more aggressive cancers that Black women get, and there are a lot of different reasons that people have started to look at that, both genetically, but also environmental influences, stress influences. 

So, the biggest disparity is probably in the uterine cancer, but unfortunately, we still see disparities by race in ovarian and cervical cancer. We also see disparities by income and insurance type. And so, I think those are kinds of things that are just the larger picture. 

What Are the Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer?

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What should women know about ovarian cancer symptoms? Gynecological cancer expert Dr. Nita Karnik Lee reviews potential symptoms of ovarian cancer and emphasizes the importance of regular communication with the healthcare team. 

Dr. Nita Karnik Lee is a Gynecologic Oncologist at The University of Chicago Medicine. Learn more about Dr. Lee.

See More from DETECT Ovarian Cancer

Related Resources:

How Is Ovarian Cancer Detected?

How Is Ovarian Cancer Detected?

 How Does Biomarker Testing Impact Ovarian Cancer Screening and Detection?

How Does Biomarker Testing Impact Ovarian Cancer Screening and Detection?

 Patient Empowerment | Advice From an Ovarian Cancer Expert

Patient Empowerment | Advice From an Ovarian Cancer Expert

Transcript:

Katherine Banwell: 

What symptoms should people look for? 

Dr. Nita Karnik Lee:  

So, this is a very important point. I think the symptoms that people should look for are symptoms that are in the bowel and bladder function area that are different or new to them. This can be changes in urinary frequency, or urgency, or sense of pressure, or not having as much bladder capacity, like having to run to the bathroom more frequently.   

Sometimes it can be changes in bowel movements, such as constipation, or not feeling like they’re emptying, or it can be changes in appetite, where people feel full really quickly, where they eat a small amount, and all of the sudden, they just feel like they can’t eat anymore. Obviously, worsening symptoms such as nausea or even throwing up, that’s a little more extreme, but that can happen.  

Again, if you’ve had these symptoms for years every time you eat a certain food or something like that, those are probably not new, and that probably is not going to be something cancerous. But if there’s something that’s new or different, the symptom seems to stick out to you that this isn’t your usual routine, and it seems persistent over two or three weeks, and it’s happening almost daily, or at least more frequently than you would expect, then I think that warrants telling your doctor about it, and really advocating, and knowing that not everyone is going to have ovarian cancer, which is good, but knowing that they should do the workup for this just to rule it out.  

Katherine Banwell:  

How reliable are PAP smears in detecting ovarian cancer? 

Dr. Nita Karnik Lee:  

PAP smears do not detect ovarian cancer at all. So, people with ovarian cancer have normal PAP smears. It would be very unusual to have an abnormal PAP smear due to ovarian cancer. A lot of the misconception is that patients have said, “Well, I had my annual exam last year. I got my PAP smear every three to five years. That seems negative. So, why did I get this cancer?” But the two are completely unrelated. 

How Does Biomarker Testing Impact Ovarian Cancer Screening and Detection?

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What role does biomarker testing play in ovarian cancer detection? Dr. Nita Karnik Lee reviews genetic mutations related to ovarian cancer and discusses key steps women with a family history of the disease should consider. 

Dr. Nita Karnik Lee is a Gynecologic Oncologist at The University of Chicago Medicine. Learn more about Dr. Lee.

See More from DETECT Ovarian Cancer

Related Resources:

How Is Ovarian Cancer Detected?

How Is Ovarian Cancer Detected?

 What Are the Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer?

What Are the Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer?

 Patient Empowerment | Advice From an Ovarian Cancer Expert

Patient Empowerment | Advice From an Ovarian Cancer Expert

Transcript:

Katherine Banwell:  

What is the role of genetic and biomarker testing as screening tools? 

Dr. Nita Karnik Lee:  

Genetic testing is very important. When we get, for example, and I’ll kind of back up a little bit to say if somebody gets diagnosed with ovarian cancer, that is actually everyone who has a diagnosis of ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal, because those are all sort of the same cancer, should get genetic testing to see if there’s a hereditary predisposition in their genetics that are passed on.  

That’s called germline testing. And those patients, and 20 percent of them, may actually have a hereditary condition that could be passed on. Then that’s where you can see how important it is. If I have somebody, and her children now know that the person has the BRCA gene, for example, then it’s really important for her children, men and women, to get screened, because then they may be able to do preventive measures, such as preventive surgery, preventive medications, or more frequent screening, to be able to prevent cancer from happening. 

Katherine Banwell:  

Okay. What genetic mutations are associated with ovarian cancer? 

Dr. Nita Karnik Lee:  

The ones that are most common that you hear about are something called BRCA, or B-R-C-A, 1 and 2. Those make up the majority of those mutations. There are some other less common ones such as Lynch syndrome, which is more associated with colon and endometrial cancer but can have about 10 percent to 12 percent of patients related to ovarian cancer as well.   

Nowadays, when we do genetic testing, we do a panel, so there are like 35 genes that are tested. There are a whole lot of different genes that can have an association with ovarian cancer, but the BRCA genes are the ones that most people hear about.   

Katherine Banwell:  

Should women with a family history of ovarian cancer take extra precautions? 

Dr. Nita Karnik Lee:  

That’s a very good question. So, if you have a family history, it’s probably important to talk to your doctor and to maybe even see somebody in cancer genetics who can draw out a family tree for you to see how high is this risk? If people have an ovarian cancer patient, one – or a breast cancer patient – some of it also matters what was the age that that patient got diagnosed. Some genetic mutation syndromes, actually the patient gets diagnosed much younger than average.  

The average age for ovarian cancer is about 60. Some patients will get it. For some genetic mutations, it’s still about that range. So, I think it’s important because even if you don’t have a genetic mutation, having a family member with ovarian cancer slightly increases your risk. 

Knowing those symptoms, knowing that your history will help your doctor dictate how quickly are they thinking about something else is really important, ultrasound, but we know that ultrasound is not perfect. 

Expert Perspective | The Value of Empowering Endometrial Cancer Patients and Care Partners

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How can patients feel empowered after an endometrial cancer diagnosis? Dr. Hinchcliff emphasizes seeing a GYN oncologist, asking questions, and bringing a care partner to appointments for support and understanding key decisions.

Dr. Emily Hinchcliff is a Gynecologic Oncologist at Northwestern Medicine. Learn more about Dr. Hinchcliff.

See More from Evolve Endometrial Cancer
 

Related Programs:

What Questions Should Patients Ask About Endometrial Cancer Testing?

What Questions Should Patients Ask About Endometrial Cancer Testing?

 Questions to Ask About Endometrial Cancer Clinical Trials

Questions to Ask About Endometrial Cancer Clinical Trials

Endometrial Cancer | What Is Personalized Medicine?

Endometrial Cancer | What Is Personalized Medicine?

Transcript:

Katherine Banwell:  

As a provider, Dr. Hinchcliff, how do you empower care partners and patients who have been diagnosed with endometrial cancer? 

Dr. Emily Hinchcliff:  

So, I think that one of the most important things about a diagnosis of cancer is to develop the relationship with your physician. I think that it is truly a partnership, and it is an incredibly important thing as you think about the next steps in your treatment. For someone who’s diagnosed with endometrial cancer – or, honestly, cancer in general – making sure that you’re seeing a cancer specialist in obstetrics and gynecology – it can actually be sometimes a little bit difficult. 

You might have gotten your diagnosis with a general OB/GYN, but it’s very important to see a GYN oncologist – a cancer-specific doctor – because we’ve actually shown that patients who see GYN oncologists are more likely to get guideline-appropriate care – so, care within what we think of as the right standard – and then they tend to do better with their cancer. So, that’s kind of the first step, is finding that doctor and developing the relationship with them.  

The second thing that I would say is that you should ask questions. Bringing people to your appointments to have an extra set of ears is always helpful. Taking notes and trying to keep track yourself of what was talked about in your appointment, I always encourage my patients to do, but really, asking questions. So, making sure that you know what those molecular tests are that your doctor is sending, making sure you know, once they’re sent, what your results were and how that might change what your treatment will be. 

Now, you don’t need to go and get a degree in biology or go to medical school. I think that that’s a lot to ask someone going through a cancer journey, but it is really important that you understand where those key decision points might be made because that allows you to feel not only like your own advocate, but that you have some ownership of those decisions and you understand why the decisions are being made in the way that they’re being made. 

Questions to Ask About Endometrial Cancer Clinical Trials

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What questions should patients ask about endometrial cancer clinical trials? Dr. Hinchcliff outlines key inquiries regarding trial structure and eligibility and encourages patients to explore online resources and support groups for additional information.

Dr. Emily Hinchcliff is a Gynecologic Oncologist at Northwestern Medicine. Learn more about Dr. Hinchcliff.

See More from Evolve Endometrial Cancer
 

Related Programs:

Current Endometrial Cancer Treatment Approaches
Advances in Endometrial Cancer Treatment and Research
 Where Do Clinical Trials Fit Into an Endometrial Cancer Plan?

Where Do Clinical Trials Fit Into an Endometrial Cancer Plan?

Transcript:

Katherine Banwell:  

What questions should endometrial cancer patients ask their doctor about a potential trial? 

Dr. Emily Hinchcliff:  

I think the two important things to ask are what is the structure, what am I actually going to get, or what could I get, depending on how many of those arms exist on the trial. 

Katherine Banwell:  

Would the doctor know that specific information, though? 

Dr. Emily Hinchcliff:  

It’s a good question, actually. So, generally speaking, most of us as physicians, in order to offer a trial to you, we have an overarching structure of that clinical trial. There may be some nuances about what the exact enrollment is in terms of the majority of the patients get this treatment, whereas a small minority get this treatment, or because of this patient’s specific mutation profile, they must be enrolled on this subset of the trial. 

So, there are some nuances there that, generally speaking, if I as the physician don’t know, I will contact what’s called my clinical trial coordinator or my research nurse, and they can come spell out some of those nuances, but if your doctor’s recommending a trial to you, they generally know what is the overarching goal, and what is the overarching treatment being tested. 

Katherine Banwell:  

Okay. How can patients learn more about clinical trials? 

Dr. Emily Hinchcliff:  

So, there are a lot of resources online. To some extent, it can be really overwhelming for patients to try and tease out am I a candidate, would I be eligible for a trial, or this trial, is this trial available at my institution. So, what I would say – first and foremost, ask your physician. I think that your physician is your advocate in this and your partner in your cancer care, and I think that certainly I and all of us as physicians feel really strongly that we can help you weigh those different options as you see them and as we learn about them.  

So, I think that that’s where I would start. I think there are a lot of online resources. The FDA and the government have a cancer trials website that you can go to and search for your specific cancer type. 

Many institutions – my own included – will have their own institutional trials website, where, on my institution, you can look up and see what trials do we have open on my institution, because obviously, the government will speak nationally, but your particular treating physician might not have the availability to give you that particular trial. And then, I also will say I think patient support groups are an incredible opportunity to understand what others have been going through and what treatments have been offered, and that can be a really helpful resource as well to get hooked into as a patient is trying to tease all this out. 

What Questions Should Patients Ask About Endometrial Cancer Testing?

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What questions should patients ask about endometrial cancer testing? Dr. Hinchcliff highlights key questions, while stressing the importance of understanding both germline and somatic tests and their impact on treatment. She emphasizes the value of open, ongoing communication with doctors.  

Dr. Emily Hinchcliff is a Gynecologic Oncologist at Northwestern Medicine. Learn more about Dr. Hinchcliff.

Download Resource Guide

See More from INSIST! Endometrial Cancer

Related Resources:

Essential Endometrial Cancer Testing

Essential Endometrial Cancer Testing

 Endometrial Cancer Biomarkers | Impact on Prognosis and Treatment

Endometrial Cancer Biomarkers | Impact on Prognosis and Treatment

 Endometrial Cancer | What Is Personalized Medicine?

Endometrial Cancer | What Is Personalized Medicine?

Transcript: 

Katherine Banwell:  

Right. And so, what questions should patients ask about their test results? 

Dr. Emily Hinchcliff:  

Yeah, so, I think first and foremost, just getting an understanding of what tests your doctor is sending is really important. This should be an open conversation, and it’s a conversation that you should actually have as you are going throughout your cancer journey. It’s not just a conversation at your diagnosis, it’s something that, if your cancer comes back, it should be reassessed. Are there additional markers that we should send that we didn’t send in the upfront setting? Do we have a complete picture of my cancer? 

And so, I think that is definitely a question to ask, is what tests are you sending, and what is the outcome of those tests, right? How would that test change your potential management or change the options that you have for me in terms of my cancer treatment? The other thing that I will say that I think can be confusing for patients as we think about the genomics and genetics of a cancer is that it’s really important to understand the difference between something called germline and something called somatic testing, and so, I’m going to explain that, because I think it can be confusing. 

The first, germline, is a test that is testing the genetics of the whole body – so, of a person – to see if there’s anything that’s hereditary that might have predisposed them to getting cancer. And so, that is something that, if it is abnormal, it may mean that family members need to get tested, and there are things that we can do to try and prevent cancers for other people in your family that might be at risk. So, that is germline testing. 

That’s different than somatic testing. Somatic testing is when we test the tumor itself to understand what about this tumor allowed it to become abnormal, allowed it to grow abnormally and keep growing the way cancer does? And both of those are really important. So, I think as you ask your doctor, “What tests are you sending?”, it’s important to ask about tests in both of those categories. 

Comprender su Papel en su Cuidado del Cáncer de Ovario Guía

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See More from COLLABORATE Ovarian Cancer

 

Comprender su Papel en su Cuidado del Cáncer de Ovario

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¿Qué medidas pueden tomar los pacientes de cáncer de ovario para ser proactivos en su cuidado? Este vídeo animado comparte consejos para hablar, participar en decisiones y consejos para aprender más sobre el cáncer de ovario.

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See More from COLLABORATE Ovarian Cancer

Related Resources:

Becoming Empowered and [ACT]IVATED After An Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis 

 Understanding Your Role in Your Ovarian Cancer Care

Understanding Your Role in Your Ovarian Cancer Care

 Optimizing Ovarian Cancer Care: Genetic Testing and Treatment Approaches

Optimizing Ovarian Cancer Care: Genetic Testing and Treatment Approaches

Transcript:

Dra. Thompson:

¡Hola! Soy la Dra. Thompson, y me especializo en el tratamiento de los cánceres ginecológicos, que son un grupo de cánceres que afectan los órganos reproductivos de las mujeres.  

Hoy, estoy aquí con Sarah, quien vive con cáncer de ovario. 

Sarah:

¡Hola a todos! En este video, la Dra. Thompson y yo hablaremos sobre el importante papel que los pacientes desempeñan en su cuidado y compartiremos los pasos que pueden tomar para sentirse seguros al tomar decisiones CON su equipo médico.  

Dra. Thompson:

Sarah y yo sabemos de primera mano que esto comienza con encontrar un equipo médico que los apoye. Sentirse a gusto al hablar sobre sus pensamientos y preocupaciones es crucial, porque compartir su opinión puede influir en su atención general.  

Sarah:

Totalmente. Cuando me diagnosticaron por primera vez, me sentía ansiosa y abrumada, pero la Dra. Thompson me animó a hacer preguntas, lo que me ayudó a sentirme más en control.   

También descubrí que buscar atención con un especialista marcó una gran diferencia. Dra. Thompson, ¿puede hablar sobre por qué eso es tan importante? 

Dra. Thompson:

Claro, Sarah. Los especialistas, como los oncólogos ginecológicos, tienen la experiencia para ofrecer los tratamientos y recomendaciones más actualizadas para el cáncer de ovario. Pueden brindar un enfoque más personalizado a su cuidado, lo que puede ayudar a manejar la enfermedad de manera más efectiva. 

Sarah:

Exactamente—colaborar con un especialista aumentó mi confianza en las decisiones sobre mi tratamiento. También me hizo darme cuenta de la importancia de aprender sobre mi cáncer, para poder participar en las conversaciones sobre mi cuidado. 

Dra. Thompson:

Así es, Sarah. Educarse a uno mismo es otro paso clave para sentirse empoderado. Cuando comprende más sobre su enfermedad, su diagnóstico y las terapias disponibles, le ayuda a tomar las decisiones que son mejores para usted.  

Y para ayudarle a aprender más sobre su cáncer de ovario, aquí está mi consejo sobre por dónde empezar:  

  1. Conozca su diagnóstico específico: Pregúntele a su médico sobre el tipo y la etapa de su cáncer de ovario. Esta información guiará sus opciones de tratamiento. 
  2. Además, asegúrese de haber realizado pruebas de biomarcadores, incluidas pruebas genéticas: Los resultados de las pruebas ayudarán a usted y a su equipo médico a comprender mejor su diagnóstico y pueden afectar la terapia.  
  3. Priorice su salud mental: Manejar un diagnóstico de cáncer puede ser emocionalmente desafiante. Busque apoyo de profesionales de la salud mental o grupos de apoyo para ayudar a sobrellevar la ansiedad y el estrés. 

Sarah:

Estoy completamente de acuerdo, Dra. Thompson. También hay muchos recursos disponibles que proporcionan información valiosa. Aquí hay algunos recursos confiables en los que puede confiar:  

Dra. Thompson, ¿qué consejo tiene para aprovechar al máximo el tiempo con su médico?   

Dra. Thompson: Buena pregunta, Sarah. Aquí algunos consejos: 

  • Primero, esté preparada: Anote cualquier pregunta o inquietud que tenga antes de su visita.  
  • Luego, tome notas: Lleve un cuaderno o algo para registrar los detalles durante su cita. 
  • También, lleve a un amigo o familiar: Tener a alguien con usted puede brindarle apoyo emocional y ayudarle a recordar la información compartida. 
  • Finalmente, discuta sus objetivos: Sea clara acerca de sus necesidades de tratamiento y cualquier inquietud relacionada con su estilo de vida. No dude en hablar durante la visita y asegúrese de que todas sus preguntas hayan sido respondidas.  

Sarah:

Esos son consejos muy útiles. Tener a mi hermana conmigo durante las citas fue reconfortante, y a menudo pensaba en preguntas que yo no había considerado.  

Dra. Thompson:

Eso es un excelente punto, Sarah. Recuerde, usted es el centro de su equipo de atención. Manténgase involucrada y nunca dude en comunicarse si tiene preguntas o no entiende algo. 

No olvide descargar la guía que acompaña a este video. Y para obtener más información sobre el cáncer de ovario, visite powerfulpatients.org. 

Understanding Your Role in Your Ovarian Cancer Care Resource Guide

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Understanding Your Role in Your Ovarian Cancer Care

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What steps can ovarian cancer patients take to be proactive in their care? This animated video shares tips and advice for speaking up, engaging in decisions and tips for learning more about ovarian cancer.

Download Resource Guide

See More from COLLABORATE Ovarian Cancer

Related Resources:

Becoming Empowered and [ACT]IVATED After An Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis 

 Comprender su Papel en su Cuidado del Cáncer de Ovario

Comprender su Papel en su Cuidado del Cáncer de Ovario

 Optimizing Ovarian Cancer Care: Genetic Testing and Treatment Approaches

Optimizing Ovarian Cancer Care: Genetic Testing and Treatment Approaches

Transcript:

Dr. Thompson:

Hi! I’m Dr. Thompson, and I specialize in treating gynecologic cancers, which are a group of cancers that impact a woman’s reproductive organs.  

Today, I’m here with Sarah, who’s living with ovarian cancer. 

Sarah:

Hi everyone! In this video, Dr. Thompson and I will discuss the important role that patients play in their care and will share steps you can take to feel confident when making decisions WITH your healthcare team. 

Dr. Thompson:

And Sarah and I know firsthand that this starts with finding a healthcare team that supports you. Feeling at ease when discussing your thoughts and concerns is crucial, because sharing your input can impact your overall care.  

Sarah:

Absolutely. When I was first diagnosed, I felt anxious and overwhelmed, but Dr. Thompson encouraged me to ask questions, which helped me feel more in control.  

I also found that seeking care from a specialist made a big difference. Dr. Thompson, can you talk about why that’s so important? 

Dr. Thompson:

Of course, Sarah. Specialists, like gynecologic oncologists, have the expertise to provide the most up-to-date treatments and recommendations for ovarian cancer. They can offer a more personalized approach to your care, which can help manage the disease more effectively. 

Sarah:

Exactly—collaborating with a specialist boosted my confidence in my treatment choices. It also made me realize the importance of learning about my cancer, so I could participate in conversations about my care. 

Dr. Thompson:

Absolutely, Sarah. Educating yourself is another key step in feeling empowered. When you understand more about your disease, your diagnosis, and available therapies, it helps you make decisions that are best for you.  

And to help you learn more about your ovarian cancer, here’s my advice for where to start:  

  1. Learn about your specific diagnosis: Ask your doctor about the type and stage of your ovarian cancer. This information will guide your treatment options. 
  2. Additionally, ensure you have had biomarker testing, including genetic testing: The test results will help you and your care team better understand your diagnosis and may affect therapy.  
  3. Prioritize your mental health: Managing a cancer diagnosis can be emotionally challenging. Seek support from mental health professionals or support groups to help cope with anxiety and stress. 

Sarah: I completely agree, Dr. Thompson. And, there are also plenty of resources available which provide valuable information. Here are few reputable resources you can rely on: 

Dr. Thompson, what advice do you have for getting the most out of your time with your provider? 

Dr. Thompson: Great question, Sarah. Here are a few tips: 

  • First, be prepared: Write down any questions or concerns you have before your visit.  
  • Then, take notes: Bring a notebook or something to record details during your appointment. 
  • Also, bring a friend or family member: Having someone with you can provide emotional support and help you to remember the information shared. 
  • Finally, discuss your goals: Be clear about your treatment needs and any lifestyle concerns you may have. Don’t hesitate to speak up during the visit and to ensure all of your questions have been answered.  

Sarah:

Those are really helpful tips. Having my sister with me during appointments was comforting, and she often thought of questions I hadn’t considered. 

Dr. Thompson:

That’s a great point, Sarah. Remember, you are the center of your care team. Stay engaged and never hesitate to reach out if you have questions or don’t understand something. 

Don’t forget to download the guide that accompanies this video. And for more information about ovarian cancer, visit powerfulpatients.org. 

Dr. Radhika Gogoi: Why Is It Important for You to Empower Patients?

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Dr. Radhika Gogoi: Why Is It Important for You to Empower Patients? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

Dr. Radhika Gogoi of Karmanos Cancer Institute underscores the critical role of educating patients about their treatment options, symptoms, and management strategies. She asserts that informed patients can ask more pertinent questions and make well-informed decisions regarding their care.

See More from Empowering Providers to Empower Patients (EPEP)

Related Resources:

Dr. Christina Baik

 Dr. Michael Kelley: Why Is It Important for You to Empower Patients?

Dr. Michael Kelley: Why Is It Important for You to Empower Patients?

 Dr. Andrew Hantel: Why Is It Important for You to Empower Patients

Dr. Andrew Hantel: Why Is It Important for You to Empower Patients?

Transcript:

Dr. Radhika Gogoi:

So I consider it really a privilege to care for my patients, as do all my colleagues I’m certain. And I think that one of those privileges is the opportunity to empower our patients, and that really comes through education. I really believe strongly that educating our patients about options, about symptoms, about management really allows them a chance to sort of ask better questions of me, of my team, whether that’s the radiation oncologist or medical oncologist, so that they can really formulate the treatment decision that’s best for them.

And I think that empowering them to be comfortable asking those questions and be comfortable questioning my answers, I think allows a better relationship. This is a long-term relationship. I always tell my patients we’re friends for life, and I hope a very caring and nurturing one as well. So it really is through education. I think that patients are empowered to make decisions for themselves that work for them and their families.