Your responsibilities
When people have cancer, feelings can run high if things don't run smoothly - not just in people with cancer and their families, but sometimes health professionals, who are often working under a lot of pressure.
Ways in which you can help those who are looking after you, and therefore help yourself, are:
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be as factual as you can when describing your symptoms - don't underplay or exaggerate them, and try to be concise
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use your own language - using medical jargon might cause confusion
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be polite but assertive - this usually gets much better results than being aggressive
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if you feel embarrassed talking about something, say so
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if you are given instructions by your doctor or nurses, do keep to them strictly, unless you have concerns. If so, do let your doctor or nurse know
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if you do not understand the instructions given to you, please say so. The staff caring for you would rather explain again, than have you worried or confused
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generally look after yourself, and recognise that your outlook may well affect your quality of life.
Need to talk to someone? We are here to help. Call CancerLine on 0808 808 2020