Cancer FAQ: Patients & Navigating Life with Cancer

There are so many questions for both patients and caregivers outside of cancer medical treatment. Some of the most pressing topics and the most popular advice shared by our The Patient Story community include:

How do we break the news of the cancer diagnosis to our loved ones? Especially to my kids?
Do I need to self-advocate as patient and caregiver in the medical decisions?
What’s the best way to deal with hair loss? What’s the difference between human-hair and synthetic-hair wigs?
Can we get pregnant after cancer treatment?

You can find all of our cancer patient and survivor stories here.

Table Of Contents

Dealing with a Cancer Diagnosis
Support During Cancer
For Caregivers
General Info by Cancer
Side Effects of Cancer Treatment
Newer Cancer Treatments
Family and Parenting
Finances and Work
Mental Health and Support
Health and Wellness
Other Resources

Dealing with a Cancer Diagnosis

What is a CBC Test?

What is a CBC Test?r

Learn about what a CBC test is and how the test can be used to help diagnose and monitor the progress of different types of cancer.

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BRAF Mutations and Cancer

BRAF Mutations and Cancer

The BRAF mutation is often linked to several forms of cancer including melanoma and lung cancer. Learn about the effects of the BRAF mutation.

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Is Frequent Diarrhea a Sign of Cancer?

Diarrhea is an unpleasant condition that can be mild and easy to treat, but in rare instances, it can be a sign of cancer. It's also a common side effect for many cancer treatments...

Shared Treatment Decision Making | Dr. Mark Lewis

Mark Lewis, MD, is not just an oncologist, he's a cancer survivor, himself. This gives him a unique perspective as both physician and patient. Hear more about his thoughts on second opinions and importance of self-advocacy...

Shared Treatment Decision Making | Dr. Babis Andreadis

Dr. Babis Andreadis of UCSF shares his approach with patients, the importance of patient self-advocacy, whether to ask for a second opinion, and more on shared treatment decision-making...

Support During Cancer

What to Say to Someone With Cancer | The Patient Story

There’s no clear way to know what is best to say to someone with cancer, but there are some basic guidelines to help make your words and actions matter. Hear what helped and what didn’t from the patients themselves...

How To Tell Your Family and Friends You Have Cancer

If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer and are unsure how to go about telling your friends and family, read stories from real cancer survivors who share their experiences on how they broke the news...

Gifts for Cancer Patients | The Patient Story

Gifts can be a great way to show your support for a loved one with cancer, but it can be tough to know what to give. Here are gift ideas from real-life cancer survivors - from physical gifts to volunteering your time...

How to Talk to Kids About Cancer

Hear how patients facing cancer navigated diagnosis and treatment while balancing their role as a parent. Hear their advice from how to talk to your kids about cancer to when to ask for help with childcare...

How to Help Someone with Cancer | The Patient Story

Read 10 acts of service and emotional support to help a loved one who's been diagnosed with cancer. These are suggestions from real former cancer patients who share what was most helpful for them...

For Caregivers

My Spouse Was Diagnosed With Cancer | The Patient Story

Marriage is wonderful, but a cancer diagnosis can create a disconnect for some couples. Here are three things to keep in mind in order to keep your relationship healthy after a diagnosis...

How to Help Someone with Cancer | The Patient Story

Read 10 acts of service and emotional support to help a loved one who's been diagnosed with cancer. These are suggestions from real former cancer patients who share what was most helpful for them...

General Info by Cancer

What is Leukemia? What is Lymphoma?

Leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells. Lymphoma affects lymphocytes–a type of white blood cell. What are the similarities and differences of leukemia and lymphoma? How are they diagnosed? How are they treated?...

What is Myelofibrosis?

Myelofibrosis is an uncommon bone marrow cancer that affects blood cell production. Learn more about this disease...

Side Effects of Cancer Treatment

Cancer Treatment Side Effects: Chemotherapy, Radiation, Surgery

Cancer treatments save lives, but they also come with side effects. Hear straight from patients who’ve been treated for cancer - what they experienced and what helped them get through it...

Hair Loss and Regrowth After Chemotherapy

Hear how cancer patients dealt with hair loss after chemotherapy and what some of them used to help growth after that loss...

Chemo Brain: What It Is and How To Cope

Read how cancer patients, caregivers, and coworkers can cope with chemo brain during cancer treatment...

Taxol, Hair Loss & The Inevitable New ‘Do

Why does losing one’s hair cause a waterfall of tears? Read the deeply personal stories of cancer survivors' hair loss and regrowth...

Radiation Burns: How to Cope With Radiation Burns

Read patient testimonies and advice about managing burns from radiation therapy...

Newer Cancer Treatments

Health Literacy

October is Health Literacy Awareness. Health literacy is when the information and health services you need align with your ability to process, understand, and use that information and those services. Why does it matter?...

Genetic Testing For Cancer

Read real genetic counselors and patients explain how genetic testing works, how it affects treatment and outcomes, and other important information to know...

Family and Parenting

How to Talk to Kids About Cancer

Fertility and Pregnancy After Cancer Treatment

Hear how cancer patients took steps to increase their chances of fertility and pregnancy after undergoing chemotherapy or other cancer treatments...

Egg Retrieval, Egg Freezing Before Chemotherapy & Cancer Treatment

Explore the egg harvesting, retrieval and freezing journey of a cancer patient who journals her daily schedule and the entire process...

Fertility After Cancer Diagnosis, Egg Retrieval & Egg Freezing

From egg harvesting to retrieval, making the decision between freezing eggs or embryos, the process of giving herself shots daily, paying for the procedures, and the paperwork that brought up so many unanticipated questions, Kimberly shares every part of this intimate journey...

Finances and Work

Financial Toxicity of Cancer Treatment

Financial Toxicity of Cancer Treatment

Dr. Fumiko Chino opens up about her late husband’s diagnosis and the financial toll it had on them.

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What Benefits are Available for Cancer Patients?

Find out what type of benefits cancer patients are entitled to, how to apply for them and some extra ways to cover your medical expenses...

Medicaid Updates and Cancer

Medicaid is a federal and state-run program that assists its patients with healthcare costs. Read how updates to the program in many states might make it easier to receive Medicaid coverage for your cancer...

Working During Cancer Treatment

Whether you continue working or take time off during treatment, there are many questions new cancer patients face when it comes to their job. Here's what survivors had to say about dealing with work during chemo, radiation, and more...

How Does Medicare Cover Cancer?

Cancer affects people of all ages. What can Medicare do for older cancer patients? How is Medicare changing in 2020? Guest writer Danielle K Roberts shares her expertise...

Mental Health and Support

Leaving the Hospital: Emotions and Support

Leaving the hospital after a surgery or course of treatment can evoke a variety of emotions. Hear from real cancer patients about how they were feeling when they went home and the support that’s available when you leave the hospital...

Coping With Scanxiety: Advice From Cancer Patients

Scanxiety is the you have about any scans that will update you on your current status as a cancer patient or survivor. Most patients report feeling this particular kind of anxiety at least once. Find out how real cancer patients and survivors cope with scanxiety...

Health and Wellness

Chemo Diet: Eating Healthy During Cancer Treatment | The Patient Story

It can be hard to stay healthy and in balance when you're going through chemotherapy. Here are some ways you can optimize your eating habits to alleviate some common chemotherapy side effects...

CBD Oil for Cancer & Treatment Side Effects

Unlike THC, CBD does not make a person feel “high.” Read on to learn more about CBD, its potential uses for cancer patients, and tips on finding the right product...

Yoga and Cancer, Meditation for Cancer

Wondering how a yoga or meditation practice can help in cancer treatment? Read the benefits of starting a practice, both for your mental and physical health, and get tips on how to start...

Chef Ryan Scott’s Cancer Story

Chef Ryan Scott’s Cancer Story You may have seen him compete on Top Chef or on network TV morning shows like The Today Show, but in this special clip, Chef Ryan Scott does more than share a recipe. He shares his own personal colon cancer story, describing how he was just a kid when he...

Should I Start Using Cannabis as Part of My Cancer Treatment Plan?

Find out if using cannabis as a way to manage cancer symptoms is a good option for you and which methods of ingestion are best...