Before starting treatment

Doing your homework after receiving a cancer diagnosis is critically important and could save your life. If the person with cancer is a child, you can do these thing on their behalf.

7 things to do before starting treatment:

Talk to a cancer coach

A Cancer Coach can advise about your proposed treatment plan and ways to increase your chance of returning to full health. See Talk to a cancer coach

Learn all you can about your cancer type

Info about your type of cancer (from the National Cancer Institute), along with treatment updates that may aid your recovery. See Learn about your cancer type

Get a second opinion

Get a second opinion on your diagnosis or treatment plan – especially if cancer was detected during routine screening. See Get a second opinion

Check all your treatment options

Check out all your treatment options. Learn about Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative (Standard + Complementary combined) treatments. See Cancer Treatment Options

Ask the right questions about proposed Treatment Plan

When discussing any proposed treatment plan with your oncology team it is vital that you ask the right questions. See Ask the right questions

Having chemo? Request a Sensitivity Test

If you’re having chemo this test will shows which drug or natural substance will work best for your cancer. See Request a Chemosensitivity Test

Compile a Personal Health Record (PHR)

Your PHR (copies of tests, x-rays etc) is compiled and maintained by you. Having copies of x-rays could save you from repeat exposure if original images are lost.
See Compile a Personal Health Record

Page updated August 2025