Continuing Treatment

Many kinds of cancer treatment are given on a schedule (daily, weekly, monthly) that has been tested for effectiveness in clinical trials . Therefore, for the most benefit, it is important to stick as close as possible to that schedule .

If you have to be evacuated from the area where you are receiving treatment:

• Find a new oncologist and treatment facility in the new location as soon as possible.

• Ask for help from evacuation shelter staff, the Red Cross, Salvation Army, local health department, or call the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at 1-800-4-Cancer.

• If the Internet is accessible, go to the NCI Web site at www.cancer.gov. The NCI will help people find a location where they can receive cancer-related care. Through this service, an information specialist has a list of cancer doctors in your area that are open and available to accept new patients.

• You can also call the Red Cross at 1-866-438-4636 for the location of a hospital near you.

• If all else fails, go to a local hospital information desk and ask for help.

Written by: Kathleen A. Jarvis, RN, MS, Alere
Edited by: Rachael Myers Lowe, cancerpage.com