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Our 24/7 cancer helpline provides information and answers for people dealing with cancer. We can connect you with trained cancer information specialists who will answer questions about a cancer diagnosis and provide guidance and a compassionate ear.
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Our highly trained specialists are available 24/7 via phone and on weekdays can assist through online chat. We connect patients, caregivers, and family members with essential services and resources at every step of their cancer journey. Ask us how you can get involved and support the fight against cancer. Some of the topics we can assist with include:
For medical questions, we encourage you to review our information with your doctor.
Thinking about your health care wishes and making an advance directive can be done by anyone at any age. Through honest talks with your loved ones, you can explain what’s important to you and what kind of treatments you do and do not want. These talks can save your loved ones from guilt, uncertainty, or conflict if decisions about your health need to be made and you are unable to make them. Your loved ones can help make sure that your wishes are followed, but first they must know and understand what you want.
Some important steps and things to consider might include:
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as editors and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
American Society of Clinical Oncology. Putting your health care wishes in writing. Accessed at cancer.net. Content is no longer available.
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO). Advance directives. Accessed at http://www.caringinfo.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3284 on February 19, 2019.
National Institute on Aging (NIA). Advance care planning: Healthcare directives. 2018. Accessed at https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/advance-care-planning-healthcare-directives#what on February 26, 2019.
Moye J, Sabatino CP, Brendel RW. Evaluation of the capacity to appoint a health care proxy. VA Author Manuscripts; 2013; 21 (4): 326-336.
Last Revised: May 13, 2019
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
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