Talking With Your Child’s Cancer-Care Team

(HealthDay News) — If your child has cancer and is being treated by a team of specialists, frequent and open communication is essential.

The American Cancer Society suggests how to talk with team members:

• Actively take part in your child’s care.
• Communication should be clear, direct and honest.
• Treat team members with respect.
• Provide thorough and accurate information about your child’s health history.
• Address any confusion, frustration or disagreement directly with the team members involved.
• Develop positive and strong relationships with team members.
• Maintain reasonable expectations about how much time team members can spend with the patient and your family.
• Keep a running list of questions for team members.
• Ask for explanations of medical or technical terms you don’t understand.
• Take notes during important discussions.
• Keep a log of all hospitalizations, tests and treatments.

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