What Do You Wish You Could Change About Cancer Care?

Each week on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, CURE® asks its readers to share their thoughts with the #CureConnect discussion question.

This past week, we asked: “What do you wish you could change about cancer care?”

Here’s what some of our readers shared:

• “More emphasis on survivorship and mental health care after cancer treatment is finished. Getting back to real life is not easy.” – H.VSJ.
• “Doctors informing you of what could happen next as your tumor grows. I am dealing with horrible leg pain because a tumor has impacted a muscle. If I was told years ago that this could happen, I would have spoken to a surgeon. I also needed to have two nephrostomy tubes placed. Again, if I was told that this would happen down the road, I would have spoken to a surgeon. While it would have been my sixth surgery and would not have cured me, it would have been well worth it.” – M.W.
• “More education for the patient, more follow up care after treatment especially concerning the mental health aspect.” – P.H.
• “That you have a mentor to hold your hand through your cancer journey, someone who walked the same path you are walking. I served as a Mentor Angel for 10 years to help others, I'm an 11-year survivor.” – J.J.
• “As both a former caregiver for my late husband who had CLL and a transplant (at age 45), and as a breast cancer patient myself (after he passed), I wish there was more concern and research on the impact of cancer care on caregivers and their young children.” – J.M.
• “Not being stifled by insurance for care.” – B.L-A.
• “We need help with dealing with the long-term side effects of treatments. I have survived 37 years, but they have not been normal or easy. I have been disabled for the past 13 years, I have to do my own research and I am tired of doing this alone.” – P.L.
• “The diagnostic phase works for me. The treatment phase works for me. The follow-up phase does not work for me. My recurrence was found by coincidence. Would like to have more quality time with my treatment team along with timely intervention if needed.” – N.D.

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