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From the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service
Ask the CIS cancer columns January 2007
Q: I would like to quit smoking. What steps should I take?
A: Quitting smoking works best when you’re prepared. Before you quit,
START by taking these five important steps:
S = Set a quit date.
T = Tell family, friends, and co-workers that you plan to quit.
A = Anticipate and plan for the challenges you’ll face while quitting.
R = Remove cigarettes and other tobacco products from your home, car,
and work.
T = Talk to your doctor about getting help to quit.
The smoking cessation counselors at the Smoking Quitline of the National
Cancer Institute (NCI) can help you develop a quitting plan and begin a
life without cigarettes. They can help you figure out how to cope with
your cravings and deal with the temptation to smoke. They can also send
you free self-help materials. You can call the NCI’s Smoking Quitline
at 1–877–448–7848. For information online, click here.
Q: I am meeting with my doctor this week to discuss my abnormal Pap test
result. What questions should I ask?
A: A Pap test (sometimes called a Pap smear or cervical smear) is a
simple test used to look at cells in the cervix. Pap tests can find
cervical cancer or abnormal cells that can lead to cervical cancer.
Abnormal Pap test results are very common—more than 3 million women each
year receive similar results.
The good news is that almost always, women with abnormal Pap test
results do not have cancer of the cervix. However, if you have cervical
cell changes, your health care provider may want to do a series of tests
or treatments. Tests help your health care provider learn more about
the changes in your cervix. Treatments remove or destroy cells with
changes so that healthy cells can grow back.
Some questions you might want to ask your doctor about your abnormal Pap
test results include
- What do my Pap test results mean?
- Do I need additional tests or treatment?
- Do I need to do anything special to prepare for the test or treatment?
- Do I need to do anything special to care for myself afterward?
- Will my health insurance pay for the test or treatment you suggested?
More information is in the NCI publication Understanding Cervical
Changes: A Health Guide for Women. You can get a copy by calling the
NCI’s Cancer Information Service at 1–800–4–CANCER. You can also view
and print it from the web.
Q: I’m taking chemotherapy for breast cancer and don’t feel like eating.
What can I do?
A: It is very important to eat well while you are getting chemotherapy.
People who eat well can cope with side effects and fight infection
better. Also, their bodies can rebuild healthy tissues faster. On some
days, though, you may feel you just cannot eat. Try these suggestions
when you don’t feel like eating:
- Eat frequent, small meals or snacks whenever you want, perhaps four to
six times a day.
- Try to drink liquids during the day such as juice, soup, or other
fluids that can give you important calories and nutrients.
- When possible, take a walk before meals; this may make you feel hungrier.
- Eat with friends or family members. When eating alone, listen to the
radio or watch TV.
More information about eating well and other issues during chemotherapy
is in the NCI publication Chemotherapy and You: A Guide to Self-Help
During Cancer Treatment. You can get a copy from the NCI’s Cancer
Information Service at 1–800–4–CANCER. You can also view and print it
on the web.
Q: My doctor mentioned a cancer prevention clinical trial. What
questions should I ask her to help me decide whether to participate?
A: Cancer prevention trials test new approaches, such as medications,
vitamins or other supplements, special diets, or exercise programs, that
doctors believe may lower the risk of developing a certain type of
cancer. Most prevention trials are conducted with healthy people who
have not had cancer. Some trials are conducted with people who have had
cancer and want to prevent a return of the cancer, or reduce the chance
of developing a new type of cancer.
Here are some questions you can ask your doctor before you decide what
to do:
- How can the study help me?
- What are the possible risks of being in the study?
- How will my health be checked during the study?
- How long will the study last?
- How will my health information be kept private?
- How will I be told about the study results?
More information about taking part in cancer prevention trials is in the
NCI publication If You Want To Find Ways To Prevent Cancer…Learn About
Prevention Clinical Trials. You can get a copy from the NCI’s Cancer
Information Service at 1–800–4–CANCER. You can also view and print it
on the web.
The National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service (CIS) is one of the country’s most trusted resources. Ask the CIS is distributed by the Mid South CIS, which serves Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Call the CIS toll-free at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. |
