(NC) Receiving a diagnosis of a serious illness can be overwhelming. While digesting the news and learning about how this could affect your daily life, there is the added worry of figuring out care, treatment and next steps. Navigating the health care system, finding resources and communicating your wishes are all important tasks ahead.
Here are three things you should think about when navigating a serious illness.
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Understand the illness. The first step is to get information about your illness, what stage it is in and how it will impact the length and quality of your life. Some of the questions you can ask your care team are whether the illness is curable, what kind of treatment you will need and how that could impact your daily life. With this information, you will be able to better plan for the journey ahead.
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Plan with your care team. Next, ask your care team what milestones and decision points are ahead, and how you can plan for them. Think about what is most important to you while navigating the illness and share this with your care team and those closest to you.
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Find support. Navigating an illness can be tough, consider what other supports you or those closest to you may need, such as physical, social, and spiritual support – and where this care can be received. Your care team can also support you with additional care information and refer you to other providers and specialists should your illness get more complex.
Palliative care can help.
While often only considered to be for those nearing the end of their lives, a palliative approach to care can start at diagnosis and continue throughout a serious illness, even while undergoing treatment that is meant to cure. It is beneficial for those at any age or stage of illness. It can be provided by a variety of health and social service providers and is intended to help you and those closest to you manage and navigate your illness every step along the way.
Learn more about palliative care and navigating a serious illness at canada.ca/palliative-care.
