Page 5 - CUA-BCC _Brochure 2022

What about side effects?
Every medication causes side effects, some worse than others. Your doctor and other members of your healthcare
team will work with you to help manage these side effects. You deserve a reasonable quality of life during your
treatments and your healthcare team members will help you achieve that.

Can my treatment be modified to suit me better?
If you have unmanageable side effects, your doctor will change your treatment or your dose to help manage those
side effects. Over the weeks or months that your treatment is given, your doctor will also review how well it is working
and make changes if it isn’t working well enough. You will have regular follow-up visits and your doctor will monitor
your symptoms and your cancer, usually with imaging (such as computed tomography or CT scans).

Where will I receive my treatments?

Most of the time, your treatment plan will be worked out in a cancer centre, which is generally a large hospital in a
major city. You may have to travel to the cancer centre to get your treatments. However, in some parts of Canada,
smaller centres—such as infusion centres and local hospitals—can provide your treatments. Ask your doctor about
getting treatment closer to home if that better suits your needs.

Who will be part of my healthcare team?
Every hospital is a little bit different, but your healthcare team will usually include your family doctor, your oncologist,
one or more nurses or nurse practitioners, and your pharmacist. You may also work with an educator, a social worker,
a psychologist, a physiotherapist, a sexologist, a stoma therapist, a radiologist, a radiation oncologist, a surgeon, a
urologist or a pain specialist. All these individuals have the goal of helping and supporting you.

What else should I know before starting treatment?
Learning that you have cancer can be overwhelming, and it’s normal to have a lot of questions. There are many
possible treatment options with the goal of prolonging your life as well as maintaining your quality of life. Although
MUC is not usually curable, treatments can often provide sustained benefits and can help to manage your cancer.
Talk to your healthcare team to learn more about what is best suited for you.

It’s important to ask for support and maintain a healthy lifestyle during your treatment:
• Regular exercise is helpful at all stages of treatment. It reduces fatigue and improves quality of life.
• Eating a healthy diet can help manage side effects during treatment. Limit alcoholic drinks, red meat
and processed foods and eat more plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables and legumes.