Page 10 - Flipbook

Monitoring Self-Care

What can I do at home to help manage my care?

• It is important for you to monitor certain things at home (see patient diary) and report to your cancer care team any
side effects.

• DO NOT manage side effects at home without speaking with your cancer care team.

• However, there are some self-management tips you can do at home:

• Monitor your blood pressure as per your cancer care team guidance
(and note it in the diary)
• Get adequate rest. Short (less than one hour) daytime naps may be needed.

• Participate in exercise (if your doctor has authorized it)
• Stay well hydrated
• Use moisturizing cream on your skin
• Protect yourself from the sun and use sunscreen

• Eat a balanced diet
• Clean your teeth after every meal and at bedtime using a soft-bristle toothbrush and a non-abrasive toothpaste
• Be sure to inform other health care providers (family doctor, dentist, surgeon, etc) what treatment you have
been prescribed

• Be sure to inform your cancer care team of all medication changes

Summary

• You are a partner in your care with your cancer care team.

• You can help your cancer care team to care for you by monitoring for specific side effects and reporting
to your cancer care team.

• With your help, side effects may be recognized early and managed more easily.
• With ICI + VEGF-targeted therapy, the side effect profiles partially overlap. While the list of side effects is
relatively long, immune-related side effects may be less severe.

• It may be challenging for your cancer care team to determine if a side effect is caused by ICI or VEGF-
targeted therapy. Knowing the onset and description of the side effect may help them to know which
medication is causing the side effect. If the side effect requires an interruption in treatment, this
information may help your team know which medication should be temporarily held and which can be
continued.

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