Lloydminster Community Cancer Centre Patient Guide for Cancer Care Lloydminster Hospital 3820 43 Avenue Lloydminster, SK S9V 1Y5 Main Desk: 306-820-6144 Cancer Patient Education Last updated: 12-June-14
Table of Contents About Us 3 How to contact us Services we offer Opening hours Meet our staff Your Arrival 6 How do I get to the cancer centre? Scroll down to the page you need or click on the headings on the left to go directly to that section. All blue links displayed in this guide can be clicked to be directed to that website. Your Visit to the Cancer Centre What types of appointments might I have? 8 What should I bring to my appointments? Where can I get something to eat and drink? Where can I fill my prescriptions? Covering the Cost of Your Cancer Care How can I get help to cover the cost of my prescriptions? How can a social worker help me? How can a cancer patient navigator help me? 9 Questions About my Cancer Care 11 Last updated: 12-June-14 2
About Us Lloydminster Community Cancer Centre: Located at: Lloydminster Hospital 3820 43 Avenue Lloydminster, SK S9V 1Y5 How to contact us: 306-820-6144 Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 3:00 pm Services we offer: Chemotherapy Chemotherapy teaching Blood Transfusions PICC, IVAD and CVC care Last updated: 12-June-14 3
About Us Meet our staff: Members of our staff are: 2 doctors 3 chemotherapy treatment nurses 4 pharmacists 7 pharmacy technicians Last updated: 12-June-14 4
Your Arrival How do I get to the Cancer Centre? Click here for a map to the Lloydminster Hospital. When you arrive at the cancer centre, register at the admitting desk on the main floor. You will need your Alberta Health Care card. Where do I park? Parking is available across from the hospitals main entrance, at no charge. Last updated: 12-June-14 5
Your Visit to the Cancer Centre What types of appointments might I have? You will have an exam, assessment and consultation with the doctor. You will talk about your: Cancer diagnosis Cancer treatments and side effects Ongoing care Follow up care Appointments might include: Chemotherapy treatments Supportive treatments (such as blood transfusions or intravenous hydration) Infection control Appointments for tests which may include lab tests or Xrays. Lab appointments may be arranged in the hospital in your local community. It is important that you have your lab tests completed the day before your treatment. Your local lab will be expecting you and a requisition will be faxed to their lab department. It is crucial that you have your blood tests done as scheduled or your chemotherapy appointment may have to be cancelled. Chemotherapy cannot be ordered by the doctor and prepared by our pharmacy until the blood test results are completed. Last updated: 12-June-14 6
Your Visit to the Cancer Centre What should I bring to my appointments? Alberta Health Care Card and photo identification card Cross Cancer Card All the medicines you are currently taking including vitamins and natural health products Your pain medicines (if you are taking any) A list of questions you may have (for ideas go to page 11) Something to read, DVD movies to watch, personal music. Bring your own ear phones. Money to buy something to eat or drink A person to listen and take notes during doctor appointment such as a Did you know? Natural health products may affect the way your body responds to cancer treatments. Always tell your doctor all the medicines you are taking, including natural health products. Last updated: 12-June-14 7
Your Visit to the Cancer Centre Where can I get something to eat and drink? There is a cafeteria located in the hospital on the main floor. Where can I fill my prescriptions? You can fill your prescriptions at your local pharmacy. However, if you have questions about your chemotherapy drugs, you may contact our clinic staff at 306-820-6144. Last updated: 12-June-14 8
Covering the Cost of Your Cancer Care How can I get help to cover the cost of my prescriptions? Alberta Health Care pays for the costs of your chemotherapy and radiation therapy. However, it does not cover pain and anti-nausea medicines. It is important that you have some type of private or provincial health insurance because some medicines are expensive. If you have no drug coverage, we encourage you to apply for Alberta Blue Cross Non Group coverage as soon as possible. It will take 3 to 4 months before Alberta Blue Cross starts covering your medicines. For example, if you apply on March 1st you will not get drug coverage until July 1st. You can find information and application forms for Alberta Blue Cross Non-Group coverage at: http://www.health.alberta.ca/services/drugs-non-group.html If you need help with drug coverage or need more information about Alberta Blue Cross Non-Group, call your social worker or cancer patient navigator. If you do not have a social worker please ask the navigator how you can access a social worker. If you have private or public insurance find out: If you have a yearly maximum for prescriptions What is your co-pay portion If your plan is a direct bill plan or a reimbursement plan What level of coverage you have i.e., full or partial coverage You may need to get more coverage. Last updated: 12-June-14 9
Covering the Costs of Your Cancer Care How can a social worker help me? A social worker can help you with: Counselling Financial concerns Finding support services You can contact the social work at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton at 780-432-8766. Last updated: 12-June-14 10
Questions about my Cancer Care Your cancer doctor will answer most of your questions while you are talking about your cancer care. Listen carefully and be clear with your doctor about your concerns. If you wish, you can use these questions to guide you when you are talking with your doctor. Make sure you get all the answers you need during your appointment. 1. What kind of cancer do I have, and where did it start? 2. What is the name of my cancer? 3. Has the cancer spread to other parts of my body? If it has, where? 4. How advanced is my cancer? 5. What treatment option or options do you recommend for me? 6. What are the goals of the treatment you recommend? 7. If I choose not to have treatment what will happen? Click on each of these helpful links for more information Canadian Cancer Society American Cancer Society National Cancer Institute OncoLink My Health Alberta Last updated: 12-June-14 11