Margery E. Yuill Cancer Centre Patient Guide for Cancer Care Medicine Hat Regional Hospital 666 5 Street SW Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4H6 Main Desk: 403-529-8817 Cancer Patient Education
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 2
About Us Margery E. Yuill Cancer Centre Located at: Medicine Hat Regional Hospital 666 5 Street SW Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4H6 How to contact us: Main Desk: 403-529-8817 Opening Hours: Open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Services we offer: Chemotherapy Biological Therapy Colposcopy Oncology Consultations Follow-up Clinics Supportive IV Therapy 3
About Us Meet our staff: Members of our staff are: Doctors specializing in cancer Nurses trained in cancer care Social Worker Clerical staff 4
Your Arrival How do I get to the Cancer Centre? Click here for a map to the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital. Enter the main doors of the hospital Turn left and go to the doors between Tim Horton s and the gift shop Once through the doors turn left and walk to the yellow elevators Go to the 4th floor Once off the elevator turn left You will see the Cancer Centre straight ahead When you arrive at the Cancer Centre our receptionist will check you in and let you know where to go. Where do I park? You can park at: The parking meters on the street The Medicine Hat Regional Hospital parking lot If you are parking in the Hospital parking lot remember to take your ticket with you. You must pay for parking at a pay station inside the hospital before you leave. Handicapped parking spots are available. 5
Your Visit to the Cancer Centre What types of appointments might I have? 1. Appointments (consultations) to talk about your cancer and care. You will talk about your: Cancer diagnosis Cancer treatments Ongoing care Follow up care 2. Treatment appointments might include: Chemotherapy Supportive treatments (such as blood transfusions, symptom management, IV fluids if needed) 3. Appointments for tests which may include lab tests, X-rays, CT or MRIs 6
Your Visit to the Cancer Centre What should I bring to my appointments? Your Cancer Care Identification Card Alberta Health Care Card and photo identification card A person to listen and take notes during doctor appointment such as a family member or friend. 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, or personal music. There is a television in the treatment room. WiFi is also available in the hospital. Your own ear phones to use our DVDs Money to buy something to eat or drink 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. 7
Your Visit to the Cancer Centre Where can I get something to eat and drink? There is a Tim Horton s in the lobby of the hospital where you can buy food or drinks. There is also a cafeteria on the first level of the hospital. 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 403-529-8817. 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 want or need to get more coverage. 9
Covering the Costs of Your Cancer Care How can a social worker help me? A social worker can help you with: Employment Insurance forms Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPP Disability) Assisted Income for the Severely Handicapped Private Insurance Drug and Health Care Applications Travel to your appointments Finding a place to stay Our social worker can be reached at 403-502-8601. How can a cancer patient navigator help me? A cancer patient navigator can help you with: Help you understand your cancer and its treatments Help you learn about resources and services to support you and your family Assist the social worker to organize your transportation, find a place for you to stay, and helping you find financial support Please call your cancer patient navigator at 403-502-8648 ext.1022. 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 11
Cancer Patient Education 12 General Information Patient Guide Medicine Hat 2014 B0042