South Florida Radiation Oncology & the CyberKnife Center of Florida

Tips for Effectively Communicating with Your Oncologist

While keeping up with routine appointments with your oncologist is a crucial part of undergoing cancer treatments, building a good relationship with him or her is equally important.  However, not many individuals understand how to truly get the most out of their relationship with their oncologist. Make sure you are getting the care you need with these tips for effectively communicating with your oncologist.

Prepare Yourself Prior to the Appointment

Communicating with your oncologist takes a small amount of preparation on your part. Consider the information you want your oncologist to provide to you, as well as what information you’re going to be disclosing. A great way to do this is to make a list of any questions or concerns you want to discuss with him or her beforehand so that you’re sure you have covered every important point.

Talk About Your Condition

The next step in facilitating effective communication with your oncologist is to discuss your condition in depth. This includes discussing any changes you have noticed during your daily activities and how your body is feeling. You may consider taking notes during your day so that you have a better handle on the items you want to discuss, such as changes in sleeping patterns, eating habits, and bowel movements.

Ask Questions

One of the best ways to effectively communicate with your oncologist during an appointment is to ask as many questions as possible. This may include the following questions:

• What treatment options are available?
• What are the benefits of each treatment?
• What are the risks and associated side effects?
• How will the treatment affect the important aspects of my life, such as working and caring for my family?
• What medications are you prescribing for my condition?
• How can I get ahold of you or the office in between visits?

If you are looking for a qualified Florida oncologist, then look no further than the oncology specialists with South Florida Radiation Oncology. We offer cancer treatments and diagnostic screenings using state-of-the-art technology. Learn more by contacting our cancer center at (888) 823-9162.

Stay Healthy: Why Being Active is Important

It’s a common fact that maintaining an active lifestyle can help reduce the risk of obesity-related diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes—but as an oncologist would tell you, staying healthy through diet and exercise can also reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.  In fact, the American Cancer Society states that staying at a healthy weight and exercising can greatly reduce the risk of developing or dying from cancer. Keep reading to learn why being active is so important for your health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, individuals who are physically active tend to be at a lower risk for several types of cancer, including colon cancer, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and lung cancer. In addition, research shows that maintaining an exercise regimen can help provide cancer survivors with a better quality of life.

There are several steps you can take to stay active and reduce your risk of cancer, including:

• Being as lean as possible without being underweight.
• Avoiding excessive weight gain at all stages in life.
• Limiting your intake of high-calorie foods and drinks to maintain a healthy weight.
• Getting at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity each week.
• Limiting your sedentary activity throughout the day, such as sitting, lying down, or watching TV.
• Eating at least 2 ½ cups of fresh fruits and vegetables each day.
• Limiting how much processed meat you are consuming.
• Choosing whole grains over refined grains.
• Limiting how much alcohol you consume.

 The South Florida Radiation Oncology Center is devoted to helping patients suffering from cancer. Learn more about your screening, diagnostic, and treatment options by contacting us at (888) 823-9162. You can also visit our website to learn more about our facility.

For the most comprehensive cancer treatment options available, give our oncologists with South Florida Radiation Oncology a call at (888) 823-9162. You can also visit our Facebook age for interactive blog posts by our patient support coordinator, Cindy Collins.  Our website also contains helpful links to all these topics on our Recources page at www.sfrollc.com.  

Liver Cancer

Studies show that there has been an increase in primary liver cancer in the United States over the past several years. One of the main reasons for the increase in incidence is due to the rise in the number of infections caused by hepatitis B and C. 

In this video, take a closer look at how liver cancer develops. Primary liver cancer is characterized as a cancer that originates in the liver cells, whereas secondary liver cancer occurs when a different type of cancer metastasizes or spreads to the liver. Learn more about the symptoms and treatment options for liver cancer in this full clip.

Have you just been diagnosed with liver cancer? Get answers to the questions you need by contacting the South Florida Radiation Oncology cancer center online or by calling (888) 823-9162 today!

For the most comprehensive cancer treatment options available, give our oncologists with South Florida Radiation Oncology a call at (888) 823-9162. You can also visit our Facebook age for interactive blog posts by our patient support coordinator, Cindy Collins.  Our website also contains helpful links to all these topics on our Recources page at http://www.sfrollc.com/.

Do You Know How to Cope with a Cancer Diagnosis?

Are you struggling to cope with a new cancer diagnosis? How does staying active help reduce your risk of cancer? Learn more about communicating with your doctor, coping with cancer, and what to expect from radiation therapy with these great resources.

• Explore this article from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to learn how physical activity can help reduce your risk of cancer.
• Check out this article from the American Cancer Society for tips on eating healthy and staying active.
• This article from MayoClinic.com provides 11 tips for coping with a cancer diagnosis. 
• Visit this link from Cancer.org for tips on how to cope with cancer in everyday life.

For the most comprehensive cancer treatment options available, give our oncologists with South Florida Radiation Oncology a call at (888) 823-9162. You can also visit our Facebook age for interactive blog posts by our patient support coordinator, Cindy Collins.  Our website also contains helpful links to all these topics on our Recources page at www.sfrollc.com.

Living With Radiation Therapy: What to Expect

While there are a number of cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and surgery, radiation therapy is one of the most utilized treatment options available. In some cases, radiation therapy is the only cancer treatment needed, while at other times, it is only a single part of the entire treatment process. Keep reading to learn what to expect while undergoing radiation therapy:

How Radiation Works

Radiation therapy is used to destroy cancer cells and keep additional cancer cells from growing. Unlike chemotherapy that is used to treat the whole body, radiation therapy uses high doses of radiation to kill localized cancer cells or tumors. The two main types of radiation therapy include external beam radiation therapy and internal radiation therapy. During external beam radiation therapy, patients lie flat on a treatment table under a radiation machine which aims the radiation beam at different angles to access the tumor. These treatment sessions typically last anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes and are often completed at an outpatient cancer center. Internal radiation therapy, on the other hand, is completed using a temporary implant that provides doses of radiation directly to the site of the tumor.

Possible Side Effects

As with any type of cancer treatment, radiation therapy may lead to a number of side effects. Some of the most common side effects include fatigue, loss of appetite, skin changes, digestive problems, and hair loss. While radiation therapy does not cause pain, the side effects may lead to uncomfortable symptoms, such as trouble swallowing, sore throat, or sores in the mouth.

When to Contact Your Oncologist

It is important to contact your oncologist if you begin to experience severe or distressing side effects during your radiation therapy. This includes side effects that are unresponsive to the medication provided to you, such as severe vomiting, chronic diarrhea, and bleeding.

Here at the South Florida Radiation Oncology and the CyberKnife Center of Florida, we believe that you should never have to go through the cancer treatment process alone. Get the compassionate, personalized cancer care you need by contacting South Florida Radiation Oncology at (888) 823-9162.

For the most comprehensive cancer treatment options available, give our oncologists with South Florida Radiation Oncology a call at (888) 823-9162. You can also visit our Facebook age for interactive blog posts by our patient support coordinator, Cindy Collins.  Our website also contains helpful links to all these topics on our Recources page at www.sfrollc.com.