As many people and caregivers know, there is an awful lot of information and paperwork that accumulates after a diagnosis and throughout treatment and survivorship. So what information is essential to keep? And what is the best way to keep it all organized?
Here’s a partial list of important medical information to keep:
• Complete contact information for all of the doctors, specialists, and treatment centers that have been involved in your care
• Copies of diagnostic test results and pathology reports
• Your diagnosis, including specifics
• A list of the treatments you have received, including drug names, doses, sites, doses of radiation therapy, and details of surgeries, plus any complications or side effects you experienced
• A schedule for your follow-up care. Details of any other major illnesses, chronic health conditions, and hospitalizations
• Your family cancer history
• Dates of past physical examinations, including screening tests and immunizations Copies of all your medical bills and insurance claims
As you sort through and clear out old paperwork, use a paper shredder for things that contain personal medical details and insurance information. This will help protect your identity.
Get organized. There are many different ways to organize medical information. Some people prefer paper, and use a filing cabinet, a three-ring binder, a file folder, or even a box. Other people save digital copies of test results and scans on CDs and type notes on the computer, scan their medical records, or use an online service. Both methods can be successful. Just make sure to keep all of this information secure, either in a safe location, such as a safe deposit box or fireproof home safe, or by using password-protected files.
Cancer organizations like ASCO also provide many tools to help keep track of medical information.
Here are a few resources from Cancer.Net:
• ASCO’s cancer treatment plans and summaries help collect information about your cancer, cancer treatment, and follow-up care.
• The free Cancer.Net mobile app helps track symptoms and side effects, tracks questions and records answers, and saves information about medications, on your smartphone or tablet.
• The ASCO Answers guides to different cancers have check boxes to help keep track of recommended tests, procedures, and treatments, plus, space for notes.
~ Info: https://www.cancer.net/blog/2014-03/clearing-clutter-tipsorganizing-medical-information