Advice for the Newly Diagnosed: How to Play an Active Role in Your Treatment

While a diagnosis of cancer can be overwhelming and fear-inducing, stage four metastatic breast cancer thriver Nalie Agustin has some advice for patients who want to maintain an active role in their treatment: be your own advocate.

CURE® recently spoke with Agustin, who is also an author, speaker and wellness advocate, at the 37th Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference® in March, where she shared some questions that newly diagnosed patients should ask of their care teams in order to empower themselves through what can be a scary time.

Transcription

I think it’s important to ask, for one [thing], if certain oncologists have patients who are doing well, and if so, what treatments are they on. And outside of medications, [ask] what else can you do as a patient to participate in your wellness, rather than just support the illness?

Maybe it’s not even the oncologists who will be able to give you the answers, but often the hospitals have certain nurses or even support groups or workshops that patients can get far more information when it comes to their health. Whether it’s psychological or even physical or exercise, there’s just so much you can do.

Often you think we’re the victim, but there’s a lot that you can do to be your own advocate and participate in your healing.