KNOW YOUR BODY. CHECK YOURSELF. ACT EARLY.
In the United States, 72,000 15-40 year olds are diagnosed with cancer EVERY YEAR.
Self-advocacy: What is it?
It’s your ability to communicate effectively and to make the person you are talking with aware of your own interests and needs. It means standing up for yourself. Well-practiced advocacy skills help you to be heard and get your needs met.
Self-advocacy skills can help you solve problems, make informed decisions, and empower you to gain more control in your life.
Think about self-advocacy skills when it comes to your health care. Ultimately, you are the expert on your own body. Sometimes it can be hard to question your doctor or other health care providers. Have you ever been given information that is unclear or inaccurate? What if you are given advice or a treatment plan by your doctor or nurse that you don’t agree with? Do you ignore it? Self advocacy works better – it can help you learn what is really causing the problem you are concerned about. Advocating for yourself involves developing the confidence to ask questions, describing symptoms clearly and becoming educated about your condition.
Here are some ways you can become your own best advocate with your doctor-
- With each visit, your time with the doctor is limited. Be prepared by bringing a list of questions. Writing them down ahead of time helps because it is easy to forget some of your questions once you're in the exam room. Also bring the names and dosages of any medications you are taking. If you have previous test results, bring them along. If you have an undiagnosed illness, keep a journal of symptoms and how you have attempted to treat them.
- Be honest, however uncomfortable it may be. If you take medicine but not as prescribed, say so. If you smoke or drink, speak up. It is your doctor's job to keep you healthy, but they cannot do so if you hide things from them. You are free to decline to take your doctor's advice, but lying to your doctor about your lifestyle habits could be harmful to you.
- Ask questions about anything you are uncertain about or that is confusing to you. Remember, health care providers are asked questions all the time. If you don't fully understand something, repeat it back to the doctor for accuracy. Make an appointment for a regular "well-visit" physical well in advance.
- Take an active role in your health care. Get a second opinion if necessary.
- If your doctor is demeaning, dismisses your concerns, or is generally not acting in your best interests, it's time to search for a new doctor. Don't feel bad about the need to do this. Your voice is the most important tool you have in advocating for yourself and your health. Your life is in your hands.
Take charge of YOUR health!
- Start by making some healthy lifestyle choices when it comes to diet, exercise, sleep, and any condition-specific requirements. You may have no control over your genetics, but how you treat your body every day has an enormous impact on your overall health and on your quality of life. For some helpful suggestions, check out our "Reduce Risk" page.
- If you’re healthy, your goal should be to stay that way. It is your body, take charge of it. If you have a medical condition, research it and educate yourself as much as possible. Your doctor can steer you toward good resources, but it helps to do the homework first.
