Know Your Medical History

Knowing your medical history is key to maintaining good health. Consider completing a treatment summary to organize your medical information. This will help you better understand your medical history and accurately communicate this information to your healthcare providers - communication if essential to receiving good care. It helps track your progress related to previously identified problems and provides an opportunity for your physician to screen for potential new medical issues.

Your medical record should include:

Your specific diagnosis, including stage and location of cancer.
Date of diagnosis.
Dates and duration of treatments.
Number of relapses and dates.
Copies of any pertinent X-rays, MRIs and CT scans.
Names and telephone numbers of treatment providers.
Your specific treatment (not all treatments will apply to you), including:

Chemotherapy (drug, dosage total, frequency and modality).
Surgery (date and type, including placement of central-line catheters).
Radiation (area and total dosage).
Date and type (autologous, related or unrelated allogenic) of bone-marrow or stem-cell transplant, if applicable, as well as treatments in preparation for any transplants.
Any complications and follow-up recommendations.
Previous and current medications.