Cancer Care

Frequently Asked Questions

Q - Do all people get the same chemo?

A - No it is dependant on the type of cancer and the type of cell.

Q - Can I eat before or during chemotherapy?

A - You may eat and take your regular medicines before and during chemotherapy.

Q - How long will chemo take?

A - Length of time and frequency of treatments will be determined by your individual diagnosis and treatment plan.

Q - Can other people with me during treatment?

A - Yes it is safe for others to sit with you but sometimes space is an issue.

Q - Can I work?

A - Many people continue to work though sometimes at reduced hours. Others opt to use their sick or disability time. We will work this out with you.

Q - Are there any special precautions necessary while I am on treatment?

A - If special precautions are necessary to your particular case, you would be specifically instructed but all patients should institute good handwashing, avoiding obviously ill people and should have a thermometer available to monitor fevers.

Q - Will chemo cause me to lose my hair?

A - Hair loss is dependant on type of chemotherapy given.

Q - How is chemotherapy given?

A - Chemotherapy can be delivered in a variety of ways. Although most chemo is given via a vein, some drugs are available in pill form.

Q - Can I drive myself to treatment?

A - On the first treatment we suggest you have a driver but dependant on the drugs received and your response to treatment patients can usually drive themselves.

Q - When do I call the office if I am not feeling well?

A - In general if you are not feeling well, have a new or worsening symptom or medications are not working you should call the office to report your symptoms.

Q - Who long does the radiation take?

A - Minutes on the table. You do not see or feel the radiation.

Q - What is a cancer registry?

A - A Cancer Registry collects, manages and analyses data on everyone diagnosed or treated with cancer at their facility. This confidential information is used by physicians and other health care professionals in caring for their cancer patients. Hospital Administrators have used Registry data for determining physician referral patterns or in determining the need for diagnosing equipment such as the recently acquired PET scanner in Radiology.

Q - Why does CMMC have a cancer registry?

A - Collecting and reporting cancer has been happening at CMMC since as early as 1937. As of January 1983 all Maine hospitals became responsible to report cancer cases to the newly established Maine Cancer Central Registry per legislative mandate. This data has been shared with the Central Registry to determine patterns of cancer incidence, for use in epidemiological research and to provide data for the planning and evaluation of cancer interventions. CMMC's Cancer Registry has computerized registry data available from 1982 to present.

Q - Why collect information on cancer patients?

A - The uses of registry data vary according to the needs of the individual cancer program. Registry data can be used for several important reasons: education, lifetime patient follow-up and for research.

Education may include statistical reports that enable physicians to evaluate the success of specific cancer treatments.

A - The Cancer Registry consists of cancer registrars whose primary responsibility is to assure that complete and accurate data are collected and maintained for all cancer patients diagnosed and/or treated within CMMC’s Oncology Departments. A certified tumor registrar (or CTR) is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the cancer data collection, case abstracting and maintaining of CoC Standards for the Cancer Program accreditation.

Q - What information is collected?

A - The registrar must work with the patients medical records to prepare a summary or abstract for each cancer patient. Demographics ,medical history, diagnostic procedures, primary site of cancer, cell type, stage of disease and cancer treatment such as surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy must be included in each abstract. Every patient is then followed for any subsequent treatment or recurrences for the length of their life-time.