Newly Diagnosed Part II: Locating additional information

Have you ever left a doctor’s appointment feeling overwhelmed or confused about the information that was presented to you? This is especially likely if you received a new diagnosis. Here are some suggestions that may help you better understand your diagnosis.

Schedule a new appointment with your family doctor or specialist: Go prepared with a list of questions you would like answered. For suggestions on what questions to ask, read Newly Diagnosed Part I: Questions to ask your doctor on this website.

Health charity websites: Many chronic conditions have health charities associated with them that provide useful information on the condition, and additional resources geared toward the patient audience. For example, to find out more on a specific cancer, you could visit the Canadian Cancer Society’s website or contact their information line.

Contact your provincial nurse hotline: Each province, with the exception of Nunavut, PEI, and the Northwest Territories, offers a nurse hotline available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These hotlines connect you with a nurse who can answer your questions and provide you access to health services in your community...

Talk to your pharmacist: If you have questions regarding a prescription that you were given, your pharmacist can explain the details of your prescription and indicate how the medication is to be taken. He or she can also help you understand and manage possible medication side effects.

Related Articles:

• Newly Diagnosed Part I: Questions to ask your doctor
• Your Personal Health Record (PHR)