For people dealing with cancerwhich can be a torrential storm in its own rightdestructive weather can pose additional challenges. Ahead of this year’s hurricane season (which has already arrived in some areas of the country), it can help to prepare for potential flooding, power outages, and evacuation orders.
Tropical Storm Barry has been dumping torrential rain on Louisiana since it made landfall as a category 1 hurricane on Saturday (July 15). In the days leading up to the storm, residents in the hurricane-prone region were met with familiar warnings: listen to evacuation orders, stormproof your windows, charge your electronics, fuel up your car and your home generator.
Read More1. Stock Up and Keep a List of Your Medications
"Anyone who takes prescription medications should have 3-5 days' worth of their medications on hand," Dr. Matthew Berkheiser, MD Anderson's chief safety officer and associate vice president for Environmental Health and Safety, shared with MD Anderson's Oncolog. His advice mirrors that of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends having at least 7-10 days' worth of medications just in case.
Many patients with cancer are on more than one medication (indeed, many may be taking quite a few). Keeping a detailed list on you of the names and doses of your medications is a good idea, toojust in case you have to evacuate for longer than expected and need to fill your prescriptions elsewhere.
2. Charge Your Medical Devices
Several days ago, in advance of Tropical Storm Barry, Dr. Mindy Bowie, a Breast Surgical Oncologist at Woman's Hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Robin Maggio, a Cancer Social Worker at Woman's Hospital, shared their advice with Baton Rouge's local news station, WAFB. One of the first tips they suggested for patients with cancer was to make sure all electronic devices necessary for your care are fully charged, as storms may disrupt electricity.
3. Print Copies of Your Medical Records
Cancer treatment is often highly specific to your disease and medical history, which makes it important to prepare for the possibility that you might have to seek care from another doctor who’s not as familiar with your treatment plan.
The best way to do this is to make sure you have a copy (or several copies) of your medical records on hand to present to another cancer center or clinic should you need to. Dr. Bowie and Maggio recommend printing these records and putting them in a waterproof bag. With this tip in particular, it's smart to give yourself time. Many hospitals and cancer centers now have web portals that allow you to access your medical records electronically (in which case you should keep your login information handy) but in some cases, you may need to contact your hospital ahead of time.
If you aren't able to print out your medical records in full, the American Cancer Society suggests, at the very least, writing down the basics, including:
- Your type and stage of cancer
- The type of treatment you are receiving or have received in the past
- The date of your last treatment
- The name and contact information for your doctor
- Any other health problems, including allergies
- Your list of current medications
If you're participating in a clinical trial for your treatment, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) recommends making detailed notes of your National Clinical Trial (NCT) number, the name of your principal investigator, the names of any facilities where you receive treatment, and the exact type of treatment you're receiving.
RELATED: When Should I Consider Clinical Trials?
4. Plan For Evacuation Assistance
Some patients with cancer may have limited mobility. Whether you're in a wheelchair or just aren't in a state to be traveling for evacuation, you should consider these limitations, and how they might affect your ability to evacuate if the forecast calls for it. Some people may be eligible for evacuation assistance. MD Anderson's Dr. Berkheiser recommends calling 211 or visiting www.211.org.
5. Communicate With Your Doctor About Disaster PlansAnd Ask As Many Questions as Possible
Many cancer centers and hospitals located in disaster-prone regions have detailed plans in place to keep the facility up and running should something like a hurricane hit. (So don't assume your appointments are going to be canceled). As soon as you hear rumblings of a storm in the forecast, it's a good idea to ask your doctor about these plans, and how they might affect your individual treatment.
RELATED: You're a Person not a Patient: One Doctor's Priority When Meeting a New Patient
If you're in the middle of a course of treatment, it's especially important to ask your doctor about potential interruptions to, say, your chemotherapy infusions or your radiation sessions.
"Patients need to know how long they can go between treatments and be okay," Dr. Berkheiser shared with MD Anderson's Oncolog. "That's a conversation they need to have with their physician."
Dr. Bowie and Maggio also recommend asking your doctor about the best way to get in touch with them, including in the case of interrupted internet and cell service.
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