What You Can Do

The patient you are caring for may feel a loss of control over his or her life because of the pancreatic cancer. For this reason, asking for help may not be easy. So, take the first step. Offer your help. Below are just a few things you can do to care for the patient. For additional suggestions on what you can do, visit the websites of the organizations listed in our Support Resources section.

Offer to go along to doctor visits

To get the most from doctor visits, prepare ahead. Start by paying attention to changes that may be happening to the patient. He or she may not even be aware of many of these changes.

Write down any changes in the patient's physical and emotional well-being. Bring this list with you to the doctor. Note such things as whether the patient has:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Lost weight
• Changes in bowel movements (constipation, diarrhea)
• Developed a rash or other skin irritations
• Shown signs of depression, such as no longer enjoying the same activities he or she did before the pancreatic cancer

Make a list of questions or concerns to discuss with the doctor

A list helps you remember important issues. It can also help you keep your questions to the point. (If you have many concerns you wish to discuss with the doctor, make a separate appointment so that the doctor can spend more time discussing them with you and the patient.) Remember to bring the list with you to the next doctor's appointment.

1. What is the best time to take Tarceva (erlotinib)?
2. If the patient develops a rash, what can be done to treat it?
3. If the patient has diarrhea, what over-the-counter medications can be used to treat it?
4. What other side effects may occur with Tarceva?
5. Where can I find information on in-home caregivers?
6. Who can answer questions if you are not available?

Keep track of all medications

Other medications and supplements -- including vitamins and herbal products -- may affect how well Tarceva works. For this reason, it's important to tell the doctor what other medications and supplements the patient is taking. The chart below is an example of one that can help you do just that. Make a chart and fill it in with all the medications the patient is taking. Or, you can print this page and use this example as a place to start. (In the example, Tarceva information is filled in already.) Remember to include over-the-counter vitamins and herbal products. Bring it with you to each doctor visit. Be sure to update the chart if there are any changes in the type or amount of medications the patient is taking.

Update contact information

Update contact information for key members of the cancer care team for the patient, including the:

• Oncologist (including emergency contact numbers)
• Nurse
• Primary care doctor
• Pharmacist
• Nutritionist
• Social worker
• Substitute caregiver(s)
• Spiritual counselor

Keep this information posted next to the phone or on the refrigerator so it will be handy in an emergency. Share this information with family members and friends.