Searching for Answers, Finding Experts
By Jacqueline Beaushaw
Patient Library Supervisor
When I was first diagnosed with mesothelioma, I found myself at the computer a lot. I searched Google, WebMD and more. I was looking for answers. How long do I have? Is this pain normal? Are other people my age diagnosed with cancer?
I had so many questions and the internet had even more answers. However, the problem with asking the internet any question is that you don’t always get reliable answers.
I could easily find information about treatments, diets offering miracle cures and more. I received even more advice from well-meaning friends and relatives. The problem was that I couldn’t decide what advice was true and what wasn’t.
This experience resonates with many people affected by cancer.
It can be overwhelming looking for answers while also dealing with a new medical diagnosis and all that comes with it.
Twelve years since my diagnosis, I now know about resources that could have answered these questions. One of Moffitt’s greatest programs for seeking out information is the Meet the Experts series. Patients and their families can join these twice-weekly live sessions and learn directly from Moffitt's world-class professionals. Experts, like physicians, social workers and registered dietitians, host 30-minute sessions on a wide variety of topics.
The best part about these Meet the Expert sessions is that they’re interactive and you can ask questions in real time. Patients can listen to experienced oncology nurses share their best tips for managing chemotherapy side effects or talk with a social worker about tools to cope with a cancer diagnosis. If you want to know if sugar feeds cancer, you can actually discuss this with a registered dietitian.
If I could travel through time and give advice to my newly diagnosed self, it would be that there are resources and answers out there that can help you. I’d tell my 18-year-old self to ask every question and attend a Meet the Experts session.
For more information and to view select past sessions, visit Moffitt.org/MeetTheExperts or call 813-745-1690.