Individuals in need of American Cancer Society services in areas affected by storms should contact our National Cancer Information Center at 1-800-ACS-2345. Cancer information specialists are available to answer calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Cancer Treatment

Q. What do I need to do first?

A: If you are in a temporary shelter and there are health care professionals on site, make sure you see them as soon as possible and let them know that you are undergoing treatment for cancer and need to be put in contact with a doctor or hospital as soon as possible. If you will need transportation to the doctor or hospital, be sure to notify them of this as well.

If there are no health care professionals at the shelter or your temporary housing, ask the shelter director, landlord, or person you are staying with to help put you in touch with a local hospital or call the American Cancer Society and we will assist you. Our number is 1-800-ACS-2345 (1-800-227-2345). If 1-800 numbers are not working where you are due to phone problems caused by the storm, look up the American Cancer Society number in the telephone book.

Q. What do I need to do if I have an emergency?

A: Seek treatment at the nearest emergency room, especially if you have:

• a fever of 100.5 or higher
• a surgical wound that has become red, swollen, tender, or has drainage
• a new pain or one that is getting worse

Many shelters have nursing staff who can help get you to an emergency room. Once you are at the emergency room, make sure you tell them about your cancer and if you do not have a new doctor yet, ask them for help locating one.

Q: What can I do about continuing my cancer treatment?

A: If you are still in the area where your cancer doctor or treatment facility is located but have stopped treatment due to power outage, loss of your transportation, damage to your home or damage to the doctor’s office or treatment facility you were going to, contact your doctor as soon as possible and find out what you need to do to continue treatment. If you cannot get in touch with your doctor, try your treatment facility, local emergency room, or your regular family doctor.

If you have had to evacuate from the area where you were receiving treatment, you need to find a new cancer doctor and treatment facility as soon as you can. Ask for help from the shelter staff, Red Cross, Salvation Army, or local health department. If all else fails, go to a local hospital information desk and ask for help.

Q: What about my cancer medication?

A: If you have your medications with you and know how to properly take them, continue with your therapy. If you need medication, are almost out of medication, or are unsure how to take it, you will need to tell a shelter nurse or ask someone at your shelter for help getting in touch with a pharmacy or doctor.

Q: What if I don’t know what kind of treatment I was getting for my cancer or what medicine I was taking for it?

A: If there is any way you can contact your doctor or treatment facility you were going to for cancer before the hurricane, you need to call them and get your medical records sent to you or to a local cancer doctor as soon as possible. This helps your new doctor know how to begin the best treatment for you right away and get any medicines you need filled for you. If you have health insurance and coverage for your medicine, your insurance company will have records on what services you have had. You can request that they share this information with you and/or your new doctor.

Q: What if I can’t get my medical records or get in touch with my doctor?

A: Write down anything you can remember about your treatment so that you will have this information to share with your new doctor. Include things like:

• type of cancer and stage of cancer if you know it
• type of treatment like chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery
• date of last treatment
• name of your doctor and treatment facility
• any medicine you are taking, cancer and other medicines, and if you don’t know names, describe it by color, size, shape, shot, pill or in a bag, how often you take it, etc.
• other illnesses or health problems you may have

Q. What if I am taking pain medicine for my cancer pain or medicine for depression?

A: Some pain and depression medicines can cause problems if you stop taking them all at once. When you contact your doctor you saw before the hurricane, your new doctor, or a pharmacy about getting your cancer medicine, be sure to ask about your pain and/or depression medicines and be prepared to tell them if you are still taking them, have reduced the amount you were taking, or have run out of pain and/or depression medicine and how long you have been without it. It is also a good idea to tell the nurse at the shelter, a shelter worker, or a family member or friend that you take these medications in case you have any problems.

Q. When will I be able to return to my previous doctor and treatment facility?

A: If you wish to return to your previous doctor or treatment facility for treatment, speak with your new cancer doctor and let him/her know of your desire to return home when possible for further treatment. As cancer treatment facilities are reopened, your doctor will let you know when he/she is aware of those openings that affect you. Make sure to ask for a copy of your medical records when returning to another treatment facility and contact your health insurance company to make sure proper steps are taken to ensure you the best care.

Living Conditions and Hygiene

Because you have cancer and may be taking medication to treat it, you have to be careful to protect yourself from disease and infections. Some kinds of cancer and some treatments for cancer can weaken your immune system and make you very susceptible to infections. Other people with cancer may not have this problem. Until you hear otherwise from your doctors, it's a good idea to be as careful as possible. The following questions address how to keep you safe in a shelter or other temporary housing.

Q: Should I get immunizations or vaccines being offered to displaced citizens?

A: If you are in an area where safe water and food may be a problem or injury is a danger due to storm damage, you may be asked to take shots for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Tetanus. While these vaccines are safe and may be necessary for you, you want to make sure the person giving the shots knows you have cancer and, if at all possible, contact your doctor or a doctor in the area. It is very important that you do not let anyone give you a “live” vaccine unless an oncologist familiar with your medical history says it is OK. These vaccines have live virus in them and it could cause problems for you.

Q. What can I do to protect myself from infection and germs?

A: The best way to protect yourself is to do the following:

• Wash hands with soap and water as often as possible. A good rule of thumb is to wash as long as it takes you to sing “Happy Birthday to You.”
• If soap and water are not always available, ask for alcohol hand sanitizers and be sure to follow directions on the product.
• If there is no safe water or you are unsure if the water is safe, drink only bottled water or boil water for one full minute. Please allow it to cool before drinking.
• Some foods can contain germs that may be harmful to you. Make sure all meats are thoroughly cooked and all fruits and vegetables are thoroughly washed in safe water. Be sure to ask your new doctor if there are foods you should avoid until you can get into permanent housing.
• Keep any cuts or wounds clean and covered with bandages UNLESS your doctor advises otherwise. If you have antibiotic creams like Neosporin, use those daily.
• Bathe or shower as often as you can and use clean towels if at all possible.
• Don’t share toothbrushes or unwashed eating utensils with others.

Q. Should I ask to be separated from others in the shelter or home? Should I ask to go to a “special needs” shelter?

A: You probably lived around other people before the hurricane and it is still safe to live around others as long as you avoid germs and other shelter clients who are sick. You may find more medical assistance is available in special needs shelters, but don’t worry if you cannot get into one of those -- just make sure to take good care of yourself and follow any instructions your doctor gives you.

Other Information to Help You Through This Time

Q. How can the Red Cross or FEMA help me?

A: The American Red Cross provides shelter, food, and emotional support for those affected by hurricanes. Contact the Red Cross at www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767).

If your losses occurred in an area covered by a disaster declaration, you may be eligible for federal relief funds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Contact www.fema.gov/assistance or call 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) to find out whether you are eligible.

Q. What should I do if I have private health insurance?

A: Be sure to contact your health insurance company as soon as you can, and let them know where you are located. Ask if there are cancer doctors and hospitals they want you to go to outside your network area. Because of the disaster, your insurance company may offer special services to help evacuees. Be sure to have proof of insurance with you on any doctor or treatment appointments. If you have lost or do not have your insurance cards, ask your insurance company to mail you information at a local address or to your new doctor’s office.

Q. What should I do if I have Medicare, Medicaid, or children on the state Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)?

A: Contact the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the national organization that oversees these three programs to see if they have made special plans to help hurricane evacuees. The number is 1-800-633-4227.

For cancer information and resources 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit us at www.cancer.org.