Cancer To-Do List
For Cancer Patients and Caregivers
A cancer diagnosis can leave you wondering, “What do I do now?” The Cancer To-Do List provides research-based information, practical tools, and trusted resources to help you save time, money, and energy as you navigate cancer. Cancer wasn't on my to-do list—and it probably wasn't on yours. But now that it is, you don't have to navigate it alone.
WELCOME
Have you been recently diagnosed with cancer? Or maybe someone you love is battling cancer and you want to offer your support.
Whether you’re a patient or caregiver, or simply a concerned friend, you’ve come to the right place.
Meet Julie
CANCER WASN’T ON MY TO-DO LIST
Hello! My name is Julie Herbst.
In 2017, our family's world was turned upside down when we faced cancer for the first time. Two years later, cancer struck our family again—this time, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
As a busy, working mom, I already had a long to-do list to tackle each day. Overnight, cancer moved to the top of that list.
Over time, I created the Cancer To-Do List from everything I learned first as a cancer caregiver and then as a patient. I'm sharing what I've learned in hopes of helping you feel more informed, organized, and supported—and making your cancer journey a little easier.
About The To-Do List
The Cancer To-Do List contains five categories that together spell FAITH. Each one addresses a different part of navigating cancer—from making informed decisions and staying organized to caring for your body, mind, and spirit. You don't have to tackle everything at once. Explore all five categories or simply start with what you need most right now. If you're not sure where to begin, start with F—Flourish. And keep coming back to it. Because cancer may be part of your story, but it doesn't have to become your whole story.
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This step will guide you through organizing teams of individuals, both professional and personal, that you can rely on throughout your cancer journey. I’ve defined three specific teams: medical, support, and prayer.
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Work with your medical team to assess your health status through testing and understand some of the tests that you’ll experience.
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This section will equip you in how to proceed with your treatment plan from start to finish: give you steps to take before treatment, assist you in deciding on the best treatment plan, guide you through meeting with doctors, help you conduct your own research, and guide you in seeking second opinions.
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Having information at your fingertips is an important part of navigating through your cancer diagnosis and treatments. You’ll want to track information such as appointments, medical records, tests and labs, and your timeline.