New! Spanish Bicultural Bag It Bag
Researched and Tailored for Latino/Hispanic Individuals With Cancer and Their Families
En 20 años de proveer bolsos Bag It a personas y sus familias, hemos aprendido que las creencias, las tradiciones y los valores culturales pueden afectar en gran medida la experiencia de una persona con el diagnóstico, el tratamiento e incluso la sobrevivencia del cáncer. Bag It Cancer trabajó estrechamente con muchos latinos e hispanos que tienen cáncer o han cuidado a alguien con cáncer. Juntos creamos este bolso especial en español e inglés solo para usted. Ver pagina en Español.
What makes this Bag different from our English version?
- FOCUS ON THE FAMILY. Because Latino and Hispanic families are usually involved in the treatment decision making and caregiving in a big way, we talk about the family’s role every step of the way. We explore how a cancer diagnosis can affect family dynamics, relationships and each person individually in the family. This Bag is for the individual with cancer and everyone around them—that’s why it’s in both Spanish and English.
- GENERAL HEALTHCARE AND CANCER BASICS. We stress the importance of every member of the family taking care of their overall health by having regular checkups and cancer screenings to prevent cancer or find it early when it is more treatable. Learn what cancer is, how it is diagnosed, treated and the concerns you may have about hereditary cancer. There’s also useful information about the role of home or natural remedies in cancer, plus tips on how to have a conversation with your doctor about this common cultural tradition. In addition, the Bag covers how some popular misconceptions about the causes, treatments and outcomes of cancer can prevent one’s understanding that many cancers can be treated successfully.
- COMMUNICATION. Many families simply don’t communicate, or have a difficult time, which causes stress for everyone and affects their physical and mental well-being. The Bag gives you how to’s for better communication with everyone along with getting help from social workers/healthcare team, faith leaders, support groups, etc. Being heard and asking questions at appointments is often a concern. We offer specific suggestions for expressing needs and preferences to your healthcare team and, when necessary, requesting medical interpreters.
- SUPPORTING CHILDREN’S NEEDS. We’ve added more information about how children of different ages may react to cancer in the family and give tips on how to relate to them in an age-appropriate manner.
Bag It Cancer’s brand new Spanish Bicultural Bag is packed with valuable and relevant content and tools that will help you be organized, well informed and ready to handle challenges. Patients report a greater sense of control when they know what to expect and are actively participating in their health care.
Please know that you and your loved ones are not on this journey alone.
What’s in the Spanish Bicultural Bag?
Your Spanish/English Bicultural Bag contains the My Companion Guidebook along with five booklets. You will find content that will be useful throughout your cancer journey—at diagnosis, during treatment, and beyond. All of these tools are supplemented with the Bag It online Cancer Resource Center, which is updated frequently with the latest information from our respected cancer partners.
My Companion Guidebook
Make this handy binder your own! Whether you’re tech-savvy or prefer pen and paper, this guidebook, available in digital and printable formats, is designed for you to make it uniquely yours. It’s filled with tools to help you stay organized and on top of everything. Each section is available in both Spanish and English and includes helpful tips on how to make the most of it, such as:
- Places to keep business cards from your healthcare team
- Simple forms to gather all your vital info in one spot: medical details, family history, medicines, and contact lists
- Customizable calendars, logs, and other forms to help you keep track of appointments, side effects, questions and notes for your healthcare providers, and more
- Spaces to sort and store your medical records like test results, reports, treatment plans, and other important info from your healthcare team
- Handy lists of resources for more info on cancer, financial help, and family support
Resource Booklets to Guide You
Information in the booklets comes from trusted cancer resources—including the National Cancer Institute (NCI), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) and more. All the content has been reviewed by our Latino/Hispanic healthcare and patient advisors for authenticity and relevance. Each booklet is divided into two sections, with the first half in Spanish and the second half in English. The content is the same in both sections.
Paths to Survivorship
This two-part guide covers many topics from cancer basics and your diagnosis, through treatment, and all phases of cancer survivorship.
- Your Health
- Cancer Diagnosis
- Cancer Treatment
- Coping with Cancer
- Everyday Concerns
- After Active Treatment Ends
- Long-term Treatment and Advanced Cancer
Download Volume 1
Download Volume 2
Cancer: Living Your Best Life
Here you will find information from the American Institute for Cancer Research about how to handle many common side effects of cancer treatment that can affect eating and nutrition. It has lots of simple ideas for a healthy lifestyle like how to choose and prepare foods in more nutritious ways, including some favorite Latin recipes the whole family will love.
My Appointment Companion
The #1 request from our research was more education about cancer. This new booklet was created specifically to give you extra support during your appointments when you may face new doctors, tests, procedures and cancer terms.
Bring your My Appointment Companion to every medical appointment. It prepares you for what to expect, gives tips on how to get the most out of your appointments, explains need-to-know medical terms and new cancer terms and has space to write down notes and answers to your questions.
Feel prepared before and during every appointment and know you can share details with your family and caregivers confidently.
Caring For The Caregiver
Originally published by the National Cancer Institute this guide is a must read for caregivers, family members, and friends supporting a loved one going through cancer.
Making the Most of Your Bag It Bag Video
NOTE: Concepts in this video for the English bag are similar to those in the Spanish Bicultural Bag. A new video specific to the Spanish Bicultural Bag will be coming.
Bag It Cancer Resource Center
Additional Help for You & Your Caregiver
Information is power–if it’s the right information. Bag It’s Cancer Resource Center can serve as your first stop when you are searching for reliable, respected, researched and updated information available on a wide array of topics related to cancer.
Topics include Clinical Trials, Insurance and Financial Assistance, Legal Rights, Workplace & Advance Care Planning, Drugs & Side Effects and more. View cancer resources in spanish.