Understanding Health Literacy
Written by Nicole Riske, an undergraduate student at UNCW and a Public Health Intern at Going Beyond the Pink.
*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
What is Health Literacy?
Health literacy affects everyone and understanding your medical history, diagnosis, and health information is important because it can help prevent health problems, protect our health, and better manage our health problems when they emerge. According to the CDC, health literacy is the “degree to which a person has to find, understand, and use the health information and services they need to make actions and decisions for themselves.” Health literacy is important for breast cancer patients and survivors to use preventive services such as mammograms, reducing your mortality, and having a high quality of life. Having a high health literacy can be empowering to know and understand how treatments are going to affect you and how that can help you prepare and better manage the changes that are going to occur. If you are a breast cancer patient and have low health literacy, you might not get the most our of your doctor visits, treatments, or even knowing what doctors/health professionals to see. You may also end up experiencing more treatment-related complications as a result of non-adherence to medications and medical advice you didn’t fully understand.
Knowing your health and taking action is a way of practicing health literacy. Only 14% of our population have a high level of health literacy. Understanding breast cancer and the treatment options can be the first step to improve your own health literacy.
Ways to improve your health literacy:
Understanding medical terminology
Educate yourself about breast cancer components, procedures, and treatments before appointments - ask your medical team questions and let them know if you don’t understand.
For example, what to expect when you are going through chemotherapy or how to prepare for chemotherapy
Understanding services, medications, and breast cancer care
For example, understanding instructions on prescription drug bottles is critical - talk with your pharmacist about all the medications you are taking to ensure you aren’t taking medicines that interact with each other.
Know what you are signing off on on consent forms
Listen to the doctor’s directions and ask questions
If you want more resources, don’t be afraid to ask for them
For example, breast cancer support groups
Speak freely what you are worried about
For example, possible side effects of chemotherapy
Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask questions or to clarify information you have been told
Asking questions breaks down the communication barriers between the doctor and you as a patient!
Ask yourself “What did I get from what the doctor was telling me?”
Analyzing risks and benefits of certain breast cancer therapies
Bringing someone you love and trust with you to your doctor appointments
Taking notes is important and having them take notes too, you won’t miss any information
Know your personal medical history and your family’s
Has anyone in your family been diagnosed with breast cancer?
If so, what kind of treatments did they get?
Know the stages of treatment of breast cancer you will go through
For example, the physical, mental, and emotional changes that will happen to your body
