Having an ultrasoundDiagnosis and Treatment

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This booklet uses easy wordsand pictures to help you getinformation about cancer.

You might want someone tohelp you look at the bookletso you can talk about it.

This booklet can help youlearn about cancer. But this is not the same as talking toyour doctor. If you are worried about your health, you should talk to a doctor or nurse.

There is a Word Bank at theback of the booklet to helpwith hard words. Any wordsin bold you can find in theWord Bank.

Scans

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Having an ultrasound

Scans and x-rays aredone in hospital by people called radiographers.

Scans and x-rays areways of taking photos of the inside of the body.This helps the doctorcheck if everything is OK or find out what is causing a health problem.

Scans and x-rays do nothurt. Tell the doctor if youhave any pain.

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Having an ultrasound

If you are pregnant somescans and x-rays can hurtthe baby. So before yougo for a scan you musttell the doctor if you thinkyou might be pregnant.

Here are some thingsthat you might want to doif you need to have ascan or x-ray.

= Ask the radiographer or your supporter to tell you what they are going to do before they do it.

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Having an ultrasound scan

An ultrasound scan usessound waves to make apicture of the inside of the body. They are oftenused to check babiesbefore they are born.

They are also used tocheck for cancer andother problems insidepeople’s bodies.

Having an ultrasound

= It could be a good idea to visit the hospital with your supporter before you go for the scan. Then you will know what it is like.

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Before your scan you willbe asked to take off someclothes and put on a hospital gown. You canusually keep your underwear on.

Having an ultrasound

You will be asked to lie on the bed next to the machine. You might beable to sit up, but it depends on which part of your body is beingscanned.

A gel will be put onto yourskin where the radiographer is going toscan you. This helps thescan to work better. Itmight feel cold.

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The scan can take from 5minutes to about half anhour.

At the end of the scan,the radiographer will wipethe gel off your skin. Youcan then put your clothesback on and go home.

Having an ultrasound

The radiographer willmove a microphone overthe part of your body thatis being scanned. It is notpainful but you will feelsome gentle pushing.

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Having an ultrasound

You might have to wait up to 2 weeks for the results. You might needto visit your GP or hospitalagain to get them.

The results might show that everything is OK or they may find that something is wrong. Ask for support if you are worried about your results.

Drawing by Tracey HarrisonVolunteer and Illustrator with learning disabilities

Word Bank

DiagnosisA diagnosis is finding outwhether you have an illness or not.

Word Bank

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RadiographerA person who takesscans of your body.

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Word Bank

Ultrasound scanA scan that uses soundwaves to make a pictureof the inside of the body.

X-rayThis is a picture taken ofthe inside of your body.

ScanThis is a picture taken ofthe inside of your body.

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Notes

Useful contacts

Drawing by Tracey HarrisonVolunteer and Illustrator with learning disabilities

Helpful organisations

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Useful contacts

Cancer Research UKA charity that is researching treatments for cancer. Its website has lots of information about cancer.Phone: 0808 800 4040Web: www.cancerresearchuk.org

Macmillan Cancer SupportA charity that helps people who have cancer. They give practical, medicaland financial support. They try to make cancer care in the UK better.Phone: 0808 808 00 00Web: www.macmillan.org.uk

NHS ContactsThese contacts give you information about your health and health services:England and Scotland Phone: 111Wales Phone: 0845 46 47Northern Ireland Web: www.hscni.net

Paul’s Cancer Support CentreGives help, information and complementary therapies to people withcancer. Phone: 0207 924 3924Web: www.paulscancersupportcentre.org.uk

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Useful contacts

RESPONDGives therapy to people with learning disabilities after trauma or abuse.They also offer training and support to carers.Phone: 0808 808 07 00Web: www.respond.org.uk

Written and audio material

Books Beyond WordsA series of picture books for people with learning disabilities. The bookstalk about cancer, health and bereavement.Web: www.booksbeyondwords.co.ukPhone: 020 8877 9799Email: admin@booksbeyondwords.co.uk

FAIR MultimediaPublishes a range of health leaflets, audio discs and CDs for peoplewith learning disabilities. This includes a series on cancer.Email: fair@fairadvice.org.ukPhone: 0131 662 1962Web: www.fairadvice.org.uk/health-publications.php

Online help

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Useful contacts

www.easyhealth.org.ukHas lots of online health information that is easy to understand.

www.macmillan.org.ukHas lots of information aboutcancer and where to get help.You can also talk to other people with cancer in the online community.

Videos and DVDsLeeds Animation WorkshopHas animated films on social issues for people with learning disabilities. Thereis one called ‘Getting Better’ about going to the doctor and the health clinic.Phone: 0113 248 4997Web: www.leedsanimation.org.uk/index.html

Speak Up Self AdvocacyHas DVDs and booklets for people with learning disabilities about health and illness.Web: www.speakup.org.uk

Macmillan Cancer Support has reviewed the information in thisbooklet and paid for it to be produced. They are a charity whohelp people with cancer. They have nurses and other healthworkers. They try to make cancer care in the UK better. Theyhave experts who can answer your questions about cancer andhow it affects your life. You can callMacmillan on 0808 808 00 00or textphone 0808 808 0121 (Mon–Fri, 9am–8pm). Or go tomacmillan.org.uk

CHANGE is a leading national Human Rights organisation led bydisabled people. We work for equal rights for all people withlearning disabilities. The cancer books and booklets thatCHANGE have produced are part of an ongoing campaign toraise awareness about the issues of cancer for people withlearning disabilities. You can call CHANGE on 0113 242 6619,email info@changepeople.org or find us at www.changepeople.org

This easy read booklet was produced by CHANGE © CHANGE 2016