What are advance directives?

Advance directives are legal papers. They tell your loved ones and doctors what to do for you if you can't tell them yourself. They are a key part of planning ahead when you have advanced cancer.

Filling them out keeps you in control of how you want to be treated. It also lets you choose who will be in charge of your care. By completing them, you make your wishes known for everyone to follow. That can also give your loved ones peace of mind, since they won't have to guess what you would have wanted during a hard time.

Advance directives are one part of a larger effort. The goal is to ease the money, legal, and emotional load your family may face later. Other steps can include checking with your insurance company before you start a new treatment or hospice, and organizing your important records. If it feels right, you can also plan a funeral or memorial service.

For many people, these subjects are hard to bring up. But talking about them now can help avoid problems later. A lawyer or financial planner can help make sure you've taken the right steps. Your health care team can point you toward more detail on advance directives.