Things to know if you get cancer in 2026

A cancer patient diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in 2026 shares practical advice for navigating treatment, emphasizing the importance of persistence in scheduling appointments, obtaining second opinions from top cancer centers, consulting NCCN treatment guidelines, and taking active control of one's own care through documentation and follow-up. The author warns that AI systems may downplay cancer severity and that patients should seek genetic testing, talk to others who've had similar procedures, and verify surgeon experience and complication rates.