Full Answer
When is treatment as needed The most appropriate choice?
For example, if the natural history indicates that cure is unlikely with standard therapy, and the clinical course is indolent, treating as needed to manage the condition with lower toxicity could be the most appropriate choice. · Question 5: What’s the Level of Evidence for the proposed therapy?
Should doctors involve patients in making treatment decisions?
Doctors are encouraged to involve patients in making treatment decisions, but this poses challenges for doctors Practical concerns include the extra time needed and the difficulties in eliciting patients' preferences, exacerbated by limited appropriate information to support patient involvement
How do I choose the best treatment for my situation?
Choosing the best treatment for your situation is a decision that needs to be made after all information has been shared with you, and after you’ve had time to ask questions and have them answered. This process is called informed consent and allows people to play an active role in making decisions that affect their health.
How do doctors use statistics to describe treatment options?
Your doctor may mention statistics when describing treatment options. These may include relative survival rates, disease-free survival rates, and progression-free survival rates. These numbers may be a good way to learn how the treatment options differ. But they cannot predict how well the treatment will work for you.
What is it called when you make medical decisions for someone?
They are called “directives” because they state who will speak on your behalf and what should be done. In California, the part of an advance directive you can use to appoint an agent to make healthcare decisions is called a Power of Attorney For Health Care.
What are the other types of patient decision-making options?
A theoretical model on medical decision making is categorized into 4 types according to the role of the staff providing the medical service, that is, paternalistic, informed, agent, and shared [7-9].
What is decision-making in healthcare?
Health care decision making is a process that includes definable steps in a desirable sequence. The process is universally relevant (i.e., it applies in all settings) and enduring (i.e., it has remained applicable over time and will continue to apply in the future).
What is the medical terminology for treatment?
[trēt´ment] 1. the management and care of a patient; see also care. 2. the combating of a disease or disorder; called also therapy.
What is patient decision making?
It is a process in which clinicians and patients work together to make decisions and select tests, treatments and care plans based on clinical evidence that balances risks and expected outcomes with patient preferences and values.
What is assisted decision making?
Assisted decision-making: a person may appoint a decision-making assistant – typically a family member or carer – through a formal decision-making assistance agreement to support him or her to access information or to understand, make and express decisions. Decision-making responsibility remains with the person.
What are 3 types of decision-making?
Decision making can also be classified into three categories based on the level at which they occur. Strategic decisions set the course of organization. Tactical decisions are decisions about how things will get done. Finally, operational decisions are decisions that employees make each day to run the organization.
What is decision-making in nursing?
Decision making in nursing is a complex process that may be defined as a series of decisions, including obtaining subjective and objective data in relation to a patient situation and the evaluation of that data to implement actions to achieve a desired outcome (Lauri et al., 2001).
What is meant by decision-making in nursing?
Nursing decision-making research Clinical judgment or decision-making, includes conclusions about a patient's status and needs with a determination of a method to implement to best meet patient needs including an assessment of the patient response (Tanner, 2006).
What is the definition of treatment planning?
A detailed plan with information about a patient's disease, the goal of treatment, the treatment options for the disease and possible side effects, and the expected length of treatment.
What is intervention vs treatment?
An intervention is a staged approach for encouraging someone experiencing mental health problems and/or addiction to seek treatment. Although it is often used with people who have substance abuse problems, it may be used with anyone who is avoiding treatment or engaging in self-destructive behavior.
What are the common medical terms?
Top 25 medical terms to knowBenign: Not cancerous.Malignant: Cancerous.Anti-inflammatory: Reduces swelling, pain, and soreness (such as ibuprofen or naproxen)Body Mass Index (BMI): Body fat measurement based on height and weight.Biopsy: A tissue sample for testing purposes.Hypotension: Low blood pressure.More items...
When making any treatment decision, should you consider the risks, benefits, and supporting evidence for the treatment?
In addition, you should consider if the treatment is compatible with your personal values and preferences and if it is accessible at a reasonable cost.
What is the foundation for informed medical decision making?
The Foundation for Informed Medical Decision Making is an organization that offers DVD and VHS-based decision support tools, which can be ordered from their website.
What is decision support tool?
A decision support tool will take into account both the quantitative and qualitative benefits of each outcome: it will consider the fact that a mastectomy will greatly lower the changes of getting breast cancer, but also how surgery might affect your self-esteem and feelings about your body.
What to do if you have high risk breast cancer?
You have several options. You could get extra checkups and do self-tests at home, or you could opt to have preemptive surgery. If you decide to get surgery, you could get a mastectomy, oophorectomy (a surgery to remove the ovaries), or both.
Is treatment decision emotional?
Making a treatment decision can be complex and emotional. Luckily there are tools to help you weigh all the factors that apply in your individual situation. Some of these can be found online.
Is it important to consider the risks, benefits, and evidence together?
It is often helpful to consider the risks, benefits, and evidence together. For example, you may decide to pursue a course of treatment even if there is only a moderate amount of research for it but the potential benefits are high and the known risks are low. On the other hand, if the risk of a treatment is high and the benefit ...
How to make a reasonable treatment decision?
To make a reasonable treatment decision, keep in mind the type of cancer you have, its stage, what treatment options are available and how likely these treatments are to work under these circumstances. Talk to your doctor about trustworthy websites, books and patient education materials to supplement your discussions.
What to do if you don't feel supported?
If you don't feel supported in your decision-making, contact advocacy groups such as the American Cancer Society, which can put you in touch with cancer survivors who may be able to help you through this process. It might help to write down your expectations and preferences before you meet with your doctor.
How to make sure you're getting the information you need to make an informed decision?
Effective communication with your doctor is the best way to make sure you're getting the information you need to make an informed decision. To make communicating with your doctor easier, try to: Speak up when you don't understand. If you need further explanation or clarification, tell your doctor.
Can you endure the side effects of harsher treatments?
If this is your goal, you might not be willing to endure the side effects of harsher treatments. Comfort. If you have an advanced stage of cancer or a cancer that hasn't responded to treatments, you might decide that comfort is most important to you.
Can you cure cancer?
When you're first diagnosed, it's likely you'll be interested in treatments that cure cancer. When a cure is possible, you may be willing to endure more short-term side effects in return for the chance at a cure. Ask your doctor about your chances for a cure to help you understand more about your situation. Control.
What is palliative care?
Note: Palliative care can include treatment of the disease in order to relieve disease-related symptoms. To achieve a durable remission: in order to live with no evidence of disease and the frequent need for re-treatment. This is a common intent of therapy for some types of indolent lymphomas.
What is the most appropriate goal of lymphoma therapy?
For example, for aggressive lymphomas the most appropriate goal of therapy is usually to cure . For lymphomas with a variable clinical course a period of observation might be needed to judge its behavior.
What is the intent of therapy for indolent lymphoma?
Curative intent: to achieve a possible cure where the disease might be eradicated and never returns. This is a common intent of therapy for aggressive lymphoma and Hodgkin disease.
How to treat lymphoma?
We suggest that you avoid the following : 1 Start a treatment without first consulting at least one lymphoma expert - unless symptoms or clear dangers indicate a strong need to treat, and you are comfortable with the rationale. 2 Base your treatment decision on the outcomes of other patients. Keep in mind that each lymphoma and patient can be unique. 3 Believe conspiracy theories used to promote unorthodox therapies. Consider that these theories require the complicity of multiple scientists, doctors, and regulators - who also get cancer and whose loved ones, spouses, parents, grandparents and children also get cancer.
What is the goal of aggressive therapy?
The goal of aggressive therapy is to get a durable response, and a possible cure. It may be that the aggressive approach is more reasonable for the young patient, especially if it's determined that you have high-risk disease.
Do follicular lymphomas require immediate treatment?
Some patients with widespread disease have no symptoms or signs of progression for years and do not require immediate therapy, while others cases demonstrate rapid tumor growth and need early treatment." Source towercancerfoundation.org/
Is aggressive therapy better than cure?
Virtually every treatment approach has potential tradeoffs: An aggressive therapy might give a better chance for a complete and more durable remission (or cure), but can have greater toxicities in the short or long term.
What are the treatments for cancer?
These options may include: Surgery. Radiation therapy. Chemotherapy. Hormone therapy. Targeted therapy. Immunotherapy. Active surveillance, also called watchful waiting.
What is palliative care?
He or she may also use palliative care, also called supportive care, to manage symptoms and side effects. Make sure your doctor explains the goals of your treatment plan and how it will affect you. And make sure it aligns with your personal goals for treatment.
What happens after cancer diagnosis?
After a cancer diagnosis, people with cancer and their families have to make a number of decisions about treatment. These decisions are complicated by feelings of anxiety, unfamiliar words, statistics, and a sense of urgency. But unless the situation is extremely urgent, take time to research your options, ask questions, ...
Can you get a second opinion from another oncologist?
Many people seek a second or even third opinion from another oncologist, and many doctors encourage it. Different oncologists may have different experiences with various treatments. So seeking multiple opinions can help you make a decision or confirm your current treatment plan. First check with your insurance company to find out if your policy covers a specific doctor or health care system.
Is cancer care expensive?
The cost of cancer care is often high, and you may have expenses that you were not expecting. Your health care team can help you identify costs related to your treatment options or suggest ways to manage medical and related costs.
