10 Cancer Questions for Your Medical Oncologist About Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, or Immunotherapy
- Why are you recommending this treatment for me? Why is it preferable to others?
- What does this treatment do, exactly? How well does it usually work?
- What are the risks and side effects of this treatment?
- What is the cost of this treatment?
- What are treatments for my type and stage of cancer?
- Where can I find more information about the types of cancer treatments?
- What are the benefits and risks of each of these treatments?
- What treatment do you recommend? ...
- When will I need to start treatment?
What are the best questions to ask a patient?
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What are good questions about cancer?
References
- Qian CN, Zhang W, Xu RH. Defeating cancer: the 150 most important questions in cancer research and clinical oncology. ...
- Wee JT, Poh SS. The most important questions in cancer research and clinical oncology: question 1. ...
- Venniyoor A. ...
- Chinese Journal of C. ...
- Chinese Journal of C. ...
- Chinese Journal of C. ...
- Chinese Journal of C. ...
- Chinese Journal of C. ...
What questions to ask a cancer doctor?
Questions to Ask About Colorectal Cancer It’s important to have honest, open discussions with your cancer care team. They want to answer all of your questions, so that you can make informed treatment and life decisions.
What questions should a doctor ask?
- When do I need to stop eating or drinking?
- What medicines should I take the day of surgery?
- When do I need to be at the hospital?
- What should I bring with me to the hospital?
- Do I need to use a special soap when I bathe or shower?
What questions should you ask if you have cancer?
Cancer treatmentWhat are my treatment options?Which treatment do you recommend and why?What's the goal of my treatment?What side effects does this treatment have?How often will I have treatments? How long will they last?How should I prepare for treatment?
What questions should I ask before starting chemo?
Questions to Ask About ChemotherapyWhich chemo drugs will I be given?How will the drugs be given to me?How often will I need to get chemo?How long will my treatments last?Where will I get chemo?What's the goal of chemo for my cancer?What are the chances that the chemo will work?More items...•
What questions should I ask at my first oncology appointment?
Having said that, here are some things that are helpful to discuss during your first appointment: What is my diagnosis and how soon do I need to start therapy? What are my treatment options, what's involved, and how long will each treatment take? What are the benefits of the recommended treatment?
What main factors do doctors consider when deciding on the cancer treatment options?
Some aspects you'll want to consider for each treatment include:Side effects. Take time to review the side effects of each treatment and decide whether they'll be worth enduring or too much to handle. ... How treatment affects your life. ... The financial costs of treatment. ... Your health in general.
What do I need to know before getting chemo?
Stay healthy and strong.Take it easy.Don't compare your body to how it was before chemotherapy.Drink lots of water.Go for a walk every day, if possible.Try to eat something. ... Read the provided handouts regarding chemotherapy and its side effects.Try acupuncture to help alleviate pain and nausea.More items...•
What should you not do during chemotherapy?
9 things to avoid during chemotherapy treatmentContact with body fluids after treatment. ... Overextending yourself. ... Infections. ... Large meals. ... Raw or undercooked foods. ... Hard, acidic, or spicy foods. ... Frequent or heavy alcohol consumption. ... Smoking.More items...•
How do I prepare for my first oncology appointment?
Your first cancer appointment can be overwhelming....Before the appointment, do this:Write down everything that is on your mind. ... Ask a friend or family member to come with you as a second set of eyes and ears, to listen to what the doctor says, and to take notes for later reference.More items...•
How do I talk to an oncologist?
Improve Communication With Your OncologistEstablish goals for the conversation. ... Don't ask “yes” or “no” questions. ... Listen and repeat. ... Don't keep secrets. ... Be clear about what matters in your life. ... Don't leave an appointment without “next steps.” This is especially true when we're getting bad news.More items...•
What happens at an oncology consultation?
Once all of your information is collected, your oncologist will want to make sure you understand your cancer. They will usually start by explaining the general characteristics of your type of cancer, and then talk to you about your particular diagnosis.
How do I choose a cure for cancer?
Understand your diagnosis. ... Know your options. ... Understand the goals of treatment. ... Ask about the side effects of each treatment option. ... Consider the risks and benefits of each treatment option. ... Get a second opinion. ... Find help managing the cost of cancer care. ... Consult guidelines or other decision-making tools.More items...
What should a doctor consider before deciding on a treatment option?
When making any treatment decision, you should 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 factors determine cancer treatment?
Patient-centered Factors that Affect Cancer Treatment Decision-MakingPatient's beliefs and values.Ethnicity.Decisional control preferences.Health related experience.Patient's perception of the decision-making process.Personal factors.
10 Cancer Questions for Your Medical Oncologist About Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, or Immunotherapy
Why are you recommending this treatment for me? Why is it preferable to others?
10 Cancer Questions for Your Surgeon or Surgical Oncologist
Why are you recommending this surgery for me? Why is this treatment preferable to others?
10 Cancer Questions to Ask the Radiation Oncologist
Why are you recommending this treatment for me? Why is it preferable to others?
How to make a cancer appointment?
Tips on Getting the Most From Your Appointments During Cancer Care 1 Take notes. Always go to your meetings with a pad and paper to write things down. You may also want to record your visit. 2 Bring a partner. Obviously, a friend or loved one can provide moral support during a tense conversation. But they can also play an important practical role. Your partner may remember details that you were simply too overwhelmed to take in. Or they may prompt you to ask important questions that you forgot. 3 Ask for information to bring home. At the end of your meeting, see if your doctor has any literature or other sources of information about your cancer or the cancer treatments they have recommended. Having something you can read over at home -- when you’re out of the stressful environment of the doctor’s office -- can be enormously helpful. 4 Get a phone number. It’s pretty much certain: once you get home, you’ll think of many questions you wanted to ask about your cancer treatment but didn’t. So always ask your doctor for their card. Find out how you can get in touch with your doctor -- or an oncology nurse in the office -- to ask further questions.
What to do at the end of a doctor's meeting?
At the end of your meeting, see if your doctor has any literature or other sources of information about your cancer or the cancer treatments they have recommended. Having something you can read over at home -- when you’re out of the stressful environment of the doctor’s office -- can be enormously helpful.
What can a friend do during a tense conversation?
Obviously, a friend or loved one can provide moral support during a tense conversation. But they can also play an important practical role. Your partner may remember details that you were simply too overwhelmed to take in. Or they may prompt you to ask important questions that you forgot.
How to make your appointment useful?
Here are some ways to make your appointments as useful as possible. Take notes . Always go to your meetings with a pad and paper to write things down. You may also want to record your visit. Bring a partner. Obviously, a friend or loved one can provide moral support during a tense conversation.
Can you forget about cancer?
When people are first diagnosed with cancer, they have many questions. However, when actually sitting in the doctor’s office, it’s very easy to forget the questions you have about cancer diagnosis and its treatment.
Protecting Against Infection
Will my type of chemotherapy put me at risk for a low white blood cell count and infection?
After Your Visit
Keep track of appointments, tests, procedures and treatments performed, including where and when they were done.
