Questions you may want to ask your oncologist before choosing a treatment plan include: 4 How much experience do you have treating (this type of) lung cancer? What are my treatment options?
- How will my radiation therapy be planned? ...
- Where will I receive radiation therapy?
- How often will I receive radiation therapy?
- How much time will each treatment take?
- How much of the healthy lung will also receive radiation therapy?
What questions should I Ask my oncologist after lung cancer diagnosis?
Some questions you may want to ask your oncologist after a lung cancer diagnosis include: 4 What type of lung cancer do I have? Where in my lungs is the cancer? What stage is my cancer?
What are some questions do radiation oncologists ask patients?
As a radiation oncologist at MD Anderson in The Woodlands, I get a lot of questions from my patients about how radiation therapy will affect them, what side effects they can expect and whether the treatment is safe. Here are my answers to some of their frequently asked questions. Do I need to bring someone with me for each treatment?
Do I need to follow my doctor during radiation therapy?
Your health care provider may need to follow you closely while you are having radiation therapy. You will also need to learn how to care for yourself during this time. Below are questions you may want to ask your doctor.
What should I do if my oncologist is not listening to me?
Your doctor should give you the information you need and dedicate time to answer your questions so that you can make informed decisions. If you don’t feel heard or supported by your oncologist, it’s okay to seek a second opinion or ask the hospital to provide you with a different oncologist.
What questions do you ask a radiation oncologist?
Some questions you can askHow does radiation work?What type of radiation will I receive?Where will I receive treatment?How long will the sessions take?How many treatments will I need?How flexible is the radiation schedule?Can I work while receiving radiation?What are the possible side effects?More items...•
What should I do before my first radiation treatment?
You can expect these steps before beginning treatment: Meeting with your radiation oncologist. The doctor will review your medical records, perform a physical exam, and recommend tests. You will also learn about the potential risks and benefits of radiation therapy.
What questions should I ask my first oncologist for lung cancer?
Questions to Ask About Lung CancerWhat kind of lung cancer do I have?Where exactly is the cancer? ... What is the stage of my cancer, and what does that mean in my case?Will I need any other tests before we can decide on treatment?Should my blood or tumor tissue be sent for molecular testing?More items...•
What happens at first oncology appointment for lung cancer?
At the first appointment, the oncologist will talk about treatment options. The doctor will explain which ones are available, how effective they are and what the side effects may be. Then the oncologist will recommend a course and talk about when the treatments should take place.
What can you not do during radiation treatment?
Avoid raw vegetables and fruits, and other hard, dry foods such as chips or pretzels. It's also best to avoid salty, spicy or acidic foods if you are experiencing these symptoms. Your care team can recommend nutrient-based oral care solutions if you are experiencing mucositis or mouth sores caused by cancer treatment.
How do you prepare a patient for radiation treatment?
You may be advised by your doctors and potentially the dietician on your cancer care team to follow a special diet before, during and after radiation therapy. Eating enough calories and protein may be advised in order to keep up your energy and weight during this time.
What are some good questions to ask an oncologist?
7 Key Questions to Ask Your OncologistWhere and when do you recommend getting a second opinion? ... What can I do to preserve my fertility? ... Is a clinical trial right for me? ... What should I do if I'm simply having trouble coming to grips with my diagnosis? ... What is the goal of my treatment? ... What will my treatment cost?More items...•
How do I prepare for an oncology appointment?
At the appointment, ask this:What kind of cancer do I have? ... What stage is it? ... Do I have to undergo any further diagnostic tests before we can begin treatment?Should I see a specialist? ... What are my treatment options?Which treatment or combination of treatments would you recommend and why?More items...•
What happens at an oncology consultation?
In order to make it a thorough consultation, the oncologist you're meeting with should have all your reports and other requested materials. This includes copies of scans, x-rays, MRIs, CTs, or other imaging tests that were done, and pathology slides if a biopsy was performed.
What questions should I ask about cancer treatment?
Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Your TreatmentWhat 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?More items...•
What happens when you see an oncologist for the first time?
When you go for an initial consultation with an oncologist (surgical, medical, or radiation), they will want to review your medical history, any records related to the diagnosis, radiology scans, and pathology slides and reports.
Do oncologists lie about prognosis?
Many have fulminated against oncologists who lie to patients about their prognoses, but sometimes cancer doctors lie for or with patients to improve our chances of survival.
Do I need to bring someone with me for each treatment?
Unless you feel ill, you can typically drive yourself to treatment. In fact, many patients are able to work full-time during their treatment.
When will I start experiencing side effects?
Side effects depend on where you receive the radiation therapy, the dose given, whether you also receive chemotherapy and, if so, how much and what...
Will I lose my hair?
While chemotherapy causes hair loss throughout the body, that’s not the case for radiation therapy. Hair loss is associated with the radiation beam...
Am I radioactive?
You’re radioactive only if you’re undergoing treatment with a radiation seed implant. If you are hospitalized for this procedure, you’ll be in a pr...
Will I glow in the dark?
No. Even with permanent radiative seed implants, patients do not glow.
Can I be around children and pregnant women?
Yes -- unless you have just received a permanent radioactive seed implant. If that’s the case, you’ll only have the implant for a few days and shou...
Will I get a different cancer in the area where I’m receiving radiation?
The risk of developing a second cancer due to radiation therapy is very low. The benefits of your recommended treatment far outweigh the small risk...
Can I receive radiation in the same area if I have a cancer recurrence or secondary cancer?
With our newer technologies, we are able to carefully re-irradiate the same area in some situations. This is something you should discuss with your...
Will I feel the radiation treatment?
No, radiation therapy uses high-energy waves, like those used with an X-ray. They are invisible and painless.
How long does radiation treatment last?
They usually begin by the second or third week of treatment and may last for several weeks after the final radiation treatment.
Can you be radioactive if you have a radiation seed implant?
You’re radioactive only if you’re undergoing treatment with a radiation seed implant. If you are hospitalized for this procedure, you’ll be in a protected room to limit your exposure to other people. This is something your doctor will talk to you beforehand.
Can radiation cause cancer?
The risk of developing a second cancer due to radiation therapy is very low. The benefits of your recommended treatment far outweigh the small risk that your radiation treatment could cause another cancer later in life.
Can radiation therapy cause infections?
Generally, cancer patients who are treated with radiation therapy alone aren ’t more likely to develop infections. Pamela J. Schlembach is professor of Radiation Oncology at MD Anderson in The Woodlands. Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or by calling 1-877-632-6789.
Questions
Do I need someone to bring me in and pick me up after the radiation treatments?
Alternative Names
What to ask your doctor about radiation therapy; Radiotherapy - ask your doctor
How radiation therapy works
Has your doctor recommended radiation therapy? This treatment uses high-energy radiation to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells.
Some questions you can ask
Not sure what to ask your doctor about radiation? Find some suggestions below. You can bring a notebook with you to write down answers, or even enlist a loved one to come along and take notes.
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 does radiation therapy work?
But radiation is inherently damaging to DNA. Radiation therapy actually works by damaging the genes (DNA) in cells. Genes control how cells grow and divide. When radiation damages the genes of cancer cells, they can’t grow and divide any more.
Can radiation kill cancer cells?
When radiation damages the genes of cancer cells, they can’t grow and divide any more. Over time, the cells die. This means radiation can be used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors… or at least that was the theory. Radiologists know that DNA damage is one of the detrimental effects of ionizing radiation.
When You’Re Told You Have Lung Cancer
- What kind of lung cancerdo I have?
- Where exactly is the cancer? Has it spread beyond where it started?
- What is the stageof my cancer, and what does that mean in my case?
- Will I need any other testsbefore we can decide on treatment?
When Deciding on A Treatment Plan
- How much experience do you have treating this type of cancer?
- What are my treatment choices?
- What do you recommend and why?
- What is the goal of treatment?
During Treatment
- Once treatment begins, you’ll need to know what to expect and what to look for. Not all of these questions may apply to you, but asking the ones that do may be helpful. 1. How will we know if the treatment is working? 2. Is there anything I can do to help manage side effects? 3. What symptoms or side effects should I tell you about right away? 4. H...
After Treatment
- Are there any limits on what I can do?
- What symptoms should I watch for?
- What kind of exercise should I do now?
- What type of follow-up will I need after treatment?