- What type of treatment is recommended?
- What is the goal of this treatment?
- How long will it take to give this treatment?
- Will I receive this treatment at a hospital or clinic? ...
- What side effects can I expect during treatment?
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?
Is fear the first reaction to cancer diagnosis?
Even so, fear is often the first reaction for anyone who is told, ‘We’ve found something suspicious.’ If that suspicion is confirmed as cancer, the uncertainty about what comes next is hard to handle.
When can I return to normal activities after cancer treatment?
With cancer therapy, the best-case scenario is that you resume your regular family and social life, and get back to full physical activity as soon as possible. In some cases, that might not happen for a while.
How long will I be hospitalized for cancer treatment?
“If part of your treatment plan involves a complex procedure like high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant, it’s possible that you will be hospitalized or can expect to be hospitalized for many weeks,” Schapira says.
What is the success rate of radiation therapy for brain cancer?
A combination of 12 studies (n=566) with WBRT outcomes showed a median survival time of 6.0 months (95%CI: 5.9-6.2), an overall survival rate of 5.6% (95%CI: 1-24), and a 6-month survival rate of 46.5% (95%CI: 37.2-56.1).
Can anything be done for stage 4 brain cancer?
Glioblastoma is presently best treated by surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible, followed by chemotherapy and radiation.
What is the prognosis of stage 4 brain cancer?
Survival statistics for gliomasType of tumourAgeMedian survivalanaplastic astrocytoma (grade 3)55–642–3 yearsglioblastoma multiforme (grade 4)20–4412–14 months45–5455–646 more rows
What is the success rate of radiation therapy for glioblastoma?
Among GBM patients, overall response rate was 50% with a 6-month progression-free survival of 65%. Median overall survival was 12.5 months and 1-year survival was 54%.
What are the side effects of radiation treatment on the brain?
Radiation to the brain can cause these short-term side effects:Headaches.Hair loss.Nausea.Vomiting.Extreme tiredness (fatigue)Hearing loss.Skin and scalp changes.Trouble with memory and speech.More items...•
Can radiation cure brain cancer?
Radiation therapy uses strong beams of energy to kill brain cancer cells. It helps control the growth of some types of brain tumors. It's often used along with surgery or chemotherapy to treat brain tumors.
Can Stage 4 brain cancer go into remission?
In most cases, stage 4 cancer will not go into remission. Because stage 4 cancer cannot be cured, it will always be called stage 4 cancer once it is identified as such.
Is Stage 4 brain cancer serious?
A brain tumor's grade refers to how likely the tumor is to grow and spread. Grade 4 is the most aggressive and serious type of tumor. The tumor's cells are abnormal, and the tumor creates new blood vessels as it grows. The tumor may accumulate dead cells (necrosis) in its core.
What can I expect with stage 4 glioblastoma?
“Symptoms include headache, memory problems, weakness on one side of the body, difficulty thinking and speaking, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and seizures,” says Mark Gilbert, MD, the chief of the National Institute of Health's Neuro-Oncology Branch.
How fast does glioblastoma grow back after radiation?
However, we now know that GBM is a heterogeneous group of tumors (it behaves differently in different people) and the time when it comes back or recurs can vary. In the majority of patients it has a tendency to recur within 6-8 months.
Does radiotherapy work on glioblastoma?
Radiation for Glioblastoma Studies have shown that people live longer when given the combination of surgery and radiation therapy compared with surgery alone. Radiation also may be used as the sole treatment when a glioblastoma tumor is in an area that is not appropriate for surgery.
What happens after radiation treatment for glioblastoma?
Specifically for patients going through radiation therapy for glioblastoma, they may experience headaches, nausea, vomiting, hearing loss, seizures and trouble with memory or speech. Some of these side effects may appear during the treatment while others don't show up until a year or two afterward.
Can Stage 4 brain cancer go into remission?
In most cases, stage 4 cancer will not go into remission. Because stage 4 cancer cannot be cured, it will always be called stage 4 cancer once it is identified as such.
Is Stage 4 brain cancer serious?
A brain tumor's grade refers to how likely the tumor is to grow and spread. Grade 4 is the most aggressive and serious type of tumor. The tumor's cells are abnormal, and the tumor creates new blood vessels as it grows. The tumor may accumulate dead cells (necrosis) in its core.
How long can you live when cancer spreads to the brain?
The prognosis for patients with brain metastases is generally poor; median survival is 1 month for patients not receiving treatment. Use of corticosteroids to reduce cerebral edema has been associated with symptom improvement 2. Whole-brain radiotherapy (wbrt) is the standard treatment for brain metastases.
What are the end stages of brain cancer like?
These symptoms include drowsiness, headaches, cognitive and personality changes, poor communication, seizures, delirium (confusion and difficulty thinking), focal neurological symptoms, and dysphagia. Some patients may have several of these symptoms, while others may have none.
Questions for Your Doctor
It is important that you fully understand the potential benefits, side effects, and goals of radiation therapy. Your radiation oncologist and radiation oncology nurses are available to answer any questions you may have during treatment. They are the best source of accurate information about your particular case.
Questions to Ask After Treatment
What warning signs should I watch for that might indicate my cancer has returned?
Tips for Communicating with Your Care Team
Navigating a cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re inside the doctor’s office. There are steps you can take to prepare for each appointment. This will help you prioritize your own questions, concerns, and needs during every visit with your care team.
Brain Tumor: Questions to Ask the Health Care Team
ON THIS PAGE: You will find some questions to ask your doctor or other members of the health care team, to help you better understand your diagnosis, treatment plan, and overall care. Use the menu to see other pages.
Questions to ask about planning follow-up care
What is the chance that the tumor will come back? Should I watch for specific signs or symptoms?
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.
What to consider before cancer treatment?
During the often-narrow window of opportunity before cancer treatment begins, you should have a chance to consider fertility preservation options . Embryo or sperm banking, for example, or shielding pelvic and genital regions during radiation therapy, are among techniques for the reproductive specialist to address.
What are the treatment options for cancer?
Cancer treatment choices may include surgery, traditional chemotherapy, targeted medications, radiation or immunotherapy as standalone or combination treatments. Clinical pathways and physician guidelines include treatment recommendations for most types of cancer based on disease stage and other factors.
What tests are done to check for prostate cancer?
With active surveillance, men may undergo periodic blood tests to measure prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, along with other tests such as digital rectal exams, imaging scans or prostate biopsies to make sure cancer is staying well under control.
What is prostate cancer?
For instance, prostate cancer is a condition for which your doctor may recommend active surveillance or close observation to monitor the spread of disease. Your doctor will discuss these options based on whether your cancer is causing symptoms, on how fast or slowly it’s expected to grow and its size and location.
What to bring to a primary care appointment?
To get organized, it helps to be told what to bring – such as insurance cards, test results and reports or contact information for your primary care physician and other doctors you've seen. The American Society of Clinical Oncology offers a comprehensive list of preparatory questions to ask about your appointment.
Can you have a one time consultation with a cancer specialist?
If you don’t have local access to a specialty cancer center or academic medical center, you may still be able to benefit from that level of expertise through a one-time consultation. Your doctor may even have a suggestion of where to refer you for another opinion.
Is cancer scary?
Even so, fear is often the first reaction for anyone who is told, ‘We’ve found something suspicious.’ If that suspicion is confirmed as cancer, the uncertainty about what comes next is hard to handle .