In summary 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.
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
What questions should I ask my doctor about my treatment options?
Discuss different treatment choices. There are different ways to manage many health conditions, especially chronic conditions like high blood pressure and cholesterol. Ask what your options are. Discuss risks and benefits of treatment options. Once you know your options, ask about the pros and cons of each one.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 to remember when deciding on a treatment?
Here are some things to remember when deciding on a treatment: Discuss different treatment choices. There are different ways to manage many health conditions, especially chronic conditions like high blood pressure and cholesterol. Ask what your options are. Discuss risks and benefits of treatment options.
Why do doctors suggest changing your diet?
Doctors and other health professionals may suggest you change your diet, activity level, or other aspects of your life to help you deal with medical conditions. Research has shown that these changes, particularly an increase in exercise, have positive effects on overall health.
What does it mean to know more about surgery?
If so, your doctor will refer you to a surgeon. Knowing more about the operation will help you make an informed decision about how to proceed. It also will help you get ready for the surgery, which makes for a better recovery.
Can chronic diseases prevent disability?
Even people who have chronic diseases, like arthritis or diabetes, can prevent further disability and, in some cases, control the progress of the disease. If a certain disease or health condition runs in your family, ask your doctor if there are steps you can take to help prevent it.
Do you need a second opinion for a surgery?
When patients are diagnosed with a serious illness or surgery is recommended, patients often seek a second opinion. Hearing the views of two different doctors can help you decide what’s best for you. In fact, your insurance plan may require it.
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 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, ...
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Can indolent lymphoma be treated with radiotherapy?
Yes. Stage I and II (localized) indolent lymphoma are typically treated at diagnosis with curative intent with localized radiotherapy. The cure rate is about 50% according to some reports.
What to do if you are not sure if you should have surgery?
Take some simple steps that can make it easier to decide. No. 1. Learn what to expect.
Can lifestyle changes improve surgery?
For instance, lifestyle changes may improve certain conditions. Ask your doctor if that's possible for you and whether or not you should consider it before you decide to have surgery. You may be able to do what's called "watchful waiting.".
Is surgery 100% risk free?
Check the risks. Ask your surgeon about possible complications and how likely they are. No surgery is 100% risk-free. Albert suggests you find out about the most common complication as well as the worst thing that can happen. Then ask about the likelihood of each. That can help you make up your mind about surgery.
