You may want to ask your oncologist these questions: Am I a candidate for surgery? If so, how much of my lung will need to be removed? Will I receive both chemotherapy and radiation? Will they be given together?
- How much experience do you have treating (this type of) lung cancer?
- What are my treatment options?
- What treatments do you recommend and why?
- What is the goal of my treatment? ...
- How much time do I have to make a decision on treatment?
- Should I get a second opinion?
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 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 should I bring to my oncology 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.
What are my rights as a patient to my oncologist?
Your oncologist should be aware of your rights as a patient and serve as a trusted partner who provides compassionate, coordinated care and timely information throughout your cancer journey. It’s important to establish a comfortable rapport and open and honest dialogue with your oncologist and other cancer care team members.
What questions should I ask my oncologist about 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 should I ask my oncology consult?
Helpful questions to ask your oncologistHow much experience do you have treating this type of cancer?Should I get a second opinion?What are the risks and benefits of my treatment options?What can I do to manage the potential side effects of treatment?More items...•
What are my options if I have lung cancer?
People with non-small cell lung cancer can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of these treatments. People with small cell lung cancer are usually treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Surgery. An operation where doctors cut out cancer tissue.
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 should I ask my oncologist after treatment?
Questions to Ask Your Doctor When You Have Finished TreatmentHow long will it take for me to get better and feel more like myself?What kind of care should I expect after my treatment?What long-term health issues can I expect as a result of my cancer and its treatment?What is the chance that my cancer will return?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 questions should I ask my oncologist before 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...•
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 is the newest treatment for lung cancer?
Atezolizumab is approved to treat some people with non-small cell lung cancer after surgery. An immune checkpoint inhibitor is a drug that blocks proteins on immune system cells which then allows them to fight cancer.
What is the new pill for lung cancer?
Tagrisso (osimertinib) is now approved for patients whose tumors have a specific epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation (T790M) and whose disease has gotten worse after treatment with other EGFR-blocking therapy.
How successful is treatment for lung cancer?
As with many other cancers, a key to surviving lung cancer is catching it in its earliest stages, when it is most treatable. For patients who have small, early-stage lung cancer, the cure rate can be as high as 80% to 90%.
What to say when meeting an oncologist?
Just greeting your doctor and starting with an “I” statement like, ‘I’m happy to meet you and I hope we can work together,’ humanizes the conversation and starts building a relationship and partnership, says Schapira, who is also editor in chief of ASCO’s online patient information site.
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 is the next step in cancer diagnosis?
Once your diagnosis is clear, the next step is learning about the state of your cancer. “The jargon terms for us are the ‘stage’ and ‘grade’ of the cancer,” Nelson says. Depending on how your cancer is classified, the discussion moves to how that impacts your treatment options.
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 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.
Can cancer cause nausea?
That includes common side effects that you can likely expect as well as rare but more serious complications, Nelson says. Cancer side effects may be temporary or short-term, like nausea and vomiting with chemotherapy, or linger indefinitely, like chemo fog or "chemo brain," which refers to thinking or memory problems during or after treatment. Extensive surgery to remove cancerous growths may affect your appearance or certain body functions.
Do cancer centers offer robotic surgery?
Surgeons may take different approaches – for instance, some cancer centers offer robotic surgeries, while others do not . “In some cases it’s possible to do less surgery and accomplish the same thing, thus preserving organ function or (allowing) the ability to preserve or improve body image,” Schapira says. “It depends very much on what kind of surgery you’re talking about, but there are many questions that need to be asked.”
Who can give you information about a patient?
Doctors aren’t the only ones who can give you information. Other health care professionals, such as nurses and social workers, can also answer some of your questions. You can find out more about speaking with your health care team in The Doctor-Patient Relationship.
Why is it important to have honest, open discussions with your cancer care team?
It’s important to have honest, open discussions with your cancer care team. They want to answer all your questions, so that you can make informed treatment and life decisions. For instance, consider these questions:
Questions to ask about radiation therapy
How will my radiation therapy be planned? What types of scans will be used?
Questions to ask about planning follow-up care
What is the chance that the cancer will come back? Should I watch for specific signs or symptoms?
Questions about smoking and recovery
What are the benefits of me quitting smoking, even after a cancer diagnosis?
American Lung Association
The American Lung Association connects patients, families, friends and caregivers for support and inspiration as they face lung cancer. Here members can share stories, find important information and learn from the experiences of others like themselves.
About this Community
The American Lung Association connects patients, families, friends and caregivers for support and inspiration as they face lung cancer. Here members can share stories, find important information and learn from the experiences of others like themselves.