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Cancer Diagnosis

10/2/2017

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Questions to ask your doctor when the diagnosis is first made:
  • How many tests support the diagnosis? Are there other tests that should be done? If so, when can they be done?
  • What is the exact name of the disease? How common is it? Does it generally strike one group of people more than another?
  • How slowly or quickly does the disease progress? If there are different stages of the disease, what stage am I in now?
  • How will the disease affect my ability to do the things I routinely do each day?
  • What can or should I tell family members or friends that they need to know right now?
  • Where should I go for information about my disease?
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Cancer Treatment Options

9/4/2017

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Questions about cancer treatment options:
  • What immediate treatment do you recommend for me?
  • Are there options available to me for short-term treatment? If so, what are they? How do they compare? If you recommend one treatment over another, why is that?
  • What will that treatment aim to do to the disease?
  • What types of side effects might I experience from the treatment?  What can I do to minimize any negative side effects?
  • What kind of cycle or schedule of treatment will I follow?
  • Where will I receive the treatment?  Are there options for where I can go so that I’m as close to home as possible?
  • If I opt for treatment at a larger center that has more experience with my disease, can my treatment be coordinated with my doctor at home so I can actually receive my treatment locally whenever possible?
  • What options are available to me for long-term treatment (if needed)?
  • How will the treatment affect my ability to work, attend school, travel, or do any of the other routines of daily life?
  • What signs should I expect to see that show that the treatment is having a positive effect?
  • Are there any research studies regarding treatment for my illness that would be beneficial for me to be part of?  
  • I’ve heard that some cancers respond to immunotherapy.  What is that, and would it be an option for me?
  • Who can help me connect with others who have, or have had, the same illness I have, in order to get some emotional support?
  • If I have unexpected side effects or some other medical issue that arises, especially outside of ‘regular’ doctor office hours, who should I contact?
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Cancer Treatment Centers

8/6/2017

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Questions to ask about treatment centers:
  • How long has the treatment center been providing the recommended treatment for the disease I have?  
  • What is the success rate of the treatment center as it pertains to my disease?
  • Is this a teaching hospital or treatment center? If so, should I expect to have interns and students as part of the medical team treating me?
  • How can I compare this treatment center to others that treat the illness?
  • Does the treatment center have a social worker or other support professionals available to me and my family?
  • Where is the treatment center? Is it easy to get to?
  • Can I have a tour of the treatment center and speak with the medical staff who would provide my treatment before I decide if this is the facility I wish to go to?
  • Do I have the right to choose the treatment facility I want to be treated at?  Will my insurance cover expenses at the treatment center of my choice?
  • Is there someone at the treatment center who can help us with insurance issues?
  • Does the treatment center have a website where I can view all of the details of my medical expenses, what portion my insurance paid, etc.?
  • What other resources does the treatment center have for me and my family?
  • If my treatment center is far from my home, and I need to be in for treatment early in the day, is there an inexpensive place near the center where I can stay overnight the night before?
  • Approximately how long will I be at the treatment center?
  • How does the center decide which staff members will work with me? Will I have a primary care nurse, for example, who provides most of my daily care, with other secondary and tertiary nurses who work with him/her to continue my care?
  • How does the medical staff view my family’s participation in my treatment and recuperation?
  • Does the treatment center have a web site where I can view all of the details of my medical expenses, what portion my insurance paid, etc.?
  • If I am to be a distance from home during my treatment, are there facilities nearby where my family can stay that are inexpensive (like Ronald McDonald houses)? How can I find this out?
  • If my family comes to the center on a daily basis, is parking available at a discounted rate? What is the daily parking rate?
  • Are there inexpensive places to eat close to the treatment center for my family to use?
  • While undergoing long-term treatment, what kinds of items from home will I be permitted to have with me? What am I expected to provide?
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Cancer Long-term CAre

7/2/2017

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Questions to ask about long-term treatment at a center:

  • Approximately how long will I be at the treatment center?
  • How does the center decide which staff members will work with me? Will I have a primary care nurse, for example, who provides most of my daily care, with other secondary and tertiary nurses who work with him/her to continue my care?
  • How does the medical staff view my family s participation in my treatment and recuperation?
  • If I am to be a distance from home during my treatment, are there facilities nearby where my family can stay that are inexpensive (like Ronald McDonald houses)? How can I find this out?
  • If my family comes to the center on a daily basis, is parking available at a discounted rate? What is the daily parking rate?
  • Are there inexpensive places to eat close to the treatment center for my family to use?
  • While undergoing long-term treatment, what kinds of items from home will I be permitted to have with me? What am I expected to provide?
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