Questions to Ask Your Doctor
It is important to ask your doctor the right questions, so you can be at ease and make an informed decision. Below are a few questions a patient can ask his doctor
Most often oncologists will conduct imaging tests to produce pictures of affected areas of the body. Doctors use this to detect tumours, the level of spread and then determine the next course of action.
After diagnostic tests, the doctor will be in a position to tell you a few things such as diagnostic tests should be able to tell you a few things such as: the location of the cancer cells, the size of tumor, stage of the cancer.
There is no single line of treatment that can be prescribed for a certain type of cancer. Hence the oncologist will explain to you the different available options and why a particular treatment is best suited for you.
The patient must not hesitate to clarify everything regarding the treatment. The doctor must be in a position to state clearly the effectiveness of the treatment option. The patients must ask the doctor about the effectiveness and the results expected. Doctors should not state a set treatment for all patients and should be flexible enough to change options accordingly
The fact about cancer is that two people undergoing the same treatment might not have the same side effects. It depends on a variety of factors and how the body takes it. It is better to be aware of the side effects so the patient can be prepared for it
Some advanced therapies have evolved that help the patients manage the side effects better. There are other alternate therapies such as naturopathic medicine,nutrition therapy, acupuncture, spiritual support and other stress relieving therapies. It is best to discuss these with your doctor before treatment.
The patient can take all details about the surgeon’s past experience so he can be at peace. The patient can enquire about the facilities available at the hospital for advanced care
A good cancer care team should include surgical, medical and radiation oncologists. Along with these doctors the team includes clinical nurse, naturopathic oncologist, dietician.
The patient must choose a hospital based on his convenience. Also, it is essential that all tests and procedures are conducted at one place and the patient does not have to move around to different places. This adds on to stress which needs to be avoided during treatment.
Doctors need to plan a course of treatment that blends into the patient life. Family support is also needed. Hence the patient must clearly discuss these issues with his doctors before finalizing the treatment.