Lung Cancer - Questions to Ask your Doctor
From the time that you notice unusual or tell-tale symptoms, that may forebode some serious health issue such as cancer, you will probably have a range of questions that you will wish to ask your doctor. These questions will initially be questions about diagnosis. However, if the diagnosis confirms the presence of cancer, then, after recovering from the shock, you will probably develop additional questions about treatment options, treatment side effects, and a range of other topics.
Getting answers to these questions is important so that you can make informed decisions about your health care, so that you understand precisely what the score is, and so that you can put your mind at rest that the best and most appropriate treatments are being provided.
To help you get started on the sorts of things you may want to know at each stage, here is a list of questions that you may want to ask:
Diagnosis:
What tests are available to diagnose lung cancer ? How accurate are they ? Are they painful ?
How soon after the tests will I learn the results ?
What type of lung cancer do I have ?
At what stage of development is my lung cancer ?
Has the cancer spread to other parts of my body ?
What types of physical symptoms will I experience ?
Do I need more tests ?
Treatment:
What treatment(s) are most appropriate for the type of cancer I have ?
Which treatments have proven to be most effective for the type of cancer I have ?
Will I need to be in the hospital to receive my treatment ?
When does treatment start ? How long will treatment last ? How often will I need treatment ?
How might my normal activities change during my treatment ?
What are the chances of completely eradicating the cancer ?
What is the prognosis for my future ?
When will I know if the treatment has been successful ?
If this treatment fails, what do we try next ?
What clinical trials are available / appropriate for my type of cancer ? Do I qualify ? How do I enrol ? How do I find out more ?
Treatment Side Effects:
What side effects should I expect ? How long will they last ? How serious are they ?
What side effects should I report ? How do I report them ? Whom should I call ?
Follow-up:
After treatment, how often do I need to be checked ? What type of follow-up care should I have ?
Will I eventually be able to resume my normal activities ?
If the cancer returns, what are the treatment options ?
What symptoms should I particularly be on the lookout for ?
Health Care Team:
Who will be involved with my treatment and rehabilitation ? What is the role of each member of the health care team in my care ?
What has been your experience in caring for patients with lung cancer ?
Resources:
Are there support groups in the area with people I can talk to ?
Can I get financial assistance ?
Can I get treatment related assistance, such as transportation to appointments ?
Are there organizations where I can get more information about cancer, specifically lung cancer ?
To help you remember what the doctor says, you may like to take notes (or have someone else take notes for you) while asking your doctor these questions. Some doctors may even allow you to use a voice recorder to record the meeting. Most people will probably want to have a family member or friend present with them while they talk to the doctor - to take part in the discussion, take notes, or even just to listen.
Lung Cancer - Overview
Lung Cancer is a type of cancer that forms in tissues of the lung, usually in the cells lining air passages. Many lung cancers begin in the bronchi though others can start in other parts of the lungs. Lung cancer also has a tendency to form in the glands below the bronchi.
Lung Cancer - Probabilities
Lung cancer causes up to 30% of all cancer related deaths, and it is the 2nd leading cause of death among both men and women in western society. 85% of all lung cancers are caused by a person's smoking habit or just by breathing in the second-hand smoke of others.
Lung Cancer - Screening
At this moment in time, there is no particularly useful single test that can be considered 100% reliable for the early detection of lung cancer. Unfortunately unless someone is undergoing a health screen for something completely unrelated, lung cancer is very often only discovered in the later stages of the disease when it is often too late to do anything but offer palliative treatment.
Lung Cancer - Symptoms
The most common indicators and symptoms of lung cancer include the following: Fatigue Shortness of breath and wheezing (dyspnoea) A cough that doesn't go away and gets worse over time Repeated problems with pneumonia or bronchitis Constant chest pain Coughing up blood (bloody sputum) (haemoptysis) Swelling of the neck and face Fever Loss of appetite and Weight loss (anorexia) Hoarse voice
Lung Cancer Treatment Options - Radiation
In many cases of lung cancer, surgery is not an option. This may be because of the advanced stage of the cancer, the location of the tumor or tumors, or because of the overall general health of the patient. In those cases, the oncologist may suggest radiation therapy to treat lung cancer. Even if surgery is an option, the doctor may suggest irradiation either before therapy to shrink the tumor or after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells.
Lung Cancer - Trends by Ethnicity, Sex and Race
In the USA and many other western countries, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. Lung cancer has been found to be the leading cancer killer among Caucasians, African-Americans, Asians and Hispanic males.