Preparing for Treatment of Hodgkin's Disease
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Many people with cancer want to learn all they can about their disease
and their treatment choices so they can take an active part in decisions
about their medical care. When a person is diagnosed with cancer, shock
and stress are natural reactions. These feelings may make it difficult for
people to think of everything they want to ask the doctor. Often, it helps
to make a list of questions. To help remember what the doctor says,
patients may take notes or ask whether they may use a tape recorder. Some
people also want to have a family member or friend with them when they
talk to the doctor -- to take part in the discussion, to take notes, or
just to listen.
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These are some questions a patient may want to ask the doctor
before treatment begins:
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What is my exact diagnosis?
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What is the stage of the disease?
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What are my treatment choices? Which do you recommend for me?
Why?
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What are the risks and possible
side
effects of each treatment?
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What side effects should I report to you?
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How long will treatment last?
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What are the chances that the treatment will be successful?
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Will treatment affect my normal activities? If so, for how
long?
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Are new treatments under study? Would a clinical trial be
appropriate for me?
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What is the treatment likely to
cost? |
Patients do not need to ask all their questions or remember all the
answers at one time. They will have other chances to ask the doctor to
explain things and to get more information.
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