What to Discuss During the Cancer Conversation

The time has come to start making some big decisions about your cancer care. Let’s start at the beginning and find out how to get answers about cancer treatments, and so much more.

Talk with your oncologist.

What is an oncologist?

An oncologist is a medical provider who has special training in diagnosing and treating cancer.

Have a heart-to-heart discussion with your oncologist. Some questions to ask include:

. What is your doctor’s background?

. What experience do they bring to your care?

. What kind of chemotherapy will you receive?

. How many rounds of chemo will you get?

. How long will it be between chemo treatments?

. How to prepare for each chemo session?

. Will you need bloodwork to monitor the effects of chemo?

. Will you need to take pre-chemo meds to minimize the adverse effects of chemo?

. Do you need to get a chemo infusion port surgically inserted?

. What side effects will you experience from chemo?

. How will side effects of chemo be managed?

. What is the expected outcome of chemo?

. How much does chemo cost?

. Is there a payment plan available?

. Is there an alternative plan?

. Will chemo make any other existing health problems worse?

. How will chemo affect your daily functions?

. Will you need assistance with your basic daily care?

. How will chemo make you feel?

. Can you still work while taking chemo?

. Will you be able to be around other people?

. Do you need to follow a special diet?

. What are the emotional effects of chemo?

. Do you even need chemo, or is there another way to treat your cancer?

Talk with Your Surgeon.

What is an oncology surgeon?

A surgical oncologist uses surgery or procedures to remove cancer, perform biopsies, and stage cancer. Staging is a way to indicate how involved cancer is.

. What is your surgeon’s background?

. What experience do they bring to your care?

. What is the intention of surgery? To remove all cancer? To reduce the size of the tumor?

. What kind of precautions will you need to take after surgery?

. Will your surgery cause you to be permanently disfigured or handicapped?

. What do you need to do to recover from surgery?

. Will you need rehab or physical therapy?

. How will surgery affect your life?

. How long will you need to be off work?

. Will you be able to return to work?

. Can you return to work on light duty?

. Is there an alternative surgery plan?

. Will you need more surgery in the future?

Talk to Your Radiation Oncologist.

What is a radiation oncologist?

A radiation oncologist is a doctor who uses radiation to treat cancer.

. What is your radiation oncologist’s background?

. What experience do they bring to your care?

. What is the intention of radiation? Is it to shrink the tumor or to eliminate any potential lingering cancer cells?

. How will you receive radiation?

. How many radiation sessions will you need?

. How often will you receive radiation treatments?

. Will you be able to work during radiation treatments?

. Will you need to take any special precautions while receiving radiation?

. Are there any lingering or long-term effects to be aware of?

. What are the side effects of radiation to be aware of?

. How will radiation side effects be treated?

. What kind of follow-up care will you need?

Consider a Second Opinion.

. Why should you get a second opinion?

. What is the value of a second opinion?

. What kind of second opinion should you seek?

. What is the specialist’s background?

. What kind of experience do they bring to your care?

. What is their treatment plan?

. What makes their treatment better than the first opinion’s plan?

. How will the treatment plan be carried out?

. Will you need to take time off from work?

Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Medicine Provider

What is a complementary and alternative medicine provider, and an integrative medicine provider?

Complementary and alternative medicine providers provide care that is outside of standard medical care.

Integrative medicine combines standard treatments with alternative or complementary medicine. For instance, an integrative medicine provider may order medication to treat your nausea, as well as recommend eating ginger. It’s not only medication, and it’s not only herbal products but a combination of the two in this example.

What are examples of complementary or alternative medicine?

Complementary or alternative medicine disciplines include:

 acupuncture

 acupressure

 reflexology

 chiropractic

 massage therapy

 meditation

 vitamins and herbal supplements

 yoga

and more

. When will you seek the advice of an alternative medicine provider?

. Will you seek advice as soon as you find out you have cancer, or will you wait until your treatments have begun?

. What is the purpose of complementary and alternative medicine?

Complementary and alternative medicine can help you cope with some aspects of cancer treatments such as nausea, anxiety, side effects of chemo, pain, and more.

. What is your alternative medicine provider’s background?

. Do they provide only one form of therapy such as acupuncture, or are they trained in multiple treatment modalities?

. What experience do they bring to your care?

. What is the intention of alternative medicine? 

. What kind of treatment do they recommend?

. What are the benefits of alternative medicine?

. Where will you go to get treatments?

. How long will treatments take?

. Does your insurance cover alternative medicine?

. What is the downside of complementary medicine treatments?

. Will you feel any adverse effects of treatment or no change at all?

. Can you receive therapy while still undergoing cancer treatments?

. What kind of treatments can you do at home?

Examples of things you can do at home include a special diet or food choices, meditation, dry brushing, and exercise.

Talk to Your Pastor.

. What support will your pastor provide?

. Are they available to go to the hospital to pray with you before surgery?

Talk to Your Family and Friends.

. Who is available to help you?

. What kind of help can they provide?

. How long will they be able to help you?

Conclusion

We have just talked about what to discuss during the cancer conversation. You will speak with your cancer care team including your medical oncologist, surgeon, radiation oncologist, and alternative/complementary/integrative medicine provider. You will ask each provider what their piece is in your cancer treatment plan. You will also talk with your faith leader and family and friends to see how they can support you on your cancer journey.

In the next part of this series, we will discuss how to decide what kind of cancer treatment to have.

Wishing you all the best,

Kelly

 Are your cancer screenings up to date?

Yes, I am a nurse. No, I am not your nurse. The medical topics discussed in this, or any article on this site, are intended to be issues for you to discuss with your medical team if you feel they apply to you. None of the information you are about to read in this article is treatment advice for you from me. I do not have that authority.