Nearly 20 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer every year.
When hearing the word cancer from a doctor, almost everyone's first reaction is shocking, their minds go blank, and although they have a million questions in mind, they don't know where to start. It's normal, there's no need to worry. The key is to get past this initial blanking period as quickly as possible, and then communicate effectively with your doctor, which is essential for optimal treatment.
So here are some tips on what information is most important to talk to your doctor about. For newly diagnosed patients, thinking about and asking the following 10 questions is a good place to start.
1. is there a cure for my cancer?
This is the first question that almost everyone asks, but it is the most difficult question to answer with no easy answers.
Different people's cancers are completely different, and it is important to listen carefully to your doctor to understand whether the goal of treatment is to cure or prolong life. It is also recommended to know the survival data, probability of recurrence, and treatment options for your specific type of cancer to make the best follow-up decision for you.
2. where is the tumor located? Any metastases?
Oncologists have many treatment tools in their hands, including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted drugs, immunotherapy, clinical trials, and more. The location and metastasis of the tumor will determine the specific method chosen by the doctor.
For example, some parts of the tumor cannot be operated on, and some parts cannot be treated with radiotherapy. If cancer has metastasized, surgery alone is not enough, but systemic therapy, including chemotherapy, targeted drugs, immunotherapy, etc. is needed.
3. what stage is cancer at?
The purpose of cancer staging is to understand how malignant the tumor cells are. It is based on the state and tissue distribution of tumor cells in the body, usually from stage 0 to stage 4.
Stage 0 is the earliest stage of cancer, where the bad cells are localized and can be cured almost 100% by surgery or radiation therapy. In stage 4 patients, the cancer cells have already spread to other tissues of the body, so systemic and comprehensive treatment is needed.
4 What therapies does the doctor plan to use?
Nowadays, cancer treatment has become increasingly personalized. Most of the time, doctors will use a mix of therapies to try to achieve the best results.
Be sure to ask your doctor exactly what treatment you plan to use, why you are using each treatment, how long each treatment will take, how often, what the possible side effects are if there are ways to reduce them, etc. 5.
5. will I be able to work during the treatment?
Most therapies have some side effects on the body, and each person may respond vastly differently. Many patients are able to continue to work, engage in recreational activities, and even maintain exercise during treatment.
Cancer treatment is often exhausting and requires patients to reduce the intensity of their work or the frequency of their activities, but people should not give up their hobbies and life completely just because they are going through treatment.
6.Should I change my diet and exercise habits?
To beat cancer, it is important to have a healthy diet, and if possible, it is also better to supplement it with regular exercise.
You can ask your doctor if there are any particular foods or diets that he or she recommends. Some foods can help medications work and some can help reduce the side effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Doctors also often recommend avoiding certain foods, such as those that are high in oil and fat, and difficult to digest.
Exercise is also important: There is evidence that regular exercise can increase a patient's quality of life, including boosting the immune system and reducing pain sensations. But please do what you can to avoid injury.
7 Do I need vitamin or nutritional supplements?
Patients need adequate nutrition and energy to fight cancer, but doctors often recommend supplementation through a rich combination of natural foods rather than a single supplement. Some high-dose supplements may even accelerate the growth of cancer cells or reduce the effectiveness of other anti-cancer drugs, so they must be used with caution.
Always consult your primary care physician before using any supplements, including herbal/natural supplements.
Is it worth trying other treatments besides modern medicine?
In addition to surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, etc., many patients consider so-called "alternative therapies" including acupuncture, massage, yoga, meditation, etc. On the one hand, none of these "alternative therapies" have been proven to be effective in rigorous scientific clinical trials.
On the one hand, none of these "alternative therapies" have been proven effective in rigorous scientific clinical trials, so they alone cannot be expected to cure cancer.
On the other hand, they do often provide benefits such as pain reduction, anxiety relief, mood improvement, and so on. A placebo effect cannot be ruled out, but it can still be considered as an adjunct to modern medicine to improve quality of life.
9. should I consider participating in a clinical trial?
New therapies to fight cancer have been popping up recently, and there are thousands of cancer clinical trials underway right now. But not everyone needs them, and not everyone is right for them. In many cases, using current standard therapies is a safer and more effective option.
If possible, it is valuable to know as much as possible about the advantages and disadvantages of relevant clinical trials. Even before the tumor shows signs of resistance or recurrence, knowing about subsequent novel therapies that may be involved can provide psychological comfort and encouragement to the patient and family.
10. do I need to seek another doctor's advice?
It may be a little awkward to ask this question directly to the primary care physician, but as cancer treatments are changing rapidly and becoming more complex, it is valuable to get a second opinion from an additional specialist.
In fact, more and more American and European patients, especially those with advanced disease, are consulting multiple doctors to get a relatively uniform treatment plan. More and more doctors, especially those who are confident, are beginning to support patients in this choice, both to reduce suspicion and as an opportunity for self-improvement and learning.
Wishing you all the best and a speedy recovery!
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