Cancer treatments: medlineplus medical encyclopedia
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After a nhatroso.com diagnosis, people with nhatroso.com and their families have to lớn make a number of decisions about treatment. These decisions are complicated by feelings of anxiety, unfamiliar words, statistics, and a sense of urgency. But unless the situation is extremely urgent, take time to lớn research your options, ask questions, và talk with family or a trusted friend.
Decisions about nhatroso.com treatment are personal, và you need to feel comfortable with your choices. But many people vì not know where khổng lồ start. Here are some simple but important steps you can take as you start the decision-making process.
Understand your diagnosis
Individual treatment plans depend on the type of nhatroso.com & stage. So you should learn as much as you can about your specific diagnosis. You may want to ask your health care team questions about the disease. But be careful when doing research online. Many sites can be frightening, inaccurate, or misleading. Your health care team can suggest trustworthy websites. If you come across unfamiliar words while researching online, use a medical dictionary or ask your health care team for an explanation.
Know your options
Talk with your doctor about the treatment options for your type & stage of nhatroso.com. These options may include:
Surgery
Radiation therapy
Chemotherapy
Hormone therapy
Targeted therapy
Immunotherapy
Active surveillance, also called watchful waiting
Palliative care
Participating in a clinical trial
Understand the goals of treatment
Your doctor may use some treatments to lớn slow, stop, or eliminate the nhatroso.com. He or she may also use palliative care, also called supportive care, lớn manage symptoms and side effects. Make sure your doctor explains the goals of your treatment plan and how it will affect you. Và make sure it aligns with your personal goals for treatment.
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Ask about the side effects of each treatment option
Sometimes nhatroso.com can cause long-term side effects, or late effects, that might develop months or even years after treatment. Talk with your health care team about the possible long-term effects of each treatment option và how they are managed. In addition, discuss possible sexual or reproductive concerns with your health care team, including the risk of not being unable to lớn have children. You have more options to lớn keep your fertility if you address this concern before treatment, instead of waiting until after treatment.
Consider the risks & benefits of each treatment option
Weigh the positives & negatives of each treatment option, including the:
Chance of a cure
Potential short- & long-term side effects
Likelihood that the nhatroso.com will come back after treatment
Chances of living longer with or without treatment
Effect on your quality of life and independence
Preferences of you và your family
Get a second opinion
Many people seek a second or even third opinion from another oncologist, and many doctors encourage it. Different oncologists may have different experiences with various treatments. So seeking multiple opinions can help you make a decision or confirm your current treatment plan. First kiểm tra with your insurance company to find out if your policy covers a specific doctor or health care system.
Find help managing the cost of nhatroso.com care
The cost of nhatroso.com care is often high, and you may have expenses that you were not expecting. Your health care team can help you identify costs related to lớn your treatment options or suggest ways lớn manage medical và related costs. They can also refer you to tư vấn services that address the financial concerns of people living with nhatroso.com.
Consult guidelines or other decision-making tools
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) & other nhatroso.com organizations publish guidelines & treatment decision-making tools. These tools help doctors & patients understand various treatment options. Learn more about treatment recommendations for the specific type of nhatroso.com that you have. Talk with your health care team khổng lồ find out more details about treatment recommendations..
Discuss your decision with people you trust
Some people find it helpful to lớn talk through their thoughts & concerns with people they trust. This may include:
Family members
Friends
A member of the clergy
A spiritual advisor
An oncology social worker
Another person with nhatroso.com
Understand the role of statistics
Your doctor may mention statistics when describing treatment options. These may include relative survival rates, disease-free survival rates, and progression-free survival rates. These numbers may be a good way to lớn learn how the treatment options differ. But they cannot predict how well the treatment will work for you. Your health care team can explain how these statistics relate khổng lồ your treatment.
