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What questions should I ask the doctor?


Guest Retha

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:? Today is my family's first visit with the cancer doctor. My father has been diagnosed with sclc (the nurse told me, so he My my mother won't find out until today). What should I make sure and ask the doctor? Any help would be appreciated. My mother is 89 and I'm an only child, so I'm sure that I will have to take care of things from here on out.
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Your biggest challenge today , as I see it , is "hearing" what the doctor has to say to you. Take notes or bring a small tape recorder. This visit tends to be so emotionally charged that it is difficult to remember all that is said and remember it accurately. Good luck. Donna G

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Hi Retha,

Sorry to hear about you father. Here are some questions you can ask your doctor. Stay positive and focused. Learn as much as you can. Stay with us. Great people with lots of support, information and caring. My prayers are with your family. Peace, take care and God Bless.

Rich

**For all patients with lung cancer:

· What is my diagnosis?

· What is the stage of my lung cancer?

· Should I see another doctor to assist in my care, such as a thoracic surgeon, radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, or pulmonologist?

· Do I need additional scans or biopsies in order to plan my treatment?

· What is the goal of my treatment?

· Besides treating my cancer, what can be done to treat my symptoms?

· Are there any other treatment options available to me?

· Are there any clinical trials for which I am eligible?

**For patients who are to receive chemotherapy:

· What are the names of the chemotherapy drugs, and how are they given?

· What are the side effects of this chemotherapy? What symptoms or problems should I look out for?

· What can be done to lessen these side effects?

· How often will I need to visit the doctor and how long will each visit take?

**For patients who are to receive radiation therapy:

· How will my treatment be planned (what types of scans will be used)?

· How much of the normal lung will be included in the radiation field?

· Is it possible for me to receive chemotherapy with my radiation? If so, what are the added side effects of giving the chemotherapy at the same time, compared to one after another?

**For patients considering a clinical trial:

· What are my options for standard treatment?

· What other clinical trials are available to me?

· How will my experience differ if I enroll in this clinical trial, as opposed to standard treatment (different risks, extra tests or time commitment, schedule)?

· What is the goal of this clinical trial (is this a phase I, II, or III clinical trial)?

**For patients who have completed all of their treatment:

· What are the chances that my cancer will return?

· Is there anything more I can do to reduce the chance that my cancer will return?

· How often should I visit the doctor to follow up?

· What tests will I have during my follow up?

**For patients who smoke:

· Can you help me to quit smoking?

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The Power Of People Helping People / The Power Of Knowledge / The Power Of God / The Power Of Believing / The Power Of Positive Thinking / The Power Of Never Taking No For An Answer / United We Stand, Divided We Fall / That’s The Key

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http://www.plwc.org/plwc/MainConstructo ... 008,00.asp (PLWC Feature: Financial Support Resources)

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/nycu/healt ... hqcanc.htm (Best Hospitals)

https://www.alcase.org/advocacy/sign_the_petition.html (Advocacy /Sign the Petition)

http://www.cancersymptoms.org (Oncology Nursing Society)

http://www.plwc.org/plwc/MainConstructo ... 08,00.html (Questions to Ask the Doctor)

http://www.alcase.org/education/publica ... reath.html (With Every Breath A Lung Cancer Guidebook / From ALCASE / A Wealth Of Information / Free)

http://www.cancersurvivaltoolbox.org (The Cancer Survival Toolbox / Free / From NCCS)

http://www.centerwatch.com (Clinical Trails Listing Service / Center Watch)

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&editi ... ung+cancer (Lung Cancer In The News)

http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org/pro ... /guide.asp (The Wellness Community / National Cancer Support, Education And Support / Free)

http://www.drugs.com (Drug Information Online)

http://www.alcase.org (ALCASE / Alliance For Lung Cancer Advocacy, Support, Education)

http://www.nlm.nih.gov (Unites States / National Library Of Medicine)

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyclopedia.html (Health Information / Medical Encyclopedia)

http://www.google.com (Great Search Engine)

http://blochcancer.org (R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation, Inc. / Please read: A Letter to all newly diagnosed cancer patients)

http://www.cancer.org (American Cancer Society)

http://www.cancer.gov (Cancer Information Service / NCI)

http://www.cancerresearchcenter.org (Cancer Research Center)

http://www.aicr.org (American Institute for Cancer Research; Nutrition Hotline / AICR)

http://www.cancerhopenetwork.org (Cancer Hope Network)

http://www.acor.org (Association of Cancer Online Resources / Free Online Lifeline For Everyone Affected By Cancer & Related Disorders)

http://www.meds.com/lung/lunginfo.html (Lung Cancer Information Library)

http://www.lungusa.org (American Lung Association)

http://www.ama-assn.org (American Medical Association)

http://www.docguide.com/news/content.ns ... g%20Cancer (Doctor’s Guide / Lung Cancer)

http://www.healthfinder.gov/Scripts/Sea ... ?topic=506 (Healthfinder)

http://www.medicinenet.com/Lung_Cancer/article.htm (Medicine Net)

http://www.cancerindex.org/clinks2l.htm (Cancer Index / Lung Cancer Resources Directory)

http://www.nfcr.org/site/PageServer?pag ... ncers_lung (National Foundation For Cancer Research)

http://www.patientadvocate.org (Patient Advocate Foundation)

http://www.lungcanceronline.org/effects ... fects.html (Lung Cancer Online / Hematologic (Blood) Effects)

http://www.cancerlinks.org/lung.html (Lung Cancer Links)

http://www.cancer-free.com (Cancer Free Connections)

http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/topics/C ... ung_cancer (Health Insite)

http://www.lungcancerclaims.com (Lung Cancer / Lung Cancer Information Page)

http://www.cancerlifecenter.com/engine. ... =dictionar (Cancer Life Center/ Cancer Dictionary)

http://www.canceryellowpages.com/Resour ... G%20CANCER (Cancer yellow Pages)

http://icare.org (ICARE / The International Cancer Alliance)

http://www.vh.org/index.html (Virtual Hospital)

http://www.lungcanceronline.org/support/financial.html (Lung Cancer Online / Financial, Legal & Insurance Issues)

http://cancernews.healthology.com/focus ... cancernews (Cancer News)

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If I Could Catch a Rainbow:

If I could catch a rainbow, I would do it just for you, And share with you its beauty, On the days you’re feeling blue. If I could build a mountain, You call your very own, A place to find serenity, A place to be alone. If I could take your troubles, I would toss them in the sea, But all these things I’m finding, Are impossible for me. I cannot build a mountain, Or catch a rainbow fair, But let me be what I know best A friend that’s always there. Author Unknown

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