Living with Cancer: Speaking With Your Doctor
Author: John Published Under: Health
There is a lot that goes into treating cancer and it can be a very stressful and shocking experience. Most people like to take an active part in their treatment, researching the type of cancer they have, as well as asking their doctor a number of questions.
Since it is often hard to remember everything you would like to ask the doctor and everything they say, taking notes can be a good idea. Many people also like to use tape recorders while speaking with their doctor. It is important to remember that there will be a number of opportunities to speak with the doctor, so it is not necessary to ask them all the questions at once, nor is forgetting to ask a question the end of the world.
Having a friend or relative present when speaking with the doctor can also be beneficial for some. The friend or relative might just be there for support, to listen, or to ask questions of the doctor.
In many cases, the doctor who does the initial diagnosis will subsequently refer the patient to a specialist.
What is Staging?
The process of staging is used to determine what part of the cancer lifeline the cancer is in. By preforming staging, the doctor will be able to better prescribe a treatment.
For example, in the case of breast cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer, the stage is determined by the size of the tumor and whether it has begun spreading to other parts of the body. Depending on the stage, a different type of treatment may be prescribed.
Getting Second Opinions
Many of those who have cancer, especially those with a unique type of cancer, will want to get a second opinion. This is not always covered by insurance, although some insurance companies will allow for a second opinion if it is requested by the diagnosing doctor.
Getting a second opinion does not usually happen overnight, instead sometimes taking several weeks to coordinate the transfer of medical records and other necessities. Usually, waiting a week or two is not going to effect treatment, although this is not always the case.
There are several places you can go to get a second opinion, with many doctors offering a referral. It is also possible to go through the NCI Cancer Information Service, who can recommend local treatment centers, as well as providing a simple checklist outlining how to find a doctor or treatment center.
There are also a number of non-profit organizations, local medical societies, and the American Board of Medical Specialties, who can all provide assistance in finding another doctor or specialist.