The doctors or other team members from the healthcare team ask some critical and essential questions to understand the diagnosis, treatment plan, and overall care regarding non-small cell lung cancer. Communicating with the healthcare team is considered a fundamental approach for making informed decisions regarding healthcare. The suggested questions are regarded as the initial points for helping to learn about cancer care and related treatment. The individuals are motivated to raise questions that are important to themselves.
FAQ to Health Care Team regarding after diagnosis condition
- What is the type of non-small cell lung cancer that I have?
- Which stage of non-small cell lung cancer am I diagnosed with?
- Can I get the explanation and description of my pathology report (laboratory test results)?
- What are the mutations detected in the tumor, and what does it mean?
- Can you tell me the risk that my family members can have due to non-small cell lung cancer?
FAQ to Health Care Team regarding treatment selection
- What are the possible treatment options for me?
- What are the clinical trials that are available for me? Can you tell me the location and from where I can get more information regarding the clinical trials?
- Who will be leading my overall treatment?
- Who are the other persons contributing to the healthcare team for my assistance, and what are the roles of each member?
- Am i suppose to I see other doctors to assist in my care, such as a thoracic surgeon, radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, and pulmonologist? What is the role of each doctor?
- What treatment plans do you recommend for me and why?
- Do I require additional scans and biopsies for planning my treatment?
- What is the goal of each treatment? Does it contribute to eliminating cancer, making me feel better or do both simultaneously?
FAQ regarding the management of side effects
- What side effects are predicted to occur from this treatment involving both short and long terms?
- What possible steps can be taken to treat my symptoms and side effects during my treatment process?
- How the treatment will affect my daily life? Will I be able to resume my daily activities of working, exercising, and performing my other usual activities?
- Will the treatment affect my sex life? If so, how and for how long?
- Could this treatment affect my ability to conceive? If so, am I suppose to consult a fertility specialist before seeking my treatment?
- Who can help inform me about the cost management of cancer care as I am worried about it?
- What costs will I pay if I have to participate in the clinical trial? and what is included in my health insurance coverage?
- What are the available support services for my family and me?
- What are the online services recommended for me to learn more?
- Whom should I call if I am facing some issues?
- FAQ to Health Care Team for undergoing surgery
- What type of surgery am I experiencing? Will they remove my lymph nodes?
- Which type of surgery will I share, invasive or open one?
- Will the surgery affect my breathing rate, and if so, then how?
- What is the duration of the operation?
- For how long will I have to be in the hospital?
- Can you describe what my recovery will be like from surgery?
- Whom should I contact for my issues of side effects that I am experiencing, and how quick?
- What are the major impact long-term side effects of having this surgery?
- Are there any other options for the treatment instead of than surgery for non-small cell lung cancer?
FAQ to Health Care Team for undergoing chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy:
- What drugs are available for the therapies, and how we administer the drugs?
- What are the major impact of side effects of each medication? and what side effects or problems should I analyze within me?
- Whom should I contact regarding the side effects I am experiencing and how soon?
- What are the steps I should take to minimize the impact of side effects?
- Where will I receive these therapy-related treatments in hospitals or clinics? Am I suppose to receive it at my home?
- How much time will it take If I require to visit the doctor for receiving the medication?
- Will I be capable of going and returning after taking the treatment on my own, or do I require another person to help me?
- What are the recommendations for the individuals taking their medication at home?
- What are the costs of these medications? Are there availability of less expensive options showing same efficacy?
- FAQ to Health Care Team for undergoing radiation therapy?
- What is the plan management for my radiation therapy? What are the types of scans that are in use for my radiation therapy?
- Where will I receive radiation therapy?
- How often will I receive radiation therapy?
- How much time will each treatment take?
- And how much of the healthy lung will receive radiation therapy?
- Can I take chemotherapy and radiation therapy simultaneously? If so, what are the possible side effects of providing the chemotherapy at the same time, compared with one after another?
- Whom should I contact regarding the side effects I am experiencing and how soon?
- Will I be capable of going and returning after taking the treatment on my own, or do I require another person to help me?
- What are the costs of these medications? Are there less expensive options that work as well?
- FAQ to Health Care Team regarding clinical trials?
- What are my possible options for carrying out standard treatment?
- What are the other treatments available for me through clinical trials?
- How will my experience differ if I enroll in this clinical trial compared to the standard treatment? Are there different risks, extra tests, a different time commitment, schedule, or costs?
- Whom should I contact regarding the side effects I am experiencing and how soon?
- What is the aim of conducting the clinical trial? Is this a phase I, II, or III clinical trials? What does this mean?
- If I join this clinical trial, where will I receive my treatment?
- What costs do I need to pay if I join the clinical trial? What portions of the charge will the insurance or clinical trial group cover?
FAQ to Health Care Team regarding the management of follow-up care:
- What are the chances of cancer coming back? Do I need to look for specific signs and symptoms for the same?
- Can I do anything more to minimize the chances of cancer that may return?
- What are long-term side effects or late effects are possible based on the cancer treatment that I received?
- Whom should I contact regarding late or long-term side effects I am experiencing, and how soon?
- What follow-up steps do I require, and how frequently will I need them?
- How will I get a treatment summary and survivorship care plan to keep my records?
- Who will lead my follow-up care?
- What are the tests that the doctors will conduct during my follow-up visit?
- What are the available survivorship support services for my family and me?
- FAQ to Health Care Team regarding smoking and recovery?
- What are the advantages of quitting smoking even after the cancer diagnosis?
- How will you help me in combating the habit of smoking?
