When people first hear the words, "You have cancer," they're often stunned and aren't necessarily in the right frame of mind to make life-altering decisions. There's often a sense of urgency to move quickly. Unless your doctor advises that time is of the essence, take the time to understand your options, do your research, get additional opinions and connect with other people with lung cancer. Don't let your emotions drive your decisions.
Not all lung cancers are the same. With the advances made in cancer research, we now know more about the influence of your genes on whether a treatment may work. Every patient should ask about comprehensive biomarker testing, which can help identify the genetic drivers of your cancer that help the cancer grow and spread. Biomarker testing can help your healthcare team personalize the treatment you receive and better determine whether you may respond to targeted therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy or be eligible for a clinical trial.
Treatment is not one size fits all and different doctors may have varying recommendations on your path forward. So get a second and even third opinion to help you make a decision. Ask if a tumor board will review your lung cancer. A tumor board is a team of doctors and healthcare professionals that meet to analyze and discuss cancer cases as a group to determine the best treatment and care plan based on their unique expertise.
Uncertainty and fear of the unknown can lead to anxiety as you determine next steps. Developing a plan in collaboration with your healthcare team can help alleviate those feelings. Communication is key. Take the time to understand the potential side effects of your options and how to be proactive and manage issues if they surface. Being prepared to potentially change course can be helpful, in cases where side effects force you to stop treatment, the treatment stops working or a better option comes along.
When people first hear the words, "You have cancer," they're often stunned and aren't necessarily in the right frame of mind to make life-altering decisions. There's often a sense of urgency to move quickly. Unless your doctor advises that time is of the essence, take the time to understand your options, do your research, get additional opinions and connect with other people with lung cancer. Don't let your emotions drive your decisions.
Not all lung cancers are the same. With the advances made in cancer research, we now know more about the influence of your genes on whether a treatment may work. Every patient should ask about comprehensive biomarker testing, which can help identify the genetic drivers of your cancer that help the cancer grow and spread. Biomarker testing can help your healthcare team personalize the treatment you receive and better determine whether you may respond to targeted therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy or be eligible for a clinical trial.
Treatment is not one size fits all and different doctors may have varying recommendations on your path forward. So get a second and even third opinion to help you make a decision. Ask if a tumor board will review your lung cancer. A tumor board is a team of doctors and healthcare professionals that meet to analyze and discuss cancer cases as a group to determine the best treatment and care plan based on their unique expertise.
Uncertainty and fear of the unknown can lead to anxiety as you determine next steps. Developing a plan in collaboration with your healthcare team can help alleviate those feelings. Communication is key. Take the time to understand the potential side effects of your options and how to be proactive and manage issues if they surface. Being prepared to potentially change course can be helpful, in cases where side effects force you to stop treatment, the treatment stops working or a better option comes along.
