Page 59 - NCCN Guidelines for Patients® | Caring for Adolescents and Young Adults

59 NCCN Guidelines for Patients® : Caring for Adolescents and Young Adults
Version 2013
Part 5: Understanding your treatment options
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Questions to ask your doctor about:
Your treatment options
Ideally, your doctor will keep you involved and informed of all decisions
concerning your treatment. The questions below can serve as a
guideline to help you fill in any gaps as you talk with your doctor about
your treatment option.
• Based on current research and clinical guidelines, what is the best
treatment for this cancer when it occurs in someone my age?
• Does this hospital (or center) offer the best treatment for me?
• Is a pediatric or adult protocol better for me?
• Are there any advantages to me being treated at a pediatric versus
an adult facility?
• What side effects am I likely to experience?
• Will using higher doses or a more intensive protocol increase my
chances of cure or remission? If so, what additional risks or side
effects might I experience?
• Can you provide me with more information on the research that
supports this treatment plan?
• Are there any complementary therapies that may help me cope
with cancer treatment?
• How much time do I have to think about my options or get a
2nd opinion?
Definitions
Catheter: A flexible tube
used to give treatments,
such as liquid drugs, or
drain fluid from the body
Radiopharmaceutical:
A drug that contains a
radioactive substance
Side effect: An unplanned
physical or emotional
response to treatment
Toxin: A poison produced
naturally by certain
bacteria, plants, or animals,
including insects
Acronyms
IV= Intravenous
MAB= Monoclonal antibody