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← Return to Hospice or treatment?
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@lls8000 I see the oncologist in 3 weeks for the first time. I guess from there I'll talk with other folks. So, I guess I’m just in this limbo state right now.
Replies to "@lls8000 I see the oncologist in 3 weeks for the first time. I guess from there..."
@artistrose, you've gotten some excellent tips from fellow members living with lung cancer. I'd like to join the huddle and offer a couple of things to consider as you prepare for upcoming appointment with the oncologist.
First learn about palliative care vs hospice. They are related but different. Hospice is care at the end of life. Palliative care is available to you at any time after diagnosis. It is sometimes called symptom management care or comfort care. Palliative teams help keep you comfortable and keep the pain well managed and symptoms under control. These symptoms may be as a result of treatment side effects or, should you chose not to have treatment, as the disease progresses. Palliatice care can be offered along with treatment.
See this helpful diagram:
- Palliative care vs hospice care: What's the difference? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/take-charge-healthy-aging/newsfeed-post/paliative-care-vs-hospice-care-whats-the-difference/
To the list that @mamajite suggested you start, I would add:
- Can I get a referral to palliative care?
As @lls8000 suggested, learn about the treatment options and their risks and benefits for YOU. Once you learn about potential side effects, you can decide whether these may be side effects you are willing to try to tolerate or if they would not be acceptable for your definition of quality of life.
So, to get you started I would questions like:
- What treatment options are available for me?
- What are the possible side effects?
- How long would you expect this treatment to extend life?
- How long will I be on treatment?
- If the side effects are too much, can I stop treatment? Or take a treatment holiday?
- Is the cancer in my liver and pancreas, cancer that has spread from my lungs? Will the same treatment help reduce the cancer cells everywhere?
- Would you recommend palliative care?
Now I have a question for you, @artistrose. What questions would you add? 🙂
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@artistrose there is a lot of support for cancer patients, including financial. my mom participated in a clinical trial (for lymphoma) that her insurance didn't cover. her oncology team worked with the Lymphoma & Leukemia Society and they paid most of the cost for her. try not to worry too much before your appointment. one thing I did was make a list of questions I wanted to ask because it's easy to feel overwhelmed in the moment.