Questions to ask oncologist

@lozierpam54, here are a few questions to get you started:
- Do I have 2 primary cancers: lung and liver? Or do I have liver cancer with metastases to the lung or vice versa?
- What stage is the cancer?
- What are the treatment options?
- What else do I need to know?
- What is the next step?

@alfonso22 @cu2 @gailvar @digibson @roch @cindyjk may have additional questions you should consider asking.

Pam, how did the appointment go today?

Thanks so much for your response. They cannot make a diagnosis or treatment yet because it can’t be determined where it started. They did labs today and scheduled colonoscopy and upper GI for Friday.

Biopsies scheduled tomorrow

If you feel the need, reach out to the social worker where your specialist is. They are trained to help you and your family. Don't go through this process without local support! And remember, we are always ready to answer questions as we can.
Ginger

lozierpam54 @lozierpam54
My thoughts are with you, I am sure your last few days have been busy and next will be more of same. Take lot of notes and ask lot of questions. No question is a stupid question. Everyone's situation is unique.

When I went thru initial cancer diagnosis, so much happen so fast. I carried a notebook with me to take notes and write down questions as I thought of them. Ask provider who and how to contact them if think of another questions after appointment.

I started a journal at that time, it helped to write down all the emotions I was going thru. Sort of venting on paper.

Are you at a Mayo location? which one?

Laurie

Thank you Laurie. They did a liver biopsy yesterday trying to determine where the cancer started. We meet with the doctor on Monday. I do know that some of the spots were found in the lymph nodes. Are there any success stories that others have shared by doing clinical trials?

I was recently diagnose with prostate cancer claaisied as agressive. I have had an enlarged prostate with a psa over 10 for several yr. This is the first mri that I have had which also showed a "lesion" on the kidney. My urologist said that My lifespan is not affected by thse findings, and i attribute is conclusion to the fact that prostate cancer in it's early stages does not often metastacize. I am scheduled for a biopsy prior to the proposed tx of testerone supression injections. my concern now is whether the lesion on the kidey is there as a result of metastasis.

Hi @lozierpam54. Usually, clinical trials are for testing purposes to see if a certain medication works. It is one of the last stages of testing before it can be sold to the public. There have been an extraordinary amount of successes.

However, there is also a downside. In this stage of testing the medication used in the trial might not be a winner so you are taking a chance that it might not do anything for you.

I am a firm believer in helping science and trials help the general public by weeding out the unsuccessful. This is one way that successful medications are found and improved upon. But trials are not personalized.

Is there a particular reason that you might consider a trial vs being treated by already established results?

Thank you for responding. I am still in shock on how fast all of this happened. I am trying to look at all possibilities for more time. My heart is broken and I want to do anything that will help my husband.

Thank you

@lozierpam54 - Even when I suspected that I had lung cancer it was like the wheels broke from under me. Then, kaboom I was going in all sorts of different directions for scans and blood work, etc.

Before we jump to clinical trials let's see what the doctors suggest. I am a lung cancer survivor for many years. Having lung cancer is not an immediate death sentence and the works and research that have been done over the past 10 years at least are extraordinary. Many lives have been saved and many people now live with what I call chronic lung cancer, living for many years.

Feeling as you do for your husband my only suggestion at this point is to be patient. He will be going through many emotional stages and I hope that you can talk openly to see what direction you want to take when options are presented.

Colleen has left wonderful suggestions for you. Have you had a chance to ask these questions? Do you have any new ones for us?

How are you doing?