This animated video empowers people diagnosed with lung cancer to take an active role in their care by learning about their disease, exploring treatment options, and collaborating with their health care team. The video also provides key questions to ask, so patients can feel informed and confident when making care decisions.
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Transcript
When facing a lung cancer diagnosis, working with your healthcare team and participating in your care may improve your outcomes. So, what can you do to take an active role?
Start by learning about your disease and the treatment options available. This can help you to feel well-informed as you make decisions about your care.
Next, seek a specialist who has experience treating many people with lung cancer.
And, most importantly, speak up—advocating for yourself is essential to getting the best care. To help guide you, here are some key questions to ask your doctor:
- What type and stage of lung cancer do I have?
- Are there specific biomarkers or genetic mutations present that could affect my treatment plan?
- What are the treatment options for my type and stage of lung cancer?
- Is there a targeted therapy or immunotherapy that is right for me?
- What are the potential benefits and risks of each option?
- Are there any clinical trials for my lung cancer?
- How soon should I start treatment, and how long will it last?
- How will treatment be administered?
- How will I know if the treatment is working?
- What are the potential side effects of these treatments, and are there approaches for managing them?
- How will treatment affect my lung function?
- And, are there ways to manage respiratory health during and after therapy?
Don’t forget the key pillars to collaborating with your care team:
- Prepare for appointments by writing down your questions in advance.
- If you are able, seek a second opinion to confirm your diagnosis and treatment plan.
- And, ask a care partner to join you at appointments to take notes and to ask follow-up questions.
As always, remember that you have a voice in your care. You are your own best advocate. To learn more about lung cancer and to access tools for self-advocacy, visit powerfulpatients.org/lung-cancer.