5 Easy Ways to Help You Decide Your Course of Treatment
You have been diagnosed with having cancer. So many emotions to go through. There are many treatment options to chose from. Which one is the right one? Here are 5 suggestions to help you decide.
Consult with your doctor
Speak with your doctor. Do not get pressured into any one choice. Pick the one that is most comfortable for you. You need to decide how much you want to know. Some options have full-detail and disclosure. Others tend to have a limited education. Some want to know every gory detail. Others only want to know a set amount. Which category do you fall under?
Control and Comfort
Decide how much control you want to have. In the beginning stages, most people want to find a cure. During the later stages, most are looking to live out the rest of their lives comfortably. It is up to you how you wish to proceed. Sometimes the treatment proves to be unsuccessful. Some patients need to adjust their course of treatment based on this.
Research
Research is the next step. You have to have full knowledge of what kind of cancer you have. You have to be willing to do the research. There are tons of places you can scope out on the internet.
The same goes for the treatment. Some doctors like to pair radiation with chemotherapy. This tends to take its toll on some people. You have to know how much you are willing to take. Some can take a lot of pain and suffering. Others can only take a minimal amount. Having said that, traditional pain meds can help with the pain, but in the recent past, some doctors prefer to use cannaboids to help with the nausea and pain, like CBD oil. But usually you can only buy cbd oil with a prescription – so just talk to your doctor.
This is why doing the research is important. This way you will know which treatment options will bring the must pain. Many consider chemotherapy to be effective but have many drawbacks. Others feel differently. You have to make the choice that is right for you.
The Benefits Versus the Risks
You need to rate each option. There are going to be pros and cons to each one. Some will have more pros than others. The side effects will be something to contend with. Some treatment plans will have more side effects than others.
Some treatments do require you take time off of work? How much depends on the course of treatment. It is not going to be a few days. Some require you to take off a few weeks to a few months. Can you afford this?
How will this affect your health overall? How much of a strain will this put on your finances?
Communication Is Important
Communicate to your doctor what you do not understand. Speak up about anything that bothers you. You will expect him to be honest. Same will go for you. It is okay to record the conversations. Sometimes this helpful when it comes to referring to something later.