Diagnosed with Cancer, Now What? Top 3 Treatment Questions

INTRODUCTION

Those diagnosed with cancer have grave concerns that typically revolve around quality of life and death. Here are 3 treatment questions that immediately come to mind:

– Is this treatment going to work?

– Will I be able to handle the side effects of my treatment?

– Will this treatment extend my life?

Many patients often comply with the treatment the doctor recommends without asking some very important questions about the treatment itself. And rightly so, anyone diagnosed with cancer will tell you that they are emotionally tired, which means they don’t have much mental and physical energy to do anything but eat and sleep.

Cancer Treatment Questions Anyone Diagnosed with Cancer Should Ask

As a cancer patient advocate, I ask clients to write a list of questions they wanted to ask their doctor, but for some reason, they never got around to asking them. Most of these questions are around what a particular treatment does in the body, how it affects the body long term, and how long the treatment keeps them alive.

These topics make up the top 3 questions most cancer patients want and should ask their doctor when she or he is in the room:

– How does treatment ____________ work?

– How will treatment _______ affect my body during and after treatment?

– What are the 1- and 5-year survival rates when patients take _______ treatment?

This top 3 list of questions are open-ended questions. Therefore, the doctor has to explain something to you, and they serve as icebreakers, opening up the conversation and building confidence for you to engage in a 2-way discussion with the doctor. It overcomes fear of the “white coat.”

Download our guide on Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Cancer here

 FREE RESOURCES

Have more cancer prevention questions? We may have the answers in our free resources. Read or download them now:

1. Download the FREE eBook “HEALTHY FOOD SWAPS” if you’re ready to ditch processed and ultra-processed foods (which are linked to chronic inflammation) with healthier snack options. You’ll also get a list of healthy snacks according to weight and health goals (heart, brain focus, energy)
2. READ about the 10 foods that prevent cancer and our article on 6 Foods for Cancer Prevention

3. Read the article 4 Tips to Improve Breast Cancer Survival along with The Breast Cancer Diet that Increases Survival, then DOWNLOAD the FREE breast cancer survival kit that includes questions to ask your doctor, 8 tips to help lower your risk of a new or recurring breast cancer diagnosis, and 3 days of easy plant-based recipes.

4. Read the article Prevent a Colon Cancer Recurrence and The Optimal Colon Cancer Diet

ABOUT THE CANCER DETOX

 

Hi! I am Dee Grace Ph.D., scientist, author, and health coach based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Cancer Detox helps cancer patients, survivors, and those wanting to stay ahead of the curve prevent a new or recurring cancer with science-based health coaching.

Is the fear of cancer keeping you up at night? Is what you’re eating putting you at risk for cancer? What if you’re doing everything wrong and don’t even know it? Schedule a complimentary 15-min call with me to get clear on what modern, science-based prevention looks like.

Purchase my book “Cancer Prevention: Diet and Lifestyle Factors that Reduce Your Risk” on Amazon. Pulling from over 100 science-based studies, I provide the case for why cancer isn’t always random and often preventable. You’ll get 24 Prevention Habits that hold you accountable for implementing a cancer prevention lifestyle. along with over 40 cancer prevention guidelines for fighting breast, lung, colon, and prostate cancers.

DISCLAIMER

The information in this article is for educational purposes and is not meant to treat, diagnose, or prescribe medications or herbs. For questions on the information contained in this article, please consult with your healthcare provider. This information is intended for educational purposes only, and you should consult with your healthcare provider and a licensed dietician or certified nutritionist for additional information related to the content of this article.