Don't worry about diagnosing cancer, 10 questions to figure out first!

【Live Preview】Tomorrow night (May 8th) Pineapple Parlor, I have the honor to invite Zhu Yao, director of the Department of Urology, Fudan University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, to talk about more and more prostate cancer, come and make an appointment!

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Nearly 5 million people are diagnosed with cancer every year in China.

When they hear the word cancer from the doctor's mouth, almost everyone's first reaction is shock, the brain is blank, although there are countless questions in their minds, but they don't know where to start. It's normal, don't worry. The key is to get through this initial "gap" as soon as possible and then communicate effectively with the doctor, which is essential to achieve the best treatment results.

Every day, people ask Pineapple what information is the most important thing to talk to the doctor about, and today I will give you some advice. For newly diagnosed patients, thinking and asking the following 10 questions is a good place to start.

1. Is there a cure for my cancer?

This is almost everyone's first question, but it's also the hardest question to answer, with no easy answers.

Cancer is completely different for different people, so be sure to listen carefully to the doctor's explanation and understand whether the purpose of treatment is to cure or prolong life. At the same time, it is recommended to understand the survival rate data, recurrence probability, treatment method, etc. of your specific cancer type, and consider it comprehensively in order to make the best follow-up decision for yourself.

2. Where is the tumor? Is there a transfer?

Oncologists have many treatment tools in their hands, including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted drugs, immunotherapy, clinical trials, and more. The location and metastasis of the tumor will determine the specific method chosen by the doctor.

For example, some parts can not be operated on, some parts can not be radiotherapy, if the cancer cells metastasis, then surgery alone is not enough, but the need for systemic therapy, including chemotherapy, targeted drugs, immune drugs and so on.

3. What are the stages of cancer?

The purpose of cancer staging is to understand the degree of malignancy of tumor cells. It is determined by the state and distribution of tumor cells in the body, usually from stage 0 to stage 4.

Stage 0 was the earliest, bad cells were localized, and almost 100% of them could be cured by surgery or radiation therapy. The cancer cells of stage 4 patients have metastasized to other tissues in the body, so systematic comprehensive treatment is needed.

4. What therapies are doctors prepared to use?

Cancer treatments are now becoming more and more personalized. Most of the time, doctors use a combination of therapies to achieve the best results.

Remember to ask your doctor what therapies you specifically plan to use, why you use each one, how long each therapy takes, how often it is, what are the possible side effects, whether there are ways to mitigate them, and so on.

5. Can it work during the treatment?

The vast majority of therapies have some side effect on the body, and each person's response can vary greatly. Many patients are able to continue working during treatment, engage in recreational activities, and even keep exercising.

Cancer treatment often makes people tired and therefore requires patients to reduce their work intensity or activity frequency, but people should not give up their hobbies and lives just because they want to be treated.

6. Should I change my diet and exercise habits?

To beat cancer, you must have a healthy diet and, if possible, supplemented by regular exercise.

You can ask your doctor if there are any specially recommended foods or diets. Some foods can help drugs work, and some can help reduce chemotherapy or radiation side effects. Doctors also often recommend that you avoid some foods, such as those that are high in oil and fat, and are not easy to digest.

Exercise is also important: there is evidence that regular exercise can increase patients' quality of life, including strengthening the immune system and reducing the feeling of pain. But please do what you can to avoid injury.

7. Do I need vitamins or supplements?

Patients need enough nutrients and energy to fight cancer, but doctors often recommend supplementing with a rich combination of natural foods rather than a single supplement. Some high-dose supplements may even accelerate the growth of cancer cells or reduce the effectiveness of other anti-cancer drugs, so it is important to use caution.

Be sure to consult your attending physician before using any supplements, including herbal/all-natural supplements.

8. Is it worth trying other therapies besides modern medical methods?

In addition to surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, etc., many patients will consider so-called "alternative therapies", including acupuncture, massage, yoga, meditation, etc.

On the one hand, all "alternative therapies" have not been proven effective by rigorous scientific clinical trials, so they cannot be expected to cure cancer alone.

On the other hand, they do often bring some benefits, such as reducing pain, relieving anxiety, improving mood, etc. Although it cannot be ruled out that it is a placebo effect, it can still be considered as an adjunct to modern medicine to improve the quality of life.

9. Should I consider participating in a clinical trial?

Recently, new anti-cancer therapies have emerged in an endless stream, and thousands of cancer clinical trials are now underway. But not everyone needs it, and not everyone is suitable for it. In many cases, using current standard therapies is a safer and more effective option.

If possible, it is valuable to try to understand the advantages and disadvantages of relevant clinical trials. Even before the tumor shows signs of drug resistance or recurrence, understanding the new therapies that may be involved in the follow-up can provide comfort and encouragement to the psychology of patients and families.

10. Do I need to consult another doctor?

It may be a little awkward to ask the attending physician this question directly, but because the treatment of cancer is changing and becoming more and more complex, it is valuable to listen to the "second diagnosis opinion" of one more expert.

In fact, more and more patients in Europe and the United States, especially advanced patients, will consult the opinions of multiple doctors to obtain a relatively unified treatment plan. More and more doctors, especially confident doctors, are beginning to support patients with such a choice, which on the one hand can reduce patients' suspicions, and on the other hand, it may also be an opportunity for self-improvement and learning.

I wish you all the best and a speedy recovery!

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