Ask the Expert How do I make the right choice for cancer care? If you or someone you love has just been diagnosed with cancer the questions are endless. It’s important to lean on family and friends to help you cope and then make a plan to gather as much information as you can about treatment options. “One of the biggest frustrations I see for cancer patients is that they don’t feel like they have control in the decision making process,” said Bobby Koneru, MD, Finley Hospital Wendt Regional Cancer Center radiation oncologist. “There is so much information out there and many patients feel as if there are many different forces dictating their choices of what they can and can’t do. Because of this I believe one of the best things a patient can do is to educate themselves with as much information as possible.”
Understand treatment options One way to do this is to read as much as you can about your particular cancer diagnosis using reputable websites. One site Dr. Koneru recommends is the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (nccn.org), which has a special section just for patients. “A patient should understand all of the available treatment options for a particular cancer and the risks and
benefits,” said Dr. Koneru. “For example if a patient is diagnosed with lung cancer, options may include surgery or a patient could choose stereotactic radiation. For prostate cancer, it may include robotic prostatectomy or external beam radiation therapy. It’s important that all options are reviewed carefully with the appropriate specialists. For example, during stereotactic radiation for lung cancer, a patient receives high doses of radiation delivered over three to five treatments, which many reports indicate to be comparable to surgery. There are several other options for patients to consider. It’s important to gather as much information as they can, talk to specialists, weigh the
Bobby Koneru, MD, Finley Hospital Wendt Regional Cancer Center radiation oncologist
data available and consider what is the quality of life after such treatment. With some cancers, especially if its in an advanced stage, treatment options may be limited and there is a certain treatment the patient will need to follow. But for some early stage cancers there may be several options. “I really encourage patients to consider all of the possible treatments available,” said Dr. Koneru. “I refer patients to the appropriate specialist if there is a situation where another option is just as good.”
QUESTIONS to ask the doctor if diagnosed with cancer What stage is my cancer? What are all of the potential treatments? Who are the specialists I need to talk to regarding my treatment options?
How will each of these options affect my quality of life? Which treatment has a better quality of life?
To learn more about your treatment options call the cancer specialists at a UnityPoint Health hospital near you. Cedar Rapids: (319) 558-4876 | Dubuque: (563) 589-2468 | Waterloo: (319) 235-5163 12 | unitypoint.org