Being prepared for office visits assists your doctor in determining your medical needs and most appropriate treatment plan; helps you receive timely access to medical care and related services, and created a mutually respectful and supportive relationship. Besides bringing along a companion, one if the best ways to prepare for a visit is prepare a concise list of written questions. Provide a copy for your doctor.
o What is my diagnosis? And can you please provide me a copy of the pathology report.
o How widespread is the disease (the stage)?
o Does the disease require prompt treatment and why?
o Can the disease be cured?
o What are the symptoms of the disease, and which indicate a need for treatment?
o What are my treatment choices?
o Do you offer radioimmunotherapy as a treatment option?
o Are new treatments under study? Would a clinical trial be appropriate for me?
o Which treatment or treatment sequence do you recommend? Why?
NOTE: The rationale for a treatment can be especially important to you when there are
multiple choices and there is no clear best approach.
o What is your level of confidence that the recommended treatment is the best choice?
o What is the goal of this treatment? (management versus durable remission)
o What are the chances that the treatment will be successful?
o Is the collection of stem cells indicated before or after this treatment? When is the best time to consider stem cell harvesting, in general?
o How long will the treatments last?
o How long will it take for the treatment to begin working against the disease?
EXAMPLES: Antibiotic therapy for H-pylori can take 12 months or more to show a result
against MALT lymphoma; and Rituxan therapy can take many months before an optimal response is seen.
o How easy is it to administer; will it disrupt my normal life or ability to work?
o How durable is the response likely to be?
o What signs will indicate that the therapy is beginning to work or that it is not working?
o What tests will be used to measure or gauge an early response to treatment?
Call 1-877-399-5078 Anytime To Discuss Treatment Options
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Lymphoma, please call toll-free 1-877-399-5078 for treatment options.
The information provided on the Lymphoma Information Network is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her health professional. This information is solely for informational and educational purposes. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Neither the owners or employees of LymphomaInfo.net nor the author(s) of site content take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading this site. Always speak with your primary health care provider before engaging in any form of self treatment. Please see our Legal Statement for further information.
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Since the early 1970s, incidence rates for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma have nearly doubled. Improved diagnosis has contributed greatly to the increase as doctors better understand cancer of lymphocytes and can distinguish it from other diseases.
