Preparing for Treatment
The
doctor can describe treatment choices and discuss the results expected with
each treatment option. The doctor and
patient can work together to develop a treatment plan that fits the patient’s
needs.
Treatment
depends on a number of factors, including the type of leukemia, the patient’s
age, whether leukemia cells are present in the cerebrospinal fluid, and whether
the leukemia has been treated before.
It also may depend on certain features of the leukemia cells. The doctor also takes into consideration the
patient’s symptoms and general health.
These
are some questions a person may want to ask the doctor before treatment
begins:
What type of leukemia do I have?
What
are my treatment choices? Which do
you recommend for me? Why?
What
are the benefits of each kind of treatment?
What are the risks and possible
side effects
of each treatment?
If I
have pain, how will you help me?
What is the treatment likely to cost?
How
will treatment affect my normal activities?
Would a
clinical
trial (research study) be appropriate for me? Can you help me find one?
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People
do not need to ask all of their questions or understand all of the answers at
one time. They will have other chances
to ask the doctor to explain things that are not clear and to ask for more
information.
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