Questions to Ask About Treatment for Lung Cancer

At first, the information you receive about treatment options may seem overwhelming. You may ease the stress by allowing yourself the time to gather as much information as possible about your disease and its treatment and to discuss the issues with your doctors, nurses, and loved ones.

You may find it helpful to make a list of your questions before seeing your doctor. Use the list of questions below as a starting place for the questions you might ask. To make it easier to remember what the doctor says, you may want to take notes during meetings with your doctor or ask if you can use a tape recorder. It might also help to have a family member or friend with you to take part in discussion, to take notes, or just to listen:

• What treatment do you think is best for me? Why?

• How quickly do I need to make a decision about treatment?

• How much experience do you have treating this type of cancer? 

• Do I need a second opinion?

• What is the success rate of this particular treatment for my type and stage of lung cancer?

• Can I take my other medicines during the treatment period?

• What is the length of the treatment period?

• How long will each treatment take?

• Where do I have to go for the treatment?

• Who is involved in giving me the treatment?

• Does someone need to go with me during treatments?

• How will I feel after the treatment?

• What side effects can I expect to encounter?

• How long will side effects last?

• Are there side effects that I need to call you about?

• What can I do to ease the side effects?

• Will I be able to go to work and be around my family?

• Should I change my diet? What foods can’t I eat?

• Are there any clinical trials I should look into?

• If I am interested in clinical trials, how do I find them?

• Are there support groups nearby that I can join?

• Is my cancer considered "curable," or is it just treatable?

• If my cancer is not curable, how long does someone with my stage and type of cancer live (on average)?

For More Information

For more information on how to quit smoking or schedule lung cancer screenings, contact Nancy Sayegh-Rooney, R.N., Pulmonary Nurse Navigator at Richmond University Medical Center, 718-818-2391.

Free screenings are available for at-risk individuals, please call for additional information.