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Printed May 21, 2013 from http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/pleuropulmonary-blastoma-childhood/questions-ask-doctor

Pleuropulmonary Blastoma - Childhood - Questions to Ask the Doctor

This section has been reviewed and approved by the Cancer.Net Editorial Board [1], July / 2012
Questions to Ask the Doctor

Talking often with the doctor is important [2] to make informed decisions about your child’s health care. These suggested questions are a starting point to help you learn more about your child’s care and treatment. You are also encouraged to ask additional questions that are important to you.

  • What type of PPB has been diagnosed? What does this mean?
  • Can you explain my child’s pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?
  • What is your familiarity with PPB and its treatment?
  • Do you collaborate with the International PPB Registry [3]?
  • What are my child’s treatment options?
  • What clinical trials are open to my child?
  • What treatment plan do you recommend? Why?
  • Should I seek a second opinion?
  • Does your practice include multidisciplinary care?
  • Who will be part of my child’s health care team, and what does each member do?
  • Who will be coordinating my child’s overall treatment and follow-up care?
  • Do you attend expert meetings to discuss complicated tumor cases? What kinds of specialists attend such meetings?
  • What is my child’s prognosis?
  • Will my child receive chemotherapy? What chemotherapy will be given? How long and how frequently?
  • Will my child receive radiation therapy?
  • What are the possible side effects of each treatment, both in the short term and the long term?
  • How will this treatment affect my child’s daily life? Will he or she be able to attend school and perform his or her usual activities?
  • Is there anything we can do before starting treatment to avoid late effects?
  • Could this treatment affect my child’s ability to become pregnant or have children? If so, should I talk with a fertility specialist before cancer treatment begins?
  • How long will my child stay in the hospital?
  • If I’m worried about managing the costs related to my child’s care, who can help me with these concerns?
  • What follow-up tests will my child need, and how often will he or she need them?
  • What support services are available to my child? To my family?
  • Whom do I call for questions or problems?

Links:
[1] http://www.cancer.net/about-us
[2] http://www.cancer.net/node/24958
[3] http://www.ppbregistry.org/