How do I know whether we are making the best treatment decisions?

19.How do I know whether we are making
the best treatment decisions?

Don’t put too much pressure on yourselves.
Make an informed decision with the assistance
of the medical team and then move forward.

After the initial diagnosis, people with cancer and
their families have to make medical decisions and
sometimes are uncertain about what the “right” decisions
may be. As the patient and family are making
important decisions, stress levels are higher. A huge
amount of information about cancer must be absorbed.

People differ in how much they want to know about
the cancer, such as stage of disease, progression, and so
on. If you or the patient is the type of person who
would rather not know the details, designate one or
two family members to attend appointments with you
to gather necessary information. These individuals can
serve as “point persons” through whom the medical
team can communicate openly.

Always discuss external information sources directly with
the doctor, who is a partner in the patient’s care.Topics of
discussion with the doctor may include personal research
from books or the Internet. Do not rely solely on Internet
chat rooms, personal testimonials, or the thousands of
cancer resources that exist, because many of them are
unreliable. Even on reliable Web sites, statistics and medical
information can be confusing and shocking. Filter all information
through your doctor to get the real story, clarify concerns, and
get the answers to all questions regarding treatment.

The patient and family may be presented with several
options regarding treatment, and the physician will leave
the final decision up to the patient. Some patients like
being able to make this decision because they feel that
they are actively involved in their own care. Others,
however, are confused and anxious about making such
important medical decisions, and this may be true for
their partners and caregivers as well. It is important that
you and the patient get clarification on the pros and cons
of different treatment options from the medical team,
including the factors that affect the quality of life of the
patient. For example, does one chemotherapy regimen
have more side effects than the other, even though both
may be equally effective in treating the cancer?

Clarifying the issues, having support, and sharing the
burden of decision making between the patient and
yourself can take pressure off both of you. However,
remember that the patient should have the final say, as
it is he or she who must live with whatever decisions
are made. You may never know the one “right” decision
to make, as is common with many decisions in
life. Don’t put too much pressure on yourselves. Make
an informed decision with the assistance of the medical
team and then move forward.