Two of my closest friends were recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Now, each of them must choose among a variety of possible treatments, each with risks and potential side effects. Millions of Americans are confronted each year with complex treatment options for a variety of conditions. Unless patients are fully informed about the available treatments, the decision-making process can be daunting, adding to the anxiety of the diagnosis itself.
Over the last 30 years, the treatment of serious medical conditions has been transformed by new and improved techniques, often giving patients a variety of treatment options. For example, women with breast cancer may be confronted with the choice between a lumpectomy (removal of a tumor and surrounding tissue) and mastectomy (removal of the breast), as well as other difficult decisions regarding chemotherapy, radiation and a wide range of preventive medications. Heart disease may be treated with medications, angioplasty, surgery (such as bypass), pacemakers and more. But none of these options are risk-free.
Whatever your medical condition, your physician will make treatment recommendations, but the ultimate decisions are yours. My advice…
Get to the right doctors. Start with the doctor who diagnosed your problem. Ask him/her to fully explain your condition and its severity. Ask your doctor to then refer you to specialists who treat the condition—for cancer, for example, a medical oncologist (for advice on chemotherapy), a surgeon (for recommendations on surgery) and a radiation oncologist (for advice on radiotherapy). Trap: Studies show that most specialists tend to recommend the treatments associated with their areas of expertise, often omitting different approaches offered by other specialists who treat the same condition. Don’t be silent in these sessions — ask what all your treatment options are, including those outside the doctor’s own specialty.
Do your research wisely. Doing an online search of your condition will bring up hundreds — even thousands — of articles about treatment options, some of which are sure to be out of date or just flat-out wrong. To ensure that you are getting reliable information, consult the Web sites of organizations that provide information, not treatment, for your condition — for example, the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org)… the American Heart Association (www.americanheart.org)… and the National Institutes of Health’s PubMed (www.pubmed.gov).
Make a list. Find out the benefits and the risks associated with each treatment option, including side effects and possible long-term complications. For example, some people experience blood clots after angioplasty (even months later) that require follow-up treatment, such as surgery. As you gather this information, make a list of each treatment’s benefits and risks. Then review all of your treatment options with your doctors and family. This approach helps to ensure that you make the decisions that are right for you.
