Medically Reviewed by: Muaiad Kittaneh, MD, FACP, MBA | May 20th, 2020
Understanding a mesothelioma diagnosis, all of your treatment options, and the road to recovery afterward can be overwhelming and confusing. Patients need to be able to reference information on their diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and veterans’ resources to manage their health as well as other aspects of life. The list of questions below can offer a guideline on what to ask your doctor to help you stay on track.
If you’ve received a mesothelioma diagnosis from an oncologist, odds are this was a traumatic and intimidating time for you and your family. Sometimes when this happens, a person can find it challenging to get their thoughts in order efficiently to ask the right questions and get the resources they need. What are the best steps to find a qualified medical center and how do you get there? Fortunately, there are resources available to aid and support patients during these times.
After you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, having an in-depth talk with your doctor about what comes next is vital. They’ll be able to clarify any questions you may have on the diagnosis, support, and treatment. To help this process along, we’ve compiled a list of essential questions you may want to ask during doctor visits.
Questions to Ask Your Mesothelioma Doctor
Wickii Vigneswaran, MD, MBA, FACS
“I think the message is two things: one, there is still a nihilistic attitude towards mesothelioma. If you don’t go to a place where people are dealing with mesothelioma, you’re going to be told you have no treatment options. They have to look and search, unfortunately, for information. So I say to patients don’t give up until you find more information. It’s not unusual for me to come across patients who have been told nothing can be done.”
Wickii Vigneswaran, MD, MBA, FACS | Thoracic Surgeon | Loyola University Medical Center
After you’ve received the diagnosis, there’s still more for you to learn about your specific condition. Just in case there’s any confusion on where to begin, asking the following questions will ensure you have a solid base of knowledge in regard to your unique situation.
Experienced Advocates Supporting You
Your cancer specialists will put together a treatment plan based on several health factors. Overall general health, cell type and stage of the disease all have a significant impact on what your doctor may recommend. Clear up any questions or doubts you may have by inquiring the following and having a conversation about it with your mesothelioma specialist.
There are treatment options for all patients. It’s important to keep searching until you find the right doctor, medication or treatment plan.
Are you a veteran that’s been diagnosed with mesothelioma? There are a few concerns that will differ in this situation. Here are some questions for veteran patients to consider.
A mesothelioma diagnosis is a difficult time for the patient and their family members that’s usually full of questions and concerns. Make sure to have several conversations with your doctor regarding any issues you may have, and don’t hold back. If you still have doubt after these talks with your oncologist, you can always get a second opinion.
Jennifer Verta thrives as a digital content writer at Mesothelioma Hub. She has been producing content for clients since before she graduated from the University of Colorado at Denver with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a Minor in English Writing. Jen’s mission is to help promote awareness of mesothelioma to as many people as possible by providing only the most up-to-date and accurate content available. When she isn’t cranking the gears at work, Jen can be found snowboarding, hiking, catching live music, or socializing with friends.
Dr. Muaiad Kittaneh, MD, FACP, MBA, is a medical oncologist and assistant professor at Loyola University of Chicago. His journey in healthcare includes Internal Medicine training at Advocate Christ Medical Center/University of Illinois of Chicago, where he excelled as Chief Resident. Dr. Kittaneh further honed his expertise at the University of Miami.
Dr. Kittaneh has conducted extensive research and assisted in many clinical trials. His notable contributions have been published in journals across the United States, which focus particularly on breast, melanoma, and gastrointestinal cancers. As an expert medical reviewer, Dr. Kittaneh plays a crucial role in shaping and evaluating Mesothelioma Hub’s content, ensuring accuracy and relevance in the field.
American Cancer Society. (2018). About Malignant Mesothelioma. Retrieved on July 19, 2018, from https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/8733.00.pdf
American Cancer Society. (2019). Questions to Ask About Malignant Mesothelioma. Retrieved on August 30, 2019 from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/malignant-mesothelioma/detection-diagnosis-staging/talking-with-doctor.html
American Cancer Society. (2018). Treating Malignant Mesothelioma. Retrieved on August 30th, 2019, from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/malignant-mesothelioma/treating.html
American Lung Association. (2019). Question to Ask Your Doctor About Mesothelioma. Retrieved on August 30, 2019 from https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/mesothelioma/questions-to-ask-your-doctor
Mott, Frank E. (2012). Mesothelioma: A Review. Retrieved on July 19, 2018, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3307510/