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Advice for Someone with Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Author(s):
Danielle Hicks, Nisha Mohindra, MD, and Christopher Towe, MD, share their perspectives and offer advice to those navigating an early-stage non-small cell lung cancer diagnosis. Sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb.
Danielle Hicks: I want to provide some advice for those watching, who may have been diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in the early stages. A lung cancer diagnosis can be scary and overwhelming for both patients and their caregivers or loved ones. They may experience fear and shock. This can prevent them from absorbing information from their doctor at time of diagnosis and through treatment. It may prevent them from asking questions. Dr. Towe, have you experienced this in your practice?
Dr. Christopher Towe: Yeah. Certainly, as a lung cancer surgeon, I'm the kind of doctor that no one wants, but I do see that in my patients that shock, that fear. And, to me, I think it's important to recognize that it's difficult to do it alone. It takes a village. And, you know, for individuals who are newly diagnosed, I advise them to look for sources of support— that could be friends or loved ones or even communities online if they find of patients with similar diagnoses. And that support system can help them even when they're talking to their doctors about treatment options, take notes, or help decode some of this complex language, so that they understand what's really happening.
Danielle Hicks: Yeah, it's really interesting because I remember, at the time of my mom’s diagnosis, being someone who was in the room with the healthcare provider, listening to what they were saying because she was busy thinking about her own diagnosis and what that meant for her and not necessarily what her healthcare provider was, the information her healthcare provider was sharing with her.
Dr. Christopher Towe: Yeah, it's definitely difficult to absorb, but I think, it's important. And then once you've absorbed the news and sort of the shock, it's also important to understand treatment options. I think it's unfortunate that we have preconceptions about what these treatments are or what they might feel like. So it's important to keep an open mind and when you meet with your providers, ask clarifying questions. If you're not clear what they're talking about, ask them and really advocate for those things that are important to you. A lot of my patients are scared of surgery. And we go well out of our way to make sure they understand the risks and benefits of surgery, so that they understand what's happening. And I also think it's important to really keep an open mind. You know, these treatments are changing. The things that we learned about in my training ten years ago, or even in my practice five years ago have changed. So go to your appointments with an open mind and be ready to discuss these with your doctors.
Danielle Hicks: Yeah, I couldn't agree with you more. And how fast and furiously the lung cancer landscape is changing.
Dr. Nisha Mohindra: I find that patients in that first appointment hear half or less of what I say. So I think it's important that patients feel encouraged and empowered to discuss their treatment goals and concerns over and over again with their oncologist and their care team. And that they feel confident in the treatment decisions that were made.
Danielle Hicks: Dr. Mohindra, as patients move through treatment, initial feelings can evolve. Some may be fearful that their cancer will get worse despite treatment, and others may worry that their disease will come back later in life.
Dr. Nisha Mohindra: I strongly encourage that patients communicate with their care team. New symptoms are important. And have good regular follow up so we can ensure that the cancer is not coming back or get it at a stage where we can continue to treat it. Everyone's experience is different and unique and as Dr. Towe said earlier, it's important that you work closely with your medical team to come up with a treatment plan that is tailored to your specific needs or your goals of care, and that you discuss side effects along the way.
Danielle Hicks: Yeah and there are also other resources available for ongoing support, such as professional counseling, peer support, support groups, educational materials to help people manage their diagnosis, both emotionally and physically. Advocacy groups like mine GO2 for Lung Cancer can help connect patients to some of these resources.
