How do I make the most of my oncology appointments?

The treatments for SCLC can vary from person to person. Christopher Vaughn, MD, Host of "Cancer Shop Talk: Behind the Diagnosis with Dr. Vaughn," describes how to get the most out of your oncology appointments.

Transcript

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[MUSIC PLAYING] CHRISTOPHER N. VAUGHN: So the treatments for small cell lung

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cancer can vary greatly from patient to patient. And just researching the disease on your own certainly won't give you the specific information

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you need about how to best take care of yourself. That's why really taking advantage of your oncologist or team of oncologists is so important.

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Sometimes the treatment will require multiple oncologists with different specialties, such as medical, surgical, and radiation.

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So depending on which ones you're working with, you'll want to prepare as best as you can for each specific appointment. Now, I always recommend patients bring questions

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to our appointments. Some of the great questions to ask and think of are, how do we know if the treatment is working? What can I do to manage side effects from the treatment?

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Are there any symptoms I need to tell you about right away? And how do I reach you at different times, like weekends or holidays?

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But any treatment questions you have are fair game, so go ahead and ask. You want to be able to keep your oncologist as informed

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as possible. Knowing your medical history and past and current medications you're on is so critically important. It also helps to keep track of the symptoms and the side

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effects that you're already experiencing. The more complete information they have, the more your doctor can provide measures that will greatly help you and improve your quality of life

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during treatment. Having an oncologist that makes you feel heard and encourages you to be proactive in your treatment goes a long way in making those appointments as

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effective as possible. Don't be afraid to make new appointments. There are a lot of great resources online for checking

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in remotely, especially if you just need to bring up new information or ask questions. Become acquainted with telehealth services, and ask your oncologist if they're

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available via those resources. They can really make scheduling and keeping appointments very simple. [HEART BEATING]