, contents
Foreword by Diane Blum, MSW ix
Introduction by Regina Vidaver, PhD xi
Part 1: The Basics 1
Questions 1–6 provide background information for understanding lung cancer,
covering topics such as:
• What is cancer?
• What should I know about cancer cells?
• How do normal lungs function?
Part 2: Diagnosis and Staging 11
Questions 7–17 describe the symptoms of lung cancer and discuss how it is
diagnosed and staged:
• What are the symptoms of lung cancer?
• How is lung cancer diagnosed?
• What is staging, and why is it important?
Part 3: I ’ve Just Been Diagnosed with Lung Cancer—
Now What? 25
Questions 18–22 outline a number of concerns that you may encounter when first
learning of your diagnosis:
• Who treats lung cancer? What is multidisciplinary care?
• Should I get a second opinion?
• How can I relate best to my doctor? What can I do to make my medical visits as
productive as possible?
Part 4: Coping with Your Diagnosis 41
Questions 23–30 address the medical, emotional, and practical aspects of coping
with a lung cancer diagnosis:
• What is my prognosis? Can I survive lung cancer?
• How do I manage my emotions?
• How do I regain control of my life after my lung cancer diagnosis?
60533_100QA_05Print.indb 5 3/9/09 12:51:04 PM
, 1 0 0 Q u e s t i o n s ╃ & ╃ A n s w e r s A b o u t L u n g C a n c e r
Part 5: W hat Types of Treatments are Available
for Lung Cancer? 61
Questions 31–55 describe the types of treatments available for lung cancer—spanning
surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, clinical trials, and complementary/alternative
treatments—and address the challenges of evaluating treatment options:
• What are the goals of treatment?
• What does my surgeon mean when he or she says, “I got it all”?
• What is surgery for lung cancer? How is it performed?
Part 6: H
ow Will My Doctor Decide Which Treatment
is Best for Me? 97
Questions 56–69 discuss ways that your doctor will evaluate and determine which
treatment therapy is best for you:
• What are standard treatment options for my stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)?
• What are the standard treatment options for my stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC)?
• I have SCLC and my doctor has recommended prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI).
What is PCI, and how do I decide whether it is right for me?
Part 7: Side Effects of Chemotherapy 127
Questions 70–79 describe the side effects that you encounter though chemotherapy
treatments:
• What are the common side effects of chemotherapy?
• What are blood counts, and what should I know about them?
• Why am I always exhausted? What can I do for fatigue? Will the fatigue go away
after my treatment is over?
Part 8: Coping with Symptoms of Lung Cancer 145
Questions 80–85 cover common symptoms, side effects and complications of lung
cancer and its treatment:
• Can my shortness of breath be controlled?
• What can I do to relieve pain?
• Am I at risk for a blood clot? What is a pulmonary embolism?
Part 9: Living with Lung Cancer 161
Questions 86–93 provide practical advice on lifestyle choices or changes that you
may encounter following a lung cancer diagnosis:
• How should I change my diet following a lung cancer diagnosis?
• Can diet affect my survival from lung cancer?
• If I smoke, is there any reason to quit?
vi
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, 1 0 0 Q u e s t i o n s ╃ & ╃ A n s w e r s A b o u t L u n g C a n c e r
Part 10: If Treatment Fails 175
Questions 94-97 address the difficult issues that arise if treatment options fail:
• How do I decide if it’s time to stop treatment?
• What is hospice?
• What can I do to prepare for my death?
Part 11: Prevention, Screening, and Advocacy 185
Questions 98–100 discuss a variety of options for prevention, ways to screen for lung
cancer, and advocacy:
• Can lung cancer be prevented? What is chemoprevention?
• Is there a screening test for lung cancer?
• Why has there been so little progress in fighting lung cancer? What can I do to help?
Appendix 195
Glossary 217
Index 227
vii
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Foreword by Diane Blum, MSW ix
Introduction by Regina Vidaver, PhD xi
Part 1: The Basics 1
Questions 1–6 provide background information for understanding lung cancer,
covering topics such as:
• What is cancer?
• What should I know about cancer cells?
• How do normal lungs function?
Part 2: Diagnosis and Staging 11
Questions 7–17 describe the symptoms of lung cancer and discuss how it is
diagnosed and staged:
• What are the symptoms of lung cancer?
• How is lung cancer diagnosed?
• What is staging, and why is it important?
Part 3: I ’ve Just Been Diagnosed with Lung Cancer—
Now What? 25
Questions 18–22 outline a number of concerns that you may encounter when first
learning of your diagnosis:
• Who treats lung cancer? What is multidisciplinary care?
• Should I get a second opinion?
• How can I relate best to my doctor? What can I do to make my medical visits as
productive as possible?
Part 4: Coping with Your Diagnosis 41
Questions 23–30 address the medical, emotional, and practical aspects of coping
with a lung cancer diagnosis:
• What is my prognosis? Can I survive lung cancer?
• How do I manage my emotions?
• How do I regain control of my life after my lung cancer diagnosis?
60533_100QA_05Print.indb 5 3/9/09 12:51:04 PM
, 1 0 0 Q u e s t i o n s ╃ & ╃ A n s w e r s A b o u t L u n g C a n c e r
Part 5: W hat Types of Treatments are Available
for Lung Cancer? 61
Questions 31–55 describe the types of treatments available for lung cancer—spanning
surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, clinical trials, and complementary/alternative
treatments—and address the challenges of evaluating treatment options:
• What are the goals of treatment?
• What does my surgeon mean when he or she says, “I got it all”?
• What is surgery for lung cancer? How is it performed?
Part 6: H
ow Will My Doctor Decide Which Treatment
is Best for Me? 97
Questions 56–69 discuss ways that your doctor will evaluate and determine which
treatment therapy is best for you:
• What are standard treatment options for my stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)?
• What are the standard treatment options for my stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC)?
• I have SCLC and my doctor has recommended prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI).
What is PCI, and how do I decide whether it is right for me?
Part 7: Side Effects of Chemotherapy 127
Questions 70–79 describe the side effects that you encounter though chemotherapy
treatments:
• What are the common side effects of chemotherapy?
• What are blood counts, and what should I know about them?
• Why am I always exhausted? What can I do for fatigue? Will the fatigue go away
after my treatment is over?
Part 8: Coping with Symptoms of Lung Cancer 145
Questions 80–85 cover common symptoms, side effects and complications of lung
cancer and its treatment:
• Can my shortness of breath be controlled?
• What can I do to relieve pain?
• Am I at risk for a blood clot? What is a pulmonary embolism?
Part 9: Living with Lung Cancer 161
Questions 86–93 provide practical advice on lifestyle choices or changes that you
may encounter following a lung cancer diagnosis:
• How should I change my diet following a lung cancer diagnosis?
• Can diet affect my survival from lung cancer?
• If I smoke, is there any reason to quit?
vi
60533_100QA_05Print.indb 6 3/16/09 9:22:46 AM
, 1 0 0 Q u e s t i o n s ╃ & ╃ A n s w e r s A b o u t L u n g C a n c e r
Part 10: If Treatment Fails 175
Questions 94-97 address the difficult issues that arise if treatment options fail:
• How do I decide if it’s time to stop treatment?
• What is hospice?
• What can I do to prepare for my death?
Part 11: Prevention, Screening, and Advocacy 185
Questions 98–100 discuss a variety of options for prevention, ways to screen for lung
cancer, and advocacy:
• Can lung cancer be prevented? What is chemoprevention?
• Is there a screening test for lung cancer?
• Why has there been so little progress in fighting lung cancer? What can I do to help?
Appendix 195
Glossary 217
Index 227
vii
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