Making Critical Decisions on Cancer Therapy Options

Part I - Cancer Industry Overview:
Part II - Initial Diagnosis of Cancer:
Part III - Cancer Therapy Options:
a. If chemo is being considered, it's critical to have the chemosensitivity testing results or possibly MD Anderson recommendation for gene mutation analysis being performed.
b. Understanding the importance of building up and protecting the immune system prior to and during cancer treatment.
c. Understanding how cancer cells work (abnormal growth pattern, how they communicate, how they build up defenses against immune system, etc.)
d. Getting a Physicians Data Query (PDQ) for your type of cancer which discusses therapy options by stage based on clinical trial data.
e. Knowing your odds of survival and typical progression timeline.
f. Determining measures of success versus failure for various therapy options (i.e. living with cancer in remission vs. cure).
g. Becoming informed on measures that will mitigate side effects of therapy option chosen.
h. If late stage cancer diagnosis, a review of clinical trials available. Understanding the different types of clinical trials and the pros and cons of each. The importance in many clinical trials of no previous therapy options used.

Part IV - Nutrition for Cancer:
Part V - More Cancer Resources:
Part VI – Cancer Medical Terms:
Part VII – Survivor Characteristics:
Part VIII - Self-help Approaches:
Part IX – Testimonials of Survivors:
Part X – Forum for Patients:
Part XI - What would I do:
Part XII - Recent Developments:
Part XIII - Other Cancer Info:

Part III - Making Critical Decisions on Cancer Therapy Options

The purpose of this segment is to provide information that will point to resources and increase understanding of cancer options to become better informed before having to make critical cancer treatment decisions This includes: 1) a discussion of the importance of various tests before taking chemotherapy; 2) emphasizing the importance of the immune system and protecting it during cancer treatment; 3) a review of how cancer cells work; 4) the availability of a Physicians Data Query (PDQ) for each type of cancer; 5) how to find information on the odds of survival for each type and stage of cancer; 6) learning measures of success in fighting cancer; 7) information on reducing side effects of cancer treatment; and 8) a discussion of clinical trials.

NOTE: For more detailed information within Part III, choose any subcategories from the Navigation Menu to the left.