(v) Questions To Ask About Treatment Side Effects
Introduction
When attempting to cope with the side effects of colorectal cancer treatments, knowing which questions to ask your doctor can be critical in the management of those side effects. The following modality-specific questions will assist you in the information-gathering process related to treatment side effects.
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Questions to Ask About Surgery-Related Side Effects
- What should I expect as far as side effects are concerned?
- How long will they last?
- Which side effects should I report? To whom should I report the side effects?
- What kind of impact will this surgery have on my bladder and bowels?
- Will the surgery damage nerves to sexual organs?
- How will my sexual relations be affected and when can I resume sexual intercourse?
- What kind of pain relief will I have?
- If I have a lymph node dissection, will this cause me to be at risk for lymphedema (a condition that occurs when lymph nodes have been removed or damaged and lymphatic fluid collects in those tissues, causing swelling or edema in the legs) .and if so, what steps can I take to avoid it?
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Questions To Ask About Chemotherapy-Related Side Effects
- Is there any way I can anticipate what my chemotherapy side effects will be?
- How long will the side effects last?
- Which side effects should I report and to whom?
- What happens if my side effects prevent me from taking my medications?
- What can I do to help prevent the fatigue I may experience?
- Will I lose my hair as a result of my chemotherapy?
- What will happen if my white blood cell count dips too low (known as leucopenia) compromising my ability to fight infections? Can we safeguard against this? Are there drugs to address this?
- Can I take multi-vitamins to address or prevent some of the chemo-induced side effects?
- What can I do to prevent the tingling and numbness (neuropathy) that result in the fingers and feet after oxaliplatin therapy?
- Will I have magnesium and calcium infusions in the clinic to safeguard against the onset of oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy? If not, can I take magnesium/calcium supplements?
- Will I lose my appetite? How can we remedy this?
- Will the side effects affect my bowel movements? Can this be remedied?
- Will I experience nausea/vomiting from the side effects? If so, how can this be prevented or treated?
- Will I lose my appetite? How can this be remedied?
- Will I experience mouth sores (mucositis)? If so, how can I safeguard against its onset? Can it be treated?
- Do biologics such as avastin, erbitux and vectibix have any side effects? If so, what are they and how can I either safeguard against their onset or have them treated?
- Can I safeguard against the onset of erbitux/vectibix-induced skin rash? If already developed, can it be treated?
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Questions To Ask About Radiotherapy-Related Side Effects
- Is there any way I can anticipate what my radiation therapy side effects will be?
- Will the side effects be debilitating?
- Will I be able to take multi-vitamins during radiotherapy?
- How will the side effects affect my bowel movements?
- Will I experience any pain?
- Will I experience any nausea/vomiting?
- Can we safeguard against the onset of the nausea/vomiting?
- Will I lose my appetite? How can this be remedied?
- Will I experience any skin irritations? Will they be permanent or temporary? If temporary, for how long?
- Can I control the side effects with any medications?
- Can I control the side effects with a change in my diet?
- How should I care for the skin that is exposed to radiation? May I bathe?