Your Lung Cancer Medical Team

Going through treatment for lung cancer may be one of the hardest things you'll ever face, but your medical team can help.

Being prepared for treatment can help you work effectively with your health care partners and develop strategies to more easily manage your appointment schedule, side effects from therapy, and day-to-day life.

Who's on Your Team
You've probably noticed that your medical team has grown far beyond your primary care physician. Here are some of the health care professionals you may encounter during treatment:

• Primary care physicians/MD: Medical doctors who are often the first health professional you'll see when you have symptoms of possible lung cancer, and the doctors who will continue to take care of your noncancer health needs.

• Medical oncologists: Medical doctors who specialize in treating cancer with medications such as chemotherapy. They help stage your cancer, develop your treatment plan and consult with other physicians about your cancer treatment.

• Surgeons: Medical doctors who perform operations and consult on treatment plans with oncologists. Thoracic surgeons specialize in operations in the chest area, including the lungs.

• Radiologists/Radiation therapists/Nuclear medicine specialists: Medical doctors who specialize in using X-rays, CT and PET scans and other scanning techniques and forms of radiation to diagnose and treat disease. Radiologists and nuclear medicine specialists diagnose cancer. Radiation therapists are experts in treating cancer.

• Oncology nurses: Nurses who usually have advanced degrees and special training in cancer care. They are often in charge of carrying out the treatment plan agreed on by you and your doctors.

• Pathologists: Medical doctors who study body fluids and tissues in the laboratory. Pathologists examine biopsy samples to look for signs of cancer and report the information to your doctors.

• Psychiatrists: Medical doctors who specialize in treating psychological problems and who can prescribe medicines, such as anti-depressants and sleep aids. A psychiatrist might treat depression, anxiety and other psychological problems related to, or occurring at the same time as, your cancer.

• Psychologists: Mental health professionals who hold degrees in psychology and/or counseling. Psychologists also treat depression, anxiety and other psychological problems, but some cannot prescribe medications.

• Registered dietitians: Food and nutrition specialists who have advanced training and have met certain testing requirements. Dieticians help you practice good nutritional habits while undergoing treatment, especially if side effects affect your eating.

• Rehabilitation specialists: Physical or occupational therapists who can help you recover from the physical changes that come from cancer or cancer treatment.

• Clinical social workers: Mental health professionals who have advanced degrees in social work and can offer counseling and help in solving practical life problems during treatment.

• Cancer navigator/Patient navigator: A trained professional or a trained volunteer who can help you work your way through the treatment system, get to the right services, and possibly even deal with financial issues. Cancer navigators often work at major cancer centers.

Talking With Your Team
Don't be reluctant to ask questions – your medical team expects them. But since time sometimes can be short, it may help phrase your request with this in mind:

• If you can't talk with me right now, is there a better time for me to contact you, or can you recommend someone else who can answer my questions?

Here are a few more questions to help you get the information you need about your cancer care:

• What treatments are you recommending and why?
• What are the benefits and risks of these treatments?
• Which side effects are most common with the kind of treatment I'm having, and what can I do to minimize them?
• Which symptoms or side effects of treatment should I report to you right away? Which ones can wait until a more convenient time?
• Whom do I call if I have a problem in the evening or on weekends?
• What do I do if I need a prescription refilled outside of office hours?
• My family members or friends may want to talk with you about my condition. How do I give you permission to speak with them?
• Can you explain the stage of my cancer?

Staying on Track With Treatment
The process of treatment for lung cancer means managing a new set of appointments and responsibilities. Here are some ideas for getting organized and staying on top of your treatment plan:

• Keep an appointment calendar, notebook, and pen or pencil handy at all times. Make note of new appointments as they are scheduled, not later.
  
• Use the scheduling tools on your computer and your mobile phone to send yourself appointment reminders, schedule recurring appointments, search your calendar or file appointments according to treatment.
  
• Take advantage of the American Cancer Society's Web site, which has an extensive section on coping with treatment. The section includes online calendars and to-do lists, as well as worksheets to help you monitor side effects of different therapies. If you can describe your symptoms accurately, your doctor has a better chance of helping you minimize the problems that sometimes come with treatment.
  
• Ask if your treatment center has a "patient navigator" program. Not every center has one, but it's worth asking if staff or volunteers are available to help you make your way through treatment. Depending on the program, patient navigators may help with simple problems – for example, guiding you to the right rooms on your first day of treatment. Or they may have more extensive duties, such as helping you figure out payment options or find financial help.
  
• No navigator? Most hospitals have social work, home care or discharge planning departments that can help you with practical problems, such as finding temporary transportation or child care. Business offices often have financial counselors to help you sort out bills and payments.