Thymus Cancer: Treatment Questions

Talking with healthcare providers about your thymus cancer can be overwhelming. It can be hard to take in all of the information. It helps to be prepared. Make a list of questions and bring them to your appointments. Write the answers down. Make sure you ask how the treatment might change your daily life, including your diet, and how you will look and feel after treatment. Ask how successful the treatment is expected to be, and what the risks and possible side effects are. You may also want to ask a friend or family member to go with you. They can take notes and write down the answers, and also ask questions you may not think of. You can also ask your healthcare provider if you can record the conversation.

Below are some questions to ask during your appointments. Not all of these might apply to your situation. But asking the questions that do apply can help you get a better idea of what to expect.

Deciding on a treatment

• What kind of thymus cancer do I have? Where is it?

• What stage is my cancer? What does this mean?

• Do I need any more tests before we decide on treatment?

• How far has my cancer grown or spread? Has it grown outside of the thymus? How might this affect treatment?

• Do I have any paraneoplastic syndromes?

• What are my treatment choices? 

• Will I need to take any medicines? Which ones?

• What treatment do you think is best for me? Why?

• What are the goals of treatment?

• What is the success rate of this treatment for my type and stage of thymus cancer?

• Will the treatment also help the paraneoplastic syndrome?

• What is the average life expectancy for someone in my situation?

• How much experience do you have treating cancers like mine?

• Should I get a second opinion? 

• Are there any clinical trials I should look into?

Getting ready for treatment

• How soon do I need to start treatment?

• How long will each treatment take?

• Where do I have to go for the treatment?

• Who will give me the treatment?

• Does someone need to go with me during treatments?

• Can I drive myself or take public transportation to and from the treatments?

• Do you have someone on staff who can help me with transportation, finances, and other resources?

• Can I take my other medicines during treatment?

• How long will I be in treatment?

• Will I be able to work during treatment, or do I need to arrange a leave of absence?

Coping during treatment

• How will I feel during and after the treatment?

• Will I be able to go to work (or do other activities) and be around my family and friends during treatment?

• What side effects can I expect?

• How long will side effects last?

• Will treatment affect how I look or how active I can be?

• Will treatment affect my ability to have children in the future?

• Will there be side effects I need to call you about?

• How can I contact you? What number do I call? After office hours? On weekends or holidays?

• What can I do to ease the side effects?

• Should I change my diet? What foods can’t I eat?

• Are there support groups nearby or online that I can join?

After treatment

• How will I feel after treatment?

• What type of follow-up will I need after treatment?

• Will I need any type of rehabilitation therapy after treatment? 

• How will we know if treatment worked?

• Will the paraneoplastic syndrome go away when I finish treatment?

• What are my choices if the treatment doesn't work or the cancer comes back?

Making a decision

When you have answers from your healthcare provider, it’s time to think about your preferences. Think about what side effects you can and can’t tolerate. Talk about all of your concerns with your healthcare provider before making a decision about treatment. You may also want to get input from family and friends.