Questions to Ask Your Medical Team about Multiple Myeloma

Article

Questions to ask your medical team about multiple myeloma.

Before Treatment

> What stage of myeloma do I have?

> Is the disease affecting my kidneys?

> How do I get a copy of the report from the pathologist?

> What are my treatment choices? Which do you recommend for me? Why?

> Will I have more than one kind of treatment? How will my treatment change over time?

> What are the expected benefits of each kind of treatment?

> What are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment? What can I do to control the side effects?

> What can I do to prepare for treatment?

> Will I need to stay in the hospital? If so, for how long?

> What is the treatment likely to cost? Will my insurance cover the cost?

> How will treatment affect my normal activities?

> Would a clinical trial be right for me? Can you help me find one?

> How often should I have checkups?

People with Stage 1 or Smoldering Myeloma

> If I choose watchful waiting, can I change my mind later on?

> Will the cancer be harder to treat later?

> How often will I have checkups?

> Between checkups, what problems should I tell you about?

Before Starting Initial Therapy

> Which drugs will I get? What will the treatment do?

> When will treatment start? When will it end? How often will I have treatments?

> Where will I go for treatment? Will I have to stay in the hospital?

> Will I have side effects during treatment?

> What side effects should I tell you about?

> Can I prevent or treat these side effects?

> Will there be lasting side effects? How long will they last? What can I do about them?

> How often will I need checkups?

Before Receiving Stem Cell Transplantation

> What kind of stem cell transplantation will I have? If I need a donor, how will I find one?

> How long will I be in the hospital? Will I need special care? How will I be protected from germs?

> What care will I need when I leave the hospital?

> How will I know if the treatment is working?

> What are the risks and the side effects?

> What can I do about them?

> What changes in normal activities will be necessary?

> What is my chance of a full recovery? How long will that take?

From "A Patient's Guide to Multiple Myeloma," published in the Winter 2011 issue of CURE. Download the full guide here.

Related Videos
Dr. Mikhael in an interview with CURE
Dr. Ajai Chari in an in interview with CURE
An image of Dr. Patel in an interview with CURE discussing healthy lifestyles in myeloma
Dr. Munshi in an interview with CURE
Dr. Dikran Kazandjian during an interview with CURE
Looking Ahead Panel
Related Content