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Editor: M. Brandon Smith
Profession: Attorney at Law

Category: Mesothelioma News

For those recently diagnosed with mesothelioma, the event often brings great uncertainties and hundreds of questions to the surface. Some of the most important questions that arise should be directed to your oncologist. The more you know about mesothelioma and the various ways to combat it, the better one will be in their efforts to survive its debilitating effects. Paul Krause, a long time survivor of mesothelioma, through his website survivingmesthelioma.com suggests there are at least 8 questions you should ask:

1. Is it alright if I tape this conversation?

2. Did you send my pathology (report and slides) to another hospital for a second opinion?

3. Do you have any financial or research interest in this treatment you are recommending? For example, are you being paid by a drug company when you prescribe these drugs? Do you consult for the drug company that makes these drugs?

4. How many patients have you treated with my exact same cancer? Same age and same cancer? Which treatments did you use? Are any of the patients still alive? Can I speak with them?

5. Did any patients have side-effects from the treatment? What were they? What was the worse side-effect? Did anyone die from the treatment, not the cancer?

6. Are these drugs FDA approved for treating my cancer?

7. Can you show me where the survival information comes from? Is it reported in the peer-reviewed published medical literature? Can you give me a copy of the article?

8. What is my prognosis with no treatment?