Hi Maureen - in the beginning of treatment there were several questions I asked of the doctor during my weekly doctor day visit. The first time I asked, he answered, but not as much detail as I wanted. So, the following week I asked again and specifically for more detail in his answer. He gave me what I wanted just fine. More important, every question I asked after that day I got the more detailed answer.

I later learned that many patients don't really want to know much about their cancer or treatment, they just don't care. So, when questions are first asked many doctors try to give brief answers. If a patient is really interested in all this stuff the doc will go into more detail, but often you have to ask for that extra detail.

Asking for extra information is just being a good advocate for your own treatment. Doctors appreciate a patient who is involved in her own treatment, ie a good advocate; so they won't have a problem with giving more detailed answers.

take care

Tony

Tony, 69, non-smoker, aerobatics pilot, bridge player/teacher, avid dancer (ballroom, latin, swing, country)

09/13 SCC, HPV 16, tonsillectomy, T2N0.
11/13 start rads, no chemo
12/13 taste gone, dry mouth,
02/14 hair slowly returning
05/14 taste the same, dry sinuses, irrigation helps.
01/15 food taste about 60% returned, dry sinuses are worse in winter.
12/20 no more sinus problems, taste pretty good