Discussing Proton Therapy With Your Doctor

Guideline for Your Discussion

If you are considering proton therapy, you will want to talk to your doctor. The information below can help you discuss your options with your doctor.

Knowing your cancer

• Would you write down a description of my cancer—what it's called, where it's located, what stage it is in, and other details that may be important in deciding treatment options?

Knowing your treatment options

• What are all of my treatment options? What do you recommend and why?
• Is proton therapy an option for me? What are the pros and cons?
• Is standard X-ray radiation therapy an option for me? What are the pros and cons?
• How long would my treatment last—at each appointment and overall? What is the treatment like? Is it safe?
• Will I need to alter my daily routine (e.g., going to work, exercising) because of the treatments?
• How do we know if the treatment worked?
• If my cancer were to come back some day, could I have treatments again?
• Where do I go to receive treatment?
• How much will this treatment cost? What does my insurance/Medicare/Medicaid pay?
• Once we have decided on a course of treatment for my diagnosis, what do I do next: Who do I call? When should I start? What information do I need to have available?

Knowing the side effects

• What could I expect as side effects or complications during therapy with the different treatment options?
• What long-term side effects or complications could I have after therapy with the different treatment options?

Come Prepared for a Discussion

To print out discussion materials for you and your doctor, see our list of downloads below.