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QUESTIONS TO ASK AT YOUR RO APPOINTMENT
QUESTIONS FOR YOUR RO APPOINTMENT
List of questions for your first Radiation Oncology consult:
Note: This list is prepared by the public/layman of patients who have Ledderhose and Dupuytrens Disease and have completed radiation therapy. The information contained herein is not intended, nor should it be construed as medical advice as it is solely the opinion of the patient offering the information.
Since you will have so many important questions to ask, when you book your appointment, ask how much time has been allotted for you. If they have only put you in for 10 or 20 minutes, ask for an extended appointment as you don’t want your doctor or yourself to be rushed with this important decision about your care. It doesn’t cost you any more to do that. Same copay!
INSURANCE: Also, all insurance coverage is different. I suggest you call the Radiation Oncologist’s billing office prior to your appointment and give them your insurance information. They can verify your coverage and verify if they are in-network with your insurance carrier.
`Please explain my risk of getting cancer from low dose radiation therapy
`What are the side effects of treatment and how should they be managed?
`What are my after care instructions?
`Are there any changes, after radiation therapy, that I should be looking for that would prompt a need to be seen by you, a year, 2 years, 5 years, etc. after RT?
`How many patients have you treated with RT and do you feel comfortable drawing my radiation maps?
`If not comfortable drawing my maps, would you be willing to call my hand surgeon and/or podiatrist and explain that you will get the best possible result if they could draw the maps?
`Is there any restriction on other diagnostic radiation, should I need it, now that I'm going to have radiation therapy.
`If I get an in field failure how would that be handled?
`If I get extension, how would that be handled? Extension would be if you had additional disease show up outside the area already treated by RT.
`Do you use the Prof. MD Seegenschmiedt protocol? What dose do you use? What machine do you use?
`Do you use Xray or electron beam radiation and can you explain why you use the type of radiation you use?
`If I feel better after the first round may I discontinue treatment? Why is it important to have two rounds?
`Will I have an increased risk of skin cancer with radiation therapy for Dupuytrens and Ledderhose?
`What are my chances of developing fibrosis in the treated area and will that affect my ability to have a salvage surgery if I need years from now?
`Will radiation therapy put me at risk of other types of fibrosis, like pulmonary fibrosis?
`Does radiation therapy adversely affect the blood vessels in my hands and feet, thereby making a future surgery difficult?
`If I remain stable for 5 or 6 years and then my disease comes back in the treated area, would you recommend retreating, why or why not?
`What results can I expect based on my stage of disease?
`Would you please share results of patients you have treated?
`Have you treated patients either before or after NA or Xiaflex or Surgery and if so what were those results?
`What is the cost of treatment, how much will my insurance cover and do you offer a payment plan for amounts not covered by insurance – if one year is typical and I need two years, will you allow that?