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Just diagnosed with kidney cancer: Healthcare Provider's Office
What is a pathology report?
When a piece of tissue is taken from the body (a biopsy), it is examined by a type of doctor called a pathologist. He or she then writes a report about the findings. This is called a pathology report. It will tell your healthcare team the stage of the tumor and help your team know the treatment that is best for you. Be sure to ask your healthcare team to give you a copy of the report and review it with you. And ask any questions you have about the results.
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How can I better understand my diagnosis?
It is okay if you do not understand all that your healthcare team tells you right away. What is important is that you ask your doctor about the things you do not understand. If you don’t feel that you can talk with your doctor, talk with a different member of your healthcare team, such as a nurse. They can explain it by using other words or show you a picture or diagram of what they are talking about.
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What are my treatment options?
Your treatment may depend on many factors, such as the type of kidney cancer and the stage of the tumor. Your healthcare team may want you to have more than one treatment at a time. Treatment options may include:
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Surgery
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Biologic therapy, which helps the body’s defense system (immune system
fight the cancer
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Chemotherapy, a type of medicine that kills cancer cells but can also harm normal cells
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Medicine that may block the growth of cancer cells
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Chemotherapy or radiation
Talk with your healthcare team about your treatment options. Together you can make the choice that is best for you.
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Should I get a second opinion?
You need to be confident in the care that you are getting. A second opinion may give you the chance to gather and think about all the facts and options before choosing a treatment option. You may worry that you might offend your doctor by getting a second opinion. But most doctors won’t mind. And some insurance companies require you to get a second opinion, but you may want to be sure the visit is covered. If you decide to delay treatment to get a second opinion, be sure to tell your healthcare provider. He or she may not want you to delay treatment.
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Who is on my healthcare team?
Many types of healthcare providers make up a cancer treatment team, such as:
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Medical oncologist
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Radiation oncologist
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Urologist
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Urologic oncologist
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Oncology nurse
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Registered dietitian
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What should I talk about with my healthcare team?
Your healthcare team is there to help answer any questions you have. To learn the most from them, it is important to be open and honest. And ask any questions you have-even if you think they are about something that is not important. It may help to write your questions down ahead of time and take notes during your visit.
Check the questions below that you want to ask your healthcare team, and build a checklist that you can take on your next office visit:
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