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Include questions about possible side effects and range and type of drugs they will be taking. And how drugs will be taken, injection, by mouth, intravenous etc.
Difficulties arise when a question is asked about how long patient has got to live. It is impossible for doctor to predict future exactly for an individual patient and they would be putting unecessary pressure on themselves if they did. This uncertainty is not good for patient and vague answers never satisfy anyone. I would push doctor for an educated guess based on his experience and results he has at hand. This is only my opinion. I would want to know if I've got months (which could be two or three) or years (which could be 12 months).
Fears can often be worse than reality. That is why it is important to collate as much knowledge about illness and disease as possible. Discussing this new knowledge with friends and relatives can help relieve stress as treatment progresses.
(c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Information on Mesothelioma, providing articles and news on mesothelioma and asbestos cancer.