Making cancer treatment choices isn’t easy, but you’ll feel more confident if you’re fully informed about the type of cancer you have and the treatment options available to you.

1. Making the Best Treatment
Decision for You
Dana Nolan, MS LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor

2. Decisions, Decisions…
Mesothelioma patients may be offered more
than one option from their oncologist when
they are diagnosed.
Options are great.
Options can be overwhelming, too!
Some patients feel stressed and anxious when
considering what to do.
(800) 615-2270

3. Finding Your Own Way
There is no “right” answer for
everyone. All mesothelioma
patients are very different in
terms of their disease and what is
important to them.
The first step to making the right
treatment decision for you is
“understanding.”
(800) 615-2270

4. Understanding Your Disease
What type of mesothelioma do you have?
Where is your disease exactly?
If you have pleural mesothelioma, your disease
can be staged with the traditional staging
method using stage I, II, III or IV.
Depending on the spread of disease, your
cancer may be described as resectable (able to
be removed) or unresectable.
(800) 615-2270

5. Understanding Your Treatment Options
You may be offered one or more of
the following treatment options:
Surgery
Radiation Therapy
Chemotherapy
Either one drug or a combination
Biological Therapy
Active Surveillance (also called
watchful waiting)
(800) 615-2270

6. Understanding YOU
Once you understand your disease and your
treatment options very well, then it is
important to understand YOU!
There are many questions to consider and
discuss with your loved ones.
(800) 615-2270

7. Personal Considerations
What are your treatment goals?
How do you define your quality
of life?
Who is in your life to help you
emotionally? Practically?
Financially?
What are your strengths and
resources?
(800) 615-2270

8. Physical Considerations
 How is your overall health or
performance status?
Heart disease, diabetes, breathing
problems, mobility issues, energy
level other diagnoses?
 It is important to consider how a
particular mesothelioma
treatment option would be
tolerated in conjunction with
your other health issues.
(800) 615-2270

9. Personal Considerations
Quality of Life: Subjective concept that is broad
and multidimensional.
Varies from person-to-person and encompasses
factors such as functional status, social support,
financial well-being, freedom from pain (physical
and emotional), etc.
Only the patient can define and asses their
quality of life in relation to how they are coping
with mesothelioma.
(800) 615-2270

10. What Is Life Worth Living?
 Each time your oncologist offers
a treatment option, it is
important to weigh the expected
benefit of treatment with the risks
and side effects of treatment.
 Keep track of your energy, pain
levels and other side effects to
help patients and physicians
evaluate how much the treatment
is impacting quality of life.
(800) 615-2270

11. Loved Ones
At times, loved ones may have different
opinions about what treatments the patient
should have.
When the patient and their loved ones do not
agree on treatment decisions, it can lead to
relationship strain.
Ultimately, the patient is in charge of their
body and treatment decisions.
(800) 615-2270

12. Resources About Treatment Decisions
http://
www.cancer.org/treatment/findingandpayingfortreatment/treatmen
http://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-
treated/making-decisions-about-cancer-treatment
(800) 615-2270

13. Contact Information
1-800-615-2270
(800) 615-2270