CRC 101
Welcome to CRC 101!
What do I really need to know?
First week survival guide
Healthcare team roundup
The Basics
What is colorectal cancer?
Where is my tumor located?
Has my cancer spread?
What is the grade of my tumor?
What is the stage of my tumor?
Is my tumor MSS (pMMR) or MSI-H (dMMR)?
Biomarker Testing And Me
What are biomarkers?
Cancer and my genes
What kind of biomarker tests are available?
What is tumor testing?
What are liquid biopsies?
What is germline testing?
What routine blood work will I have done?
All About Scans And Imaging
What is imaging?
What is a colonoscopy?
What is a CT scan?
What is an MRI?
What is a PET scan?
Conquering scanxiety
What tests might be useful for me?
Chemotherapy And Targeted Therapies
What are chemotherapy and targeted therapies?
What kinds of drugs are there?
How does chemo fit into my treatment plan?
Ports, PICC lines and pumps
What should I expect with chemotherapy?
FOLFOX/CAPOX: Side effects
FOLFIRI/XELIRI: Side effects
FOLFOXIRI/FOLFIRINOX: Side effects
Lonsurf: Side effects
Stivarga: Side effects
Avastin: Side effects
Erbitux/Vectibix: Side effects
Braftovi: Side effects
Managing neuropathy and cold sensitivity
Questions to ask your oncologist
Radiation
What is radiation?
What types of radiation are there?
Pelvic radiation: What to expect
Radiation for metastases: What to expect
What side effects might I experience?
Questions to ask your radiation oncologist
Diet & Lifestyle
Diet & lifestyle: Getting started
What should I eat and drink?
How do I maintain a healthy weight?
What should I do for exercise?
What can I do to help my bowel function?
How will my ostomy affect my life?
How do I handle all these new emotions?
How do I travel?
Working with cancer
What if I can’t work?
Need Help Navigating?
Glossary
NCCN guides to colon and rectal cancer
Print Me Out!
My CRC biomarkers
Looking for a second opinion?
Questions? Feedback?
Contact us
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Questions to ask your oncologist
CRC 101
Questions to ask your oncologist
Here is a list of questions you may want to ask your oncologist about your chemotherapy treatment:
Which treatments will I be getting? Which drug or chemo regimens will they include?
Why have you chosen these drugs?
How many chemo cycles will I have? What does one cycle consist of?
What is the goal of the chemo treatment?
Are there any other ways to achieve the same result?
How does it fit into my treatment plan? Will I be having radiation or surgery?
How likely is it that these chemo drugs will work? What results have you seen in other patients?
How will I know if treatment is working?
What happens if chemo doesn’t work or stops working?
How will I be getting chemo?
Will I be getting a port or PICC line?
Where will I get my treatments?
How long will each treatment last?
What can I expect on infusion day?
What do I do if I have any problems with my 46-hour pump?
Is icing to reduce oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy something your cancer center/infusion clinic supports?
Will I be able to drive myself to appointments?
What side effects should I expect and what can I do to be prepared?
What pre-meds will I get on infusion day and do they have any side effects?
Are you prescribing any medications to help deal with side effects?
Is there anything else I can do to help manage side effects?
Is there a number I can call if I need to speak to someone out of hours?
How do I know when to call your office and when to call for emergency services?
Are there any severe side effects that I should be aware of?
Will I be able to carry out normal activities (work, driving, housework, exercise, sexual activities, etc)?
Will chemo affect my ability to have children? If so, are there any precautions I can take to preserve my fertility?
Is there anything that I should do to prepare for treatment to help maximize effectiveness and decrease side effects?
Do I need to change my diet?
Do I need to make any changes to any prescription meds or supplements that I already take?
Are there any clinical trials that would be suitable for me?
Can you assist in helping me get a second opinion?
If I have stage IV CRC, will you help me find clinical trials I’m eligible for?
When it comes to searching for clinical trials for stage IV patients, what advice do you have for me?
Can you help me put together a care team including surgeons and radiation oncologists?
If I have multiple specialists to take care of my cancer, who will be the point of contact for me?
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