I am an oncologist whose mother has lung cancer. Here’s what to do once you or a loved one is diagnosed

When you or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, it’s easy to become overwhelmed.

Dr. Mikkeal A Sekeres, chief of hematology at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami, learned this firsthand when his 74-year-old mother was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2017.

He wrote for the Washingtonpost that despite his expertise, “when my mother called me in 2017 to tell me about her lung cancer diagnosis, my brain struggled to keep track of what my ears were hearing.”

“Suddenly I was cast in the cancer drama, playing an unfamiliar role: instead of an oncologist calmly providing information, contextualizing a diagnosis and developing a treatment plan, I was the son of a patient, trying to get answers.”

With a record two million Americans expected to be diagnosed with cancer this year, Dr. Sekeres offers his top advice for coping with the disease – including how to ensure you get the best and most timely care.

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Dr. Sekeres first advised patients to get a formal diagnosis as soon as possible. He noted that this may seem obvious, but “most people hear about a possible cancer diagnosis from someone who does not specialize in cancer.”

This includes a GP finding a lump, abnormal blood test results and a radiologist finding a mass on a scan.

Dr. Sekeres cautioned that while these findings may look like cancer, a specialist should perform a biopsy to confirm that there are cancer cells. ‘Try to remain calm until you receive a formal diagnosis through additional testing. It is possible that the lump is not cancerous,” he wrote.

He pointed to an early study in the British Journal of Cancerwhich showed that of patients with swollen lymph nodes in whom doctors suspected cancer, only 17 percent actually had the disease.

In addition, he suggested that we immediately find out how serious the cancer is. “Before assuming the worst, seek advice from an expert regarding the severity of the cancer,” he wrote.

Determining the stage of the cancer, or how much it has spread, requires several other tests, including scans and biopsies.

And while it’s fine to go online and do some research, you need to be careful with your sources. He pointed to a 2018 study in the Journal of Cancer Educationwhich found that only 67 percent of cancer information shared on social media is accurate.

“Nonprofit organizations (such as established patient advocacy groups), government and academic websites were generally the most reliable sources,” Dr. Sekeres wrote.

When it’s time for that first appointment with an oncologist, bring a list of questions and take notes during the meeting.

Because this can be overwhelming, Dr. We recommend bringing a friend or family member to help with this. In his family’s case, he went with his mother to her appointment and took notes on his computer.

In a studyhe noted that when older adults with cancer were asked to remember information about their treatment and side effects, only 23 percent recalled correct answers.

That said, it’s also fine to consult another oncologist for a second opinion. Dr. Sekeres suggested finding a large academic cancer center if you have one nearby, as these facilities often have more resources and the most up-to-date technology.

It is around this time that Dr. Sekeres recommends having the biopsy and other results reviewed by a pathologist, a doctor who specializes in diagnosing conditions and interpreting tests.

Dr. Sekeres and his colleagues a study published in October of more than 900 patients with suspected bone marrow cancer. The team found that pathologists with expertise in the condition disagreed with the diagnosis of less familiar pathologists 20 percent of the time.

In addition, seven percent of patients who were misdiagnosed also received the wrong treatment.

“Therefore, it is just as important to seek a second opinion from a pathologist to confirm the diagnosis as it is from an oncologist to verify the best treatment plan,” Dr. Sekeres wrote.