Stay Empowered: Ask About Treatment Progress
- Dr. Natasha Robinette, neuroradiologist at Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit, recommends that patients stay in the know throughout the glioma treatment process — and regularly ask their team for progress updates.
- After surgery, Dr. Robinette says it’s important for patients to ask how much of the tumor was removed, if any visible tumor remains, and how that might affect treatment going forward.
- As treatment progresses, imaging can sometimes show changes that are difficult to interpret. To stay proactive, ask whether imaging changes may be due to prior treatment or if it’s likely that cancer has returned.
Dr. Natasha Robinette, neuroradiologist at Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit, recommends that patients ask the following:
- How much of the tumor was removed?
- Does any visible tumor remain?
- How will this affect follow-up treatment?
“I think it’s important for the patient to know post-surgically and before they start their chemo, how was that surgical resection?” Dr. Robinette explains. “[Ask your doctor,] “how successful was it? How much tumor was removed? Is there still obvious tumor there that you can see on imaging?” As treatment progresses, imaging can sometimes show changes that are difficult to interpret. Radiation and other therapies may cause contrast enhancement on MRIs that looks similar to tumor regrowth. It’s important for patients to talk with their doctors about whether new changes on imaging are likely treatment-related or signs of recurrence. “I think it’s important for a patient to know that, as they’re followed in time, if a doctor starts talking to them about a new or worsening contrast enhancement area, it’s important to really narrow that down — do they think it’s post-treatment related? Or do they think it’s worsening tumor?” Dr. Robinette adds.
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