It is always helpful to have someone accompany you to help you take notes and serve as your memory after the visit.
If this is your first visit after being diagnosed and/or you have not started treatment yet, here are a few questions you might want to ask your doctor:
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What are the results of the bone marrow biopsy and what is the phase of the disease? (Most patients are diagnosed in chronic phase)
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What treatment will I start? Many patients will be started on Gleevec® (also referred to as imatinib mesylate, at around 400mg/day), Sprycel® (dasatinib with starting doses ranging from 70mgs to 140mgs/day), or Tasigna® (nilotinib with starting doses starting at 400mgs/day). If your doctor is prescribing a different dose or one that falls outside these ranges, do you understand why?
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What does this drug do and how will its effectiveness be monitored?
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What if I miss a dose?
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What are some of the side effects that I might expect with this drug and what can I do to minimize them?
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Are there any side effects for which I should seek immediate medical attention?
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How and at what frequency will my CML be monitored?
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Will you be following the NCCN (National Comprehensive Cancer Network) Guidelines for monitoring my CML? (http://www.nccn.org/patients/guidelines/cml/#50) If not, why?
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How do I buy this drug and will I need help with my insurance provider?
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Can I still have an occasional glass of wine or other alcohol while I am on this drug?
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Are there any other drugs that would interact with this drug?
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Is there a clinical trial for a new drug for newly diagnosed patients? If so, what would be the pros and cons of participating in a clinical trial?
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Do I need to be concerned about pregnancy, breast feeding or sterility?
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Will I be able to go to work?
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Is there anything specific I shouldn’t do while I am taking this drug?
If this is your first visit, make sure you make arrangements for your next visit before leaving the hospital or treatment center.