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The important thing to discuss with your oncologist is not just how long the therapy is or what’s required and what the side effects are, but also, what are the chances of success? Because sometimes, it’s important to realize that a fourth or fifth line therapy may have 8 to 10%, to 15% chance of working. And by working that could mean anything from an additional six weeks to not getting anything versus potentially six months. And that’s a very relevant piece of information. What are the percent chances of having a response in this setting in my disease, as well as, if I have a response, how much benefit do I have, either in progression or hopefully in survival. There are very comprehensive palliative programs that hopefully are available to you in your city. There are additional provisions that insurance companies and Medicare provide in terms of home health. Having a nurse check in, being able to assess labs without you having to travel to get your labs done at work. These are things you need to ask your doctor about and to use all of the tools to, again, maximize the productivity and quality of your life.
