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Spring Survey Results 2012

How Can I Get the Best Care if I Have Lung Cancer?

PROGRAM DETAILS:

If you have been diagnosed with lung cancer, you know that navigating treatments can be a lengthy, meticulous and stressful process. Some of your questions will have questions, and the concerns may be endless. It boils down to asking the right questions. This revealing Patient Power webcast features medical expert Dr. Douglas Wood and Laurel Perton, a patient who proved to be her own best advocate. As Professor and Chief of Thoracic Surgery at UW Medicine and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA), Dr. Wood is serious about patients being in the driver’s seat when it comes to getting the best care. He talks about likely tests for lung cancer, understanding what staging means, when it's time to push for a second opinion and what is really practical and available for patients today. On the other hand, lung cancer survivor Laurel Perton is able to share a more human side.

At 61 years of age, Ms. Perton was diagnosed with lung cancer. As a registered nurse, Laurel knew her chances of getting the best care were dependent on research. Sadly, Laurel’s mother battled the same illness years earlier. Within the same month of diagnosis, Laurel had a lobectomy, and four years later she is living cancer-free. Laurel admits there were some hurdles, such as lack of strong patient-doctor relationships and second opinion conflicts that were a bit discouraging, through an already difficult ordeal. Despite these hurdles, Laurel is grateful to be alive and is an active member of CancerCare. Hear more about Laurel’s reaction to diagnosis, her struggle to quit smoking, treatments, and how asking the right questions made a difference.

Listen and learn as Dr. Wood gives a guided tour on the latest options in treating lung cancer and how to be a better patient. He addresses some of the stigmas associated with lung cancer, such as smoking. In Dr. Wood's own words, “patients with lung cancer deserve to have the best care that they can get. You know, none of us can go backwards in our life. We've all made decisions that we might remake if we had a chance to think about it in a different light. And no one should feel that they deserve to have lung cancer.”

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EXPERTS & GUESTS:
Douglas E. Wood, M.D. Douglas E. Wood, M.D.
Professor and Chief, General Thoracic Surgery, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, UW Medicine
Dr. Wood is Professor and Chief of Thoracic Surgery at UW Medicine. His specialties include: esophageal cancer, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and sarcoma. He is a firm believer in “prompt and efficient evaluation and clear explanations to help patients make good decisions.” Dr. Wood earned his medical degree from the prestigious Harvard Medical School. He completed his residency at Massachusetts General... more >

Laurel Perton,
Lung cancer survivor
At 61-years-old, Ms. Perton was diagnosed with lung cancer. As a registered nurse, Laurel knew her chances of getting the best care were dependent on research. Sadly, it was just years earlier, that Laurel’s mother battled the same illness. Within the same month of diagnosis, Laurel had a lobectomy and 4 years later, she continues to live cancer-free. Laurel admits... more >

TRANSCRIPT:

  1. Introduction LISTEN
  2. Laurel’s story LISTEN
  3. Becoming an Involved Patient LISTEN
  4. Seeking Treatment LISTEN
  5. Diagnosing Lung Cancer LISTEN
  6. Stigma’s Associated with Lung Cancer LISTEN
  7. Listener Questions LISTEN

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