Afterword

A Message from Caring Ambassadors Lung Cancer Program Director, Cindy Langhorne- Hatfield.

There are always “choices and hope” for all people facing lung cancer, whether you are living with the disease yourself or are the loved one of someone who is. For many people, hope grows when you have the information and support you need to make health care decisions that suit your personal goals and circumstances. At Caring Ambassadors, we are dedicated to helping improve the overall wellness of people living with lung cancer through information, education, and personal choice.

The good news is that lung cancer treatment and management options have changed dramatically over the past decade through the addition of new targeted therapies and immunotherapy drug options. Testing to detect specific biomarkers has become more common as precision medicine continues to evolve. With more treatment options approved for various types and stages of lung cancer, it is important to understand all your treatment options.

Caring Ambassadors is honored to be serving the lung cancer community. Please do not hesitate to reach out for more information at: info@lungcancercap.org

Lung Cancer Choices, 6^th Edition

Lung Cancer Choices is written with several purposes in mind:

• • • to provide information about lung cancer to help you make decisions about lung cancer treatment options.
    • to provide a balanced view of the currently available treatment options from Western medicine, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and Chinese medicine.
    • to help you communicate more effectively with healthcare providers.
    • to help you become empowered to be the best advocate for your healthcare.

Making Informed Decisions Potentially life-changing decisions are one aspect of having a serious illness such as lung cancer. Each of us is unique in how we make decisions. Some people want to know everything they possibly can about their disease and make all their own treatment decisions. Other people prefer to have their healthcare providers make treatment decisions based on their knowledge and expertise. Some prefer having a friend or family member seek out and sort through information. Many use a combination of approaches.

We hope Lung Cancer Choices will help you understand your disease and some of the health care options available to you. Knowledge empowers you to ask the necessary questions to become your own best advocate. When your questions have been asked and answered, you and your healthcare providers will be in the best possible situation to determine the best treatment approach for you.