Prognosis
• Response to treatment
• How well the patient is getting up and around
• The human spirit and attitude
For some patients, it is personally important for them to have a prognosis. Some people want to plan ahead as much as possible, get their financial affairs in order, and change their priorities depending on the expected outcome of the disease and the associated timeline. For others, a prognosis only causes fear and anxiety for both the patient his or her loved ones. As a caregiver, you should follow the lead of the person with cancer; make sure that the patient gets all of the information that he or she wants, but do not push a prognosis on someone who is not ready. For some people with lung cancer, understanding a broad range of potential outcomes and timelines is more helpful. Regardless, you can encourage the person with cancer to live every day fully while also starting to put his or her affairs in order.