“Cancer is a group of related diseases, many people think that cancer is just one thing, but cancer is really a complex set of over 100 diseases”

ANNOUNCER: A conversation with Dr. Judy Smith from Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

“Cancer is when a cell, or a group of cells, gets out of control and continues to grow without having the normal checks that your body has for your other cells. When a patient receives a diagnosis of cancer the patient needs to have a full understanding of what type of cancer it is and where it is. A patient needs to ask the physician: What are the treatment options? And what are the side effects, the quality issues that may be involved in each of the treatment options? It’s important that the patient understand that cancer treatment can be aimed at providing both quantity (or length of life) as well as quality of life.

A cancer patient also must choose their physicians very carefully and make sure that a physician has adequate experience treating their particular type of cancer and make sure that they are offered all of the treatment options that are appropriate.

A comprehensive cancer center, where the focus is on cancer alone, looks at not only the diagnosis and treatment of the cancer but the treatment of the whole patient and this includes not only delivering therapy but improving long term quality of life.

Asking many questions of your physicians, obtaining a second opinion and making sure –so that you are very confident that you are making the right choice, with the right physician, at the right center – getting it right the first time.”

ANNOUNCER: Making Sure – an educational message brought to you by Roswell Park Cancer Institute.