Choosing Treatments
When doctors found a small aneurysm in Joanne’s brain she had to decide what to do. She researched her choices and made a decision. “I just felt more comfortable with the less invasive approach,” she said.
Read Joanne’s story.
Most treatments have both benefits and risks. To make the best choice, ask questions. Learn about your condition and the treatments. Then work with your doctor to decide on a treatment plan.
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Compare treatments
Ask questions until you are sure you understand each treatment choice.
- What are the possible treatments?
- Which treatments are most likely to help? Which are least likely to help?
- What are the risks and benefits of each treatment?
- What are the side effects of each treatment? Can they be treated or prevented?
- How long will each treatment take? How long will it take to recover fully?
- How much will each treatment cost me?
Before you agree to a treatment
You usually have to sign a consent form before you get a treatment. You can ask for the form in your primary language, or in large print, audio, or Braille.
- Before you sign, be sure you understand what is being done and why.
- Take time to decide. Try not to make important decisions when you are stressed, sleepy, or taking pain medicine.
- Get a second opinion if you want one.
Work with your doctor
- Agree on a treatment plan that works for you. Ask your doctor to write it down.
- Ask how long it will take before you know if your treatment is working.
- Tell your doctor if you have side effects. Ask what you can do about them.
- If you are in pain, ask your doctor about pain management.
- Ask about research studies on your condition.
- More information on treatments.
Find out about being in a medical study
- Being part of a medical study, also called a clinical trial, can give you access to a new or experimental treatment that you could not get otherwise.
- To find out about clinical trials, ask your doctor. Clinical Trials.gov is the federal website on clinical trials. CenterWatch also lists current trials.
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