What questions should I ask the doctor regarding radiation treatment
for liver cancer?
I am taking my Mom to the Radiologiat this coming Monday and need a
list of questions to ask the doctor regarding side effects and
pertinent stuff relating to a 5 week treatment.
Thank you

Hi ethan212-ga, From my own experience in getting radiation
treatments, I would ask: 1) what are the immedidate side effects, if
any; 2)what are the long range side effects, if any; 3) what will be
done (tattoo or other marker) to make sure that the radiation will be
aimed at the exact same place every treatment; if it's something
impermanent, you could ask about it washing off (I got pin point
tattoos with which they could line up the instrument at every
treatment); 4) what are the chances of the treatment stopping the
cancer; 5) will it be necessary to protect other organs from the
radiation and, if so, what will be done.   Good luck.  Alanna-ga

You might ask if the cancer is operable?

And any chance of a liver transplant?

You might also ask about Chemotherapy.

This is sometimes used as an alternative and sometimes as
supplementary (although I don't believe that it is done concurrently).

in response to your comment.My Mom has had numerous terms of
chemotherapy
treatment. It is not operable. A transplant has not been talked about,
as this cancer spreads.
Thanks,
ethan

radiation treatment is rarely used for liver tumors; for most, it
would be a brief holding-action. So I'd think the question is what
sort of response would be expected, and for how long. What is the
nature of the tumor for which it's felt that radiation is the best, or
only option