Talk with your doctor about how you can prepare for treatment.
 | Check heart functionRadiation therapy to the chest and some types of chemotherapy may affect the way your heart works. Your doctor may recommend you have some tests before, during and after treatment to check your heart function and limit the risk of damage. |
 | Ask about fertilitySome treatments can cause infertility. This means you will no longer be able to conceive children. If having children is important to you, ask your doctor before treatment starts about whether there are options for preserving your fertility. You may be able to store sperm, eggs, ovarian tissue or embryos.For more on this, see Fertility and cancer. |
 | Get a dental check-upTry to see a dentist before starting treatment to the head and neck area. If mouth and teeth issues are not treated, they can lead to infections after cancer treatment.For more on this, see Mouth health and cancer treatment. |
Podcast: Making Treatment Decisions
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Dr Puja Bhattacharyya, Haematology Staff Specialist, Western Sydney Local Health District, Blacktown Hospital; A/Prof Christina Brown, Haematologist, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and The University of Sydney; Dr Susan Carroll, Senior Staff Specialist, Radiation Oncology, Royal North Shore Hospital and The University of Sydney; Jo Cryer, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Haematology, St George Hospital; Marie Marr, Consumer; Katelin Mayer, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Cancer Outreach Team, Nelune Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Sydney; Vanessa Saunders, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council NSW; Elise Toyer, Haematology Clinical Nurse Consultant, Blacktown Hospital.
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