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www.MyProstateCancerTreatment.org TALKING TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT PROSTATE CANCER If you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, you will want to take the time to think about your choices and to talk with your doctor and your loved ones about the best course of action for you. You should ask whether or not you are a candidate for the Oncotype DX® prostate cancer test. Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Your Treatment Options Below are some questions you can ask your doctor. Be sure to add your own questions as you think of them. You may want to bring a note pad or recording device to capture your doctor’s answers so that you can refer back to the information following your appointment. • What is my Gleason score, PSA level and tumor stage? Do I have low-risk, intermediate-risk or high-risk prostate cancer? • Is there a way to tell how quickly my prostate cancer is growing? • Is my prostate cancer still localized, or has it spread to other parts of my body? • Are there additional tests we can do to gain the most complete understanding of my prostate cancer? • Am I a candidate for the Oncotype DX® prostate cancer test or other diagnostic tests? • How likely is my cancer to get worse without treatment? • What is active surveillance, and is it an option for me? • What are all of my prostate cancer treatment options, given the stage of my disease? www.MyProstateCancerTreatment.org • What are the benefits of each treatment option? What are the drawbacks/ side effects of each one? • What are the chances that I will have problems with bladder control or sexual function if I have surgery or radiation therapy? • What are the chances that I will have urinary or rectal problems if I have radiation therapy? • How could my age and general health affect the treatment of my cancer? • What are my chances for survival in 10 years for each treatment option? • How long do side effects last? Do they go away once treatment is complete? • Are there other types of doctors I should talk to before deciding on treatment? • How can I get a copy of my pathology report and testing information? As the last question above suggests, it is important to obtain a copy of your pathology report from your doctor. Once you have it, visit www.MyProstateCancerCoach.org , which features a free interactive tool that you can use to better understand your disease and your individual treatment options. Questions to Ask Your Doctor About The Oncotype DX® Test for Prostate Cancer The Oncotype DX® prostate cancer test can help guide treatment decisions for men diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer. You and your doctor should evaluate the potential usefulness of the Oncotype DX® test in your particular case and together make the decision of whether or not you will take the test. Following are questions that you can print and take with you to help you discuss the Oncotype DX® test with your doctor www.MyProstateCancerTreatment.org I understand that many patients with early-stage prostate cancer have low-risk disease and don’t need immediate, invasive treatments like surgery or radiation. Is that true? Facts to know: According to a 2011 report from the National Institutes of Health, nearly half of U.S. men diagnosed with prostate cancer each year have disease that has not spread beyond the prostate and is at low risk for growing and spreading. These men do not need immediate aggressive treatment, but instead may benefit from a program of careful monitoring, or active surveillance. This approach allows men to delay, or avoid altogether, the serious, life-altering effects of invasive treatments. I have read that the Oncotype DX® prostate cancer test provides a score that helps determine my individual risk profile more accurately than traditional measures, such as my PSA level, Gleason score and tumor stage. How could we use this information to personalize my care? Facts to know: The Oncotype DX® test is for men with early-stage prostate cancer. It adds information beyond traditional factors by looking at the biology of your individual tumor. You and your doctor should consider the Genomic Prostate Score (GPS) obtained from the Oncotype Dx® test together with traditional measures, as well as your personal preference, age and overall health status, in determining whether to choose active surveillance or immediate treatment. Is it OK to wait a few weeks to get these results before I have to make a decision about treatment? Facts to know: Men newly diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer should take the time to carefully consider their treatment options, since many treatments are associated with long-term side effects. You and your doctor will work together to make this very personal decision. The Oncotype DX® prostate cancer test adds important information that you and your doctor should take into account when considering what treatment option is right for you. www.MyProstateCancerTreatment.org I do not know if insurance will cover the Oncotype DX® prostate cancer test. Do you know whether mine will? Facts to know: Insurance coverage varies depending on insurance plans. The Genomic Access Program (GAP) helps you verify whether or not your insurance covers the test and, if so, assists you in obtaining reimbursement. In addition, Genomic Health offers a comprehensive financial assistance program. For more information, call 855-677-6782 (855 6 PROSTATE) to speak to a customer service specialist. Your Notes: