Don't all cancer treatments have awful side effects?

Not necessarily. Cancer treatments do have side effects, but most are predictable.

Your doctor can outline a plan to prevent many side effects and otherwise treat or lessen others.

In general, side effects are reversible, and helping you cope with them should be a focus of your doctor.

Take the potential side effects into consideration when choosing a treatment, but also know that most aren't as bad as you've heard.

Ask your doctor what you can expect:

• How sick are you going to be?
• How much energy are you going to have during treatment?
• If you work 50 hours a week now, will you be able to work 50 hours a week during treatment? Will you be able to work 20 hours?

Find out the answers to these questions. Treatment is your decision.