Making a truly informed medical decision involves more than a single decision. It is a step-by-step process in which you take responsibility for making a number of decisions. Your decision to seek help was the first step in that process.
You can’t make an informed decision about something you don’t understand. Your first step is to gain knowledge about your disease.
Ask questions about anything you do not understand.
After gaining adequate information about your condition, you must next weigh the risks and benefits associated with your treatment options.
Discuss these issues with your family and your health care team.
In some cases you may discover that the risks outweigh the treatment benefits. In other cases, the benefit may outweigh any possible risk.
What do you want to accomplish by having medical treatment? How much of a commitment are you willing to make to accomplish this goal?
Recognize that it is your effort, your lifestyle choices and the severity of your medical condition, which will determine the degree to which you can return to a normal way of life.
After you have all your questions answered, it is up to you to make a final decision about which treatment option is best for
you. Once you make that decision, trust in it, look to the future and work to achieve the best possible outcome.