Questions for your doctor
Here is a list of questions to ask your doctor:
- What kind of cancer do I have?
- Where is it?
- Has it spread beyond where it started?
- What's the stage of the cancer? What does that mean?
- Is this cancer linked to genetic (inherited) factors? Are my family members at risk?
- What have the tests shown?
- Do I need any more lab tests or imaging scans?
- What is the purpose of each test or scan?
- How will this information help decide what types of other tests or treatments I should have?
- What are my treatment choices?
- What are the expected benefits of each kind of treatment?
- What are the risks of each treatment?
- What are the side effects of each treatment?
- What do you advise and why?
- Are there new treatments or clinical trials that I should consider?
- How long will my treatment last?
- What are my chances of being cured?
- How soon do I need to start treatment?
- How will we know if treatment is working?
- How will each treatment affect my daily life? My sex life? My ability to have children?
- Will treatment affect how I look? How my body works?
- Will I be able to work during treatment?
- What are the chances that the cancer will come back again?
- Based on what you know about my cancer, how long do you think I'll survive?
- Is there anything else I need to know?
- Where can I get more information?
- Will my insurance cover treatment? How much will I have to pay?
- What can I do to get ready for treatment?
- How will I reach you after office hours, or during weekends and holidays?
- What support services are available to me or my family members?
Featured in
Related Articles
Distraction as a Complementary Therapy for Cancer
Distraction does not cure cancer, but it can help push a person’s mind away from unpleasant thoughts, procedures, and pain.
Cancer and Spirituality
People with cancer often tap into their spiritual side when battling the illness. This might include prayer, attending religious services, reading passages from a holy book, or simply expressing gratitude and love.
Palliative Care Methods for Controlling Pain
The biggest problem with palliative care is that many people are referred for care too late. By starting this type of care early, and by using the right type of pain management, nearly all pain problems can be relieved or reduced.
Cancer Treatment and Low Platelet Count
One possible side effect from cancer treatment is a low platelet count. This means the number of platelets in your blood is lower than normal. Read on to learn more.