Brain Tumor

Talking often with the doctor is important to make informed decisions about your health care. These suggested questions are a starting point to help you learn more about your care and treatment. You are also encouraged to ask additional questions that are important to you.

• What type of brain tumor do I have?
• Is the tumor cancerous?
• What is the tumor's grade? What does this mean?
• Can you explain my pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?
• Will an experienced neuropathologist review my pathology slides?
• What are my treatment options?
• What clinical trials are open to me?
• How many brain tumors do you treat each year?
• What treatment plan do you recommend? Why?
• What is the goal of this treatment plan?
• Would any of these treatment options keep me from participating in a clinical trial in the future?
• When should I start treatment?
• Who will be part of my health care team, and what does each member do?
• Who will be coordinating my overall treatment and follow-up care?
• Should I get a second opinion?
• Do you attend expert meetings to discuss complicated tumor cases?
• Are there brain tumor centers of excellence that you recommend I contact?
• Does your practice include multidisciplinary care? What does this mean?
• Who will be part of my health care team, and what is each person's role?
• What are the possible side effects of each treatment, both in the short term and the long term?
• How will this treatment affect my daily life? Will I be able to work, exercise, and perform my usual activities?

• Could this treatment affect my sex life? If so, how and for how long?

• Could this treatment affect my ability to become pregnant or have children? If so, should I talk with a fertility specialist before treatment begins?
• What level of caregiving will I need during treatment and recovery?
• If I'm worried about managing the costs related to my cancer care, who can help me with these concerns?
• What support services are available to me? To my family?
• Do you know of a local support group for people with brain tumors?
• Do you have reading material that would help me understand my disease?
• After treatment, what follow-up tests will I need, and how often will I need them?
• What are the chances that the tumor will recur? If it does, will there be other treatment options available to me?
• Whom do I call for questions or problems?