Ewing Sarcoma - Childhood and Adolescence: Questions to Ask the Health Care Team

Approved by the Cancer.Net Editorial Board, 11/2022

ON THIS PAGE: You will find some questions to ask your child's doctor or other members of the health care team to help you better understand your child's cancer diagnosis, treatment plan, and overall care. Use the menu to see other pages.

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Talking often with the health care team is important to make informed decisions about your child's health care. These suggested questions are a starting point to help you learn more about your child's cancer care and treatment. You are also encouraged to ask additional questions that are important to your family. You may want to print this list and bring it to the next appointment or download Cancer.Net’s free mobile app for a digital list and other interactive tools to manage your child’s care. It may also be helpful to ask a family member or friend to come with you to appointments to help take notes.

Questions to ask after getting a diagnosis

  • What type of Ewing tumor has been diagnosed?

  • Where exactly is the tumor located?

  • Can you explain the pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?

  • What stage is the cancer? What does this mean?

Questions to ask about choosing a treatment and managing side effects

  • What are the treatment options?

  • What types of research are being done for Ewing sarcoma in clinical trials? Do clinical trials offer additional treatment options for my child?

  • What treatment plan do you recommend? Why?

  • What approach will be used for local control of the disease? Why?

  • What is the goal of each treatment? Is it to eliminate the cancer, help my child feel better, or both?

  • What are the possible side effects of each treatment, both in the short term and the long term?

  • Who will be part of the health care team, and what does each member do?

  • Who will be leading the overall treatment?

  • Does this center specialize in the treatment of children and young adults with cancer?

  • How will treatment affect my child's daily life? Will they be able to go to school and perform their usual activities?

  • Could this treatment affect my child's ability to become pregnant or have children in the future? If so, should my family talk with a fertility specialist before treatment begins?

  • If I’m worried about managing the costs of cancer care, who can help me?

  • What support services are available to my family?

  • If I have questions or problems, who should I call?

Questions to ask about having chemotherapy

  • What chemotherapy will be given? How soon?

  • What is the goal of this treatment?

  • Where will the chemotherapy be given? At a hospital, clinic, or at home?

  • How often will this treatment be given?

  • How long will it take to give this treatment?

  • What side effects can we expect during treatment?

  • Who should I contact about any side effects my child experiences? And how soon?

  • What are the possible long-term or late effects of having this treatment?

  • What can be done to prevent or relieve the side effects?

  • How can I best prepare for each treatment?

  • Will other types of cancer treatments be needed?

Questions to ask about having surgery

  • Will surgery be necessary?

  • What type of surgery do you recommend? Why?

  • How long will the operation take?

  • If needed, what types of rehabilitative services are available?

  • How long will my child need to stay in the hospital for?

  • Can you describe what recovery from surgery will be like for my child?

  • Who should I contact about any side effects my child experiences? And how soon?

  • What are the possible long-term or late effects of having this surgery?

  • What can be done to prevent or relieve the side effects?

Questions to ask about having radiation therapy

  • Will radiation therapy be given?

  • What is the goal of this treatment?

  • How long will it take to give this treatment? How often will it be given?

  • What side effects can we expect during treatment?

  • Who should I contact about any side effects my child experiences? And how soon?

  • What are the possible long-term or late effects of having this treatment?

  • What can be done to prevent or relieve the side effects?

Questions to ask about planning follow-up care

  • What is the chance that the cancer will come back? Should we watch for specific signs or symptoms?

  • Is there anything my child can do to reduce their risk of getting another type of cancer?

  • What long-term side effects or late effects are possible based on the cancer treatment given?

  • What follow-up tests will my child need, and how often will those tests be needed?

  • How do I get a treatment summary and survivorship care plan to keep in my child's personal records?

  • When should my child return to their primary care doctor for regular medical care?

  • Who will be leading the follow-up care?

  • What survivorship support services are available to my family?

The next section in this guide is Additional Resources. It offers more resources on this website that may be helpful to you and your family. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.