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

• What type of oral or oropharyngeal cancer do I have? Where exactly is it located?
• What is the stage of the cancer? What does this mean?
• Can you explain my pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?
• What are the treatment options?
• What clinical trials are open to me?
• What treatment plan do you recommend? Why?
• Should I get an additional consultation or second opinion?
• 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?
• What are the possible side effects of each treatment option, both in the short term and the long term?
• What can be done to relieve the possible side effects?
• What functional deficits (in speech, swallowing, or shoulder motion) will likely occur, and what rehabilitation services are available?
• If I have surgery, will there be need for major reconstruction, and how is this going to affect my ability to speak and eat?
• If surgery is done, will there be a need for a neck dissection (removal of lymph nodes)? If so, what type of dissection will be done? What does this mean?
• If I receive radiation therapy, what are the lasting side effects of such treatment, including loss of saliva, loss of taste, and permanent difficulty in swallowing?
• How likely is it that I will lose my voice box (larynx), and if this is necessary, what are the options available for voice/speech rehabilitation?
• How will my nutrition be maintained if the treatment affects my ability to eat the foods I am used to eating?
• Can you recommend an oncologic dentist before treatment begins?
• Can you recommend an oncologic speech pathologist before treatment begins?
• Should I see other specialists prior to treatment? Should I specifically talk with a radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, or a plastic surgeon,?
• What will rehabilitation after treatment consist of?
• If I am a smoker, will quitting this habit help this treatment have a better outcome? Can you help me quit?
• 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 cancer treatment begins?
• After treatment, what follow-up tests will be needed, and how often will I need them?
• What are the chances this tumor will recur?
• What are the chances of a secondary cancer?
• 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?
• Whom do I call for questions or problems?