© 2005-2012 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). All rights reserved worldwide.
This section has been reviewed and approved by the Cancer.Net Editorial Board, 9/2012
Questions to Ask the Doctor 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.
- Is my tumor cancerous?
- Is the tumor functional? What does this mean?
- Can you explain my pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?
- How many patients with this type of tumor do you treat each year?
- Do you attend expert meetings to discuss complicated tumor issues? What kinds of specialists attend such meetings?
- What treatment options do I have?
- What clinical trials are open to me?
- What treatment plan do you recommend? Why?
- 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?
- How successful is surgery to remove this type of tumor?
- How experienced is the surgeon with this specific type of surgery?
- Do you recommend additional treatment after surgery?
- Should I get a second opinion?
- Are you willing to following my case if I have my treatments provided in another center?
- What are the possible side effects of this treatment, both in the short term and in the long term?
- What are the chances that the tumor will come back after treatment?
- How can I keep myself as healthy as possible during and after treatment?
- 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?
- If I’m worried about managing the costs related to my medical care, who can help me with these concerns?
- What follow-up tests will I need, and how often will I need them?
- Do you have reading material that would help me understand my disease?
- Who answers patient questions when you are unavailable?
- What support services are available to me? To my family?
- Whom do I call for questions or problems?