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 cancer care and treatment. You are also encouraged to ask additional questions that are important to you.

Before diagnosis/risk reduction and screening

• What type of prostate cancer screening schedule do you recommend for me, based on my individual medical profile and family history?

• Are there any changes I can make to my diet that can help me lower my risk of prostate cancer?

After a diagnosis of prostate cancer

• What type of prostate cancer do I have?

• What stage is my prostate cancer, and what does this mean? 

• What is the Gleason score of my prostate cancer? What does this mean? 

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

• What are my treatment options? 

• What clinical trials are open to me? 

• What treatment plan do you recommend and why? 

• What is the goal of each 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? 

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

• What experience do you have in treating this type of cancer?

• How will this treatment affect my daily life? Will I be able to work, exercise, and perform my usual activities? 

• Will I have difficulty controlling my bladder function after treatment? 

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

• Could this treatment affect my ability to have children? If so, should I talk with a fertility specialist before cancer treatment begins? Should I consider sperm banking? 

• What type of recovery should I expect following treatment? 

• What follow-up care tests will I need, and how often will I need them? 

• 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?