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

Talking often with the health care team 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. You may want to print this list and bring it to your next appointment. 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

• Which type and subtype of lymphoma do I have?

• Did a pathologist experienced in the diagnosis of lymphoma review the biopsy?

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

• Should I get a second opinion? Will this include a specialized pathologist reviewing the biopsy?

• How many patients do you see with this type of lymphoma each year?

• Are you board certified? Do you have subspecialty boards in hematology, oncology, or radiation oncology?

• Where in my body has the disease spread?

• Which stage is the lymphoma? What does this mean?

• Is my lymphoma curable? If so, what are the chances of a cure? If not, can the disease be controlled?

Questions to ask about choosing a treatment and managing side effects

• What are my treatment options?

• What types of research are being done for lymphoma in clinical trials? Do clinical trials offer additional treatment options for me?

• Why is watchful waiting sometimes appropriate? Is this an option for me?

• Will I treatment include medications and/or radiation therapy?

• Will I need surgery?

• Is a bone marrow transplant a possible treatment option for me?

• What treatment plan do you recommend? Why?

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

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

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

• Who will be leading my overall 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 cancer treatment begins?

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

• How can I stay as healthy as possible during and after treatment?

• What support services are available to me? To my family?

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

Questions to ask about having therapy using medications

• What type of treatment is recommended?

• What is the goal of this treatment?

• How long will it take to give this treatment?

• Will I receive this treatment at a hospital or clinic? Or will I take it at home?

• What side effects can I expect during treatment?

• Who should I contact about any side effects I experience? 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 having radiation therapy

• What type of treatment is recommended?

• What is the goal of this treatment?

• How long will it take to give this treatment?

• What side effects can I expect during treatment?

• Who should I contact about any side effects I experience? 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 having a bone marrow/stem cell transplant

• Which type of bone marrow transplant would you recommend for me? Why?

• If I have an ALLO transplant, how will we find a donor? What is the chance of finding a match?

• What type of treatment will I have before the transplant itself?

• How long will the pre-transplant treatment take? How long will I stay in the hospital?

• How will having a bone marrow transplant affect my life? Can I work during this treatment? Can I exercise and do regular activities?

• How will we know if the transplant works? When will we know?

• What are the short-term side effects that may happen during this treatment? During my recovery?

• Who should I contact about any side effects I experience? And how soon?

• What are the long-term or late side effects that may happen years later?

• What tests will I need following a bone marrow transplant? How often will I need them?

Questions to ask about planning follow-up care

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

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

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

• Is there anything I can do to prevent a recurrence?

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

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

• Who will be leading my follow-up care?

• What survivorship support services are available to me? To my family?

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