Questions to Ask the Doctor

Regular communication with your doctor is important in making informed decisions about your health care. Consider asking the following questions of your doctor:

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

• What organs, tissues, and/or parts of my body are affected?
  
  

• What will be the progression of amyloidosis? Is it possible to slow the progression? Is it curable?
  
  

• What are my treatment options?
  
  

• Can my symptoms be controlled with medication alone?
  
  

• What clinical trials are open to me?
  
  

• What treatment do you recommend? Why?
  
  

• What is the goal of each treatment?
  
  

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

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

• 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?
  
  

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