Questions to Ask the Doctor

Regular communication with your child’s doctor is important for making informed decisions about his or her health care. Consider asking the following questions of your child’s doctor:

• What type of tumor has been diagnosed?
  
  
• Where exactly is the tumor located?
  
  
• Can you explain my child’s pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?
  
  
• Is the tumor cancerous?
  
  
• What is the tumor’s grade? What does this mean?
  
  
• Are other tests needed to confirm this diagnosis?
  
  
• What is your familiarity with my child’s tumor type and its treatment?
  
  
• What are the treatment options?
  
  
• What clinical trials are open to my child?
  
  
• What treatment plan do you recommend? Why?
  
  
• What are the chances for success with the planned therapy?
  
  
• Who is part of the treatment team, and what does each team member do?
  
  
• What are the possible side effects of each treatment option, both in the short term and long term?
  
  
• How will this treatment affect my child’s daily life? Will he or she be able to attend school and perform his or her usual activities?
  
  
• If I’m worried about managing the costs related to my child’s medical care, who can help me with these concerns?
  
  
• What is the chance that the tumor will recur?
  
  
• What follow-up tests will my child need, and how often will he or she need them?
  
  
• What support services are available to my child? To my family?