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 is the grade of the tumor? What does this mean?
  
  
• Can you explain my child’s pathology (laboratory test results) report to me?
  
  
• What is your familiarity with my child's tumor type and its treatment?
  
  
• What treatment options are available?
  
  
• What clinical trials are open to my child?
  
  
• What treatment do you recommend? Why?
  
  
• What is the chance for success with each treatment option?
  
  
• What are the possible side effects of this treatment, both in the short term and the long term?
  
  
• How will this treatment affect my child’s daily life?
  
  
• If I’m worried about managing the costs related to my child’s medical care, who can help me with these concerns?
  
  
• 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?