Questions to Ask the Doctor

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

General questions:

• What type of endocrine tumor do I have?
  
  
• Is the tumor cancerous?
  
  
• If so, what is the stage of my cancer? What does this mean?
  
  
• Can you explain my pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?
  
  
• Do I need treatment right away?
  
  
• What treatment options do I have?
  
  
• What clinical trials are open to me?
  
  
• What treatment plan do you recommend? Why?
  
  
• What is my prognosis?
  
  
• 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 duties?
  
  
• 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?

For people who need surgery:

• Will I need to stay in the hospital for this surgery? For how long?
  
  
• What are the possible side effects of my surgery?

For people who need chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy:

• Which medications will I be receiving?
  
  
• How will each medication be given to me? How often?
  
  
• What does the preparation for this treatment involve?
  
  
• What side effects can I expect from this treatment?
  
  
• What will be done to relieve the side effects?

For people who need radiation therapy:

• What type of radiation therapy is recommended?
  
  
• What is the goal of the radiation therapy?
  
  
• How long will it take to give the radiation therapy? How often?
  
  
• What side effects can I expect from this treatment?
  
  
• What will be done to relieve the side effects?

After treatment:

• What are the chances that the tumor will return (recur)?
  
  
• What follow-up tests do I need, and how often do I need them?