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:

General questions:

• What type of eyelid cancer has been diagnosed?
  
  
• What stage is the cancer? What does this mean?
  
  
• Can you explain my pathology report to me?
  
  
• Do I need treatment right away?
  
  
• What are my treatment options?
  
  
• What clinical trials are open to me?
  
  
• What treatment do you recommend? Why?
  
  
• What is the goal of this 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?
  
  
• What support services are available to me? To my family?

For people who need surgery:

• What type of surgery is recommended? Why?
  
  
• What are the side effects of this surgery?
  
  
• Will I need to stay in the hospital for this surgery? For how long?
  
  
• Will my vision be affected? For how long?
  
  
• Will I need reconstructive surgery?

For people who need radiation treatment:

• What type of radiation therapy is recommended?
  
  
• What does the preparation for this treatment involve?
  
  
• What is the likelihood of my eye being damaged?
  
  
• What other short-term and long-term side effects can I expect from this treatment?
  
  
• What can be done to relieve side effects?

For people who need an eye removed:

• How do I adjust to having one eye?
  
  
• How long will it take me to recover physically?
  
  
• How soon can I get a prosthesis (artificial eye)?
  
  
• When do I get a permanent prosthesis?
  
  
• How do I care for my prosthesis?

After treatment:

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