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:

• What is the exact type of fallopian tube cancer that I have?
  
  
• Can you explain my pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?
  
  
• What is the stage of my cancer? What does this mean?
  
  
• What are the treatment options?
  
  
• What clinical trials are open to me?
  
  
• What are the possible side effects of this treatment, both in the short term and the long term?
  
  
• Will this treatment affect my fertility (ability to have children)? If so, can you recommend a fertility specialist before cancer treatment begins?
  
  
• Could this treatment affect my sex life?
  
  
• 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 cancer care, who can help me with these concerns?
  
  
• What is my prognosis? What does this mean?
  
  
• What are the chances that the cancer will recur?
  
  
• How can I keep myself as healthy as possible during treatment?
  
  
• What follow-up tests will I need, and how often will I need them?
  
  
• Does my diagnosis mean that my close relatives have a higher risk of fallopian tube cancer?
  
  
• What support services are available to me? To my family?