Questions to Ask the Doctor

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

• What is my diagnosis? What does this mean?
  
  
• Can you explain my pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?
  
  
• What subtype of ALL do I have?
  
  
• Can you recommend a leukemia specialist?
  
  
• What are my options for treatment?
  
  
• What clinical trials are open to me?
  
  
• What treatment do you recommend? Why?
  
  
• How likely is it that my ALL will go into remission?
  
  
• Do I need to start treatment right away?
  
  
• Where is the best place for me to be treated?
  
  
• What are the possible side effects of this treatment, both in the short term and the long term?
  
  
• How will the treatment, especially stem cell transplantation, affect my fertility?
  
  
• How will the 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 follow-up tests will I need, and how often will I need them?
  
  
• What support services are available to me? To my family?