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:

• What type of salivary gland cancer do I have? What does this mean?
  
  
• Where exactly is it located?
  
  
• Can you explain my pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?
  
  
• What stage is the cancer? What does this mean?
  
  
• What is the grade of the cancer? What is its likely behavior?
  
  
• What are my treatment options?
  
  
• What clinical trials are open to me?
  
  
• What treatment do you recommend? Why?
  
  
• Should I get a second opinion?
  
  
• Can the tumor be completely removed by surgery? Do you recommend additional treatment (such as radiation therapy)?
  
  
• What are the possible side effects of each treatment, both in the short term and the long term?
  
  
• Will it be necessary to remove part or all of the facial nerve? If so, can this nerve be reconstructed or some of the function be recovered?
  
  
• If surgery is needed, will it be necessary to have reconstruction to replace lost tissue (mandible)?
  
  
• If surgery is needed, will there be a need for a neck dissection (removing lymph nodes)? If so, what type of dissection will be done? What does this mean?
  
  
• 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?
  
  
• When should I get a dental consultation? Can you recommend an oncologic dentist?
  
  
• Who else will be part of my health-care team, and what is each person’s role?
  
  
• What follow-up tests will I need, and how often will I need them?
  
  
• What support services are available to me? To my family?