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 sarcoma has been diagnosed?
  
  
• Has this diagnosis been reviewed by a pathologist who is experienced in the diagnosis and classification of sarcoma?
  
  
• What does my diagnosis mean?
  
  
• Where is the tumor located?
  
  
• What stage is the sarcoma? What does this mean?
  
  
• Can you explain my pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?
  
  
• Should I be seeing a sarcoma specialist?
  
  
• Was my case discussed in a multidisciplinary conference?
  
  
• What are the 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?
  
  
• If I’m worried about managing the costs related to my cancer care, who can help me with these concerns?
  
  
• Who will be part of my health care team, and what does each member do?
  
  
• What support services are available to me? To my family?

Questions to ask before surgery:

• What will happen during this surgery?
  
  
• Will the surgery be performed in en-bloc resection? What does this mean?
  
  
• How experienced is this surgeon with sarcoma? How many sarcoma operations has he or she done in the past year?
  
  
• What are the possible side effects of my surgery, both in the short term and long term?
  
  
• Will I need to stay in the hospital for this surgery? For how long?
  
  
• Does the stage of cancer affect the decision for surgery? How?
  
  
• Do I need chemotherapy and/or radiation before the surgery? After the surgery?

Questions to ask before radiation therapy:

• What type of radiation therapy is recommended?
  
  
• How experienced is the radiation oncologist with sarcoma? How many sarcoma treatments has he or she done in the past year?
  
  
• How many treatments will I need, and how long will each one take?
  
  
• What side effects can I expect from this treatment?
  
  
• What can be done to prevent or to treat the side effects?

Questions to ask before chemotherapy:

• What type of chemotherapy is recommended?
  
  
• How experienced is the medical oncologist with sarcoma? How many people with sarcoma has he or she treated in the past year?
  
  
• Are there other chemotherapy treatments available?
  
  
• Should I consider a clinical trial?
  
  
• How many treatments will I need, and how long will each take?
  
  
• What side effects can I expect from this treatment?
  
  
• What can be done to prevent or to treat the side effects?

After treatment:

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