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 uterine cancer do I have?
  
  
• Can you explain my pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?
  
  
• What is the stage of the cancer? What does this mean?
  
  
• What is the grade of the tumor? What does this mean?
  
  
• What are my options for treatment?
  
  
• What clinical trials are open to me?
  
  
• Is hormone therapy one of the treatment options for this type and stage of uterine cancer?
  
  
• What treatment do you recommend? Why?
  
  
• What is the goal of this treatment?
  
  
• What are the possible side effects of each treatment, both in the short-term and the long-term?
  
  
• Will this treatment affect my ability to become pregnant? Should I talk with a fertility specialist before treatment begins?
  
  
• Will my sex life be affected?
  
  
• How will this treatment affect my daily life? Will I be able to work, exercise, and perform my usual activities?
  
  
• [If applicable] If I take tamoxifen to prevent breast cancer and later develop cancer of the uterus, are my chances for successful treatment less than for someone who develops uterine cancer and has never taken tamoxifen?
  
  
• What follow-up tests will I need, and how often will I need them?
  
  
• What support services are available to me? To my family?