Talking often with the doctor is important [2] to make informed decisions about your health care. These suggested questions are a starting point to help you learn more about your cancer care and treatment. You are also encouraged to ask additional questions that are important to you.

• What type of kidney cancer do I have?
• What type of cell makes up the tumor?
• Can you explain my pathology report to me?
• What is the stage of my cancer? What does this mean?
• What are my treatment options?
• What clinical trials are open to me?
• What treatment plan do you recommend? Why?
• Who will be part of my health care team, and what does each member do?
• Who will be coordinating my overall treatment and follow-up care?
• Who will be doing the surgery? How experienced is this person with this type of cancer?
• Can I have a partial nephrectomy? If not, why?
• If I first receive a type of treatment other than surgery, can surgery be done later, if necessary?
• Will I need treatment after surgery? What type of treatment?
• What role, if any, does targeted therapy play in my treatment plan?
• Does this center have expertise in using high-dose IL-2? If not, what is the nearest center with that expertise?
• What are the possible side effects of 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?
• Could this treatment affect my sex life? If so, how and for how long?
• Could this treatment affect my ability to become pregnant or have children in the future? If so, should I talk with a fertility specialist before cancer treatment begins?
• If I'm worried about managing the costs related to my cancer care, who can help me with these concerns?
• What are the chances the cancer will recur?
• What follow-up tests will I need, and how often will I need them?
• How can I keep myself as healthy as possible during treatment?
• What support services are available to me? To my family?
• Whom do I call for questions or problems?