Talking often with the doctor is important [2] to make informed decisions about your child’s 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.

Before a biopsy:

• How experienced is the surgeon in doing this type of biopsy?
• If the diagnosis is bone cancer, is the surgeon part of a team that is experienced in treating people with bone cancer? If not, can you or the surgeon refer me to a team?

After a biopsy:

• Is the pathologist experienced in the diagnosis of osteosarcoma? And, is the diagnosis certain?
• Can you explain my child’s pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?
• What type and subtype of osteosarcoma have been diagnosed? What does this mean?
• Is the disease located only in the bone where it started?
• What are the treatment options?
• What clinical trials are open to my child?
• What treatment plan do you recommend? Why?
• Who will be part of my child’s health care team, and what does each member do?
• Who will be coordinating my child’s overall treatment and follow-up care?
• Where will treatment take place?
• Does this cancer center specialize in the treatment of children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer?
• What are the possible side effects of this treatment, both in the short term and the long term?
• How will this treatment affect my child’s daily life? Will he or she be able to go to school and perform his or her usual activities?
• Do we need to consider options to preserve my child’s fertility prior to starting treatment, such as sperm storage for boys? Should we talk to a fertility specialist before treatment begins?
• If I’m worried about managing the costs related to my child’s cancer care, who can help me with these concerns?
• What follow-up tests will my child need, and how often will he or she need them?
• What support services are available to my child? To my family?
• Whom do I call for questions or problems?