ON THIS PAGE: You will find some questions to ask your doctor or other members of your health care team, to help you better understand your diagnosis, treatment plan, and overall care. Use the menu to see other pages.

Talking often with the health care team is important to make informed decisions about your health care. These suggested questions are a starting point to help you learn more about your medical care and treatment. You are also encouraged to ask additional questions that are important to you. You may want to print this list and bring it to your next appointment. It may also be helpful to ask a family member or friend to come with you to appointments to help take notes.

Questions to ask after getting a diagnosis

• What type of adrenal gland tumor do I have?

• Is the tumor cancerous?

• Is the tumor functional or nonfunctional? What does this mean?

• Is the tumor located only in the adrenal gland?

• Can you explain my pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?

• What stage is the adrenal gland tumor? What does this mean?

• Should I talk with a genetic counselor before I start treatment?

• Could my family members be at risk for developing an adrenal gland tumor? Should they talk with a genetic counselor?

Questions to ask about choosing a treatment and managing side effects

• What are my treatment options?

• What types of research are being done for an adrenal gland tumor in clinical trials? Do clinical trials offer additional treatment options for me?

• What treatment plan do you recommend? Why?

• What is the goal of each treatment? Is it to eliminate the tumor, help me feel better, or both?

• What are the possible side effects of each treatment, both in the short term and the long term?

• Who will be part of my health care team, and what does each member do?

• Who will be leading my overall treatment?

• 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? If so, should I talk with a fertility specialist before cancer treatment begins?

• If I’m worried about managing the costs of medical care, who can help me?

• What support services are available to me? To my family?

• If I have questions or problems, who should I call?

Questions to ask about having surgery

• Is surgery required? If so, what type of surgery? Will the entire adrenal gland be removed?

• How experienced is the surgeon with this type of surgery?

• How long will the operation take?

• How long will I be in the hospital?

• Can you describe what my recovery from this surgery will be like?

• Who should I contact about any side effects I experience? And how soon?

• What are the possible long-term effects of having this surgery?

Questions to ask about having chemotherapy

• What type of chemotherapy do you recommended?

• What is the goal of this treatment? Can chemotherapy control the tumor?

• How will the treatment be given? Through an IV or orally?

• How often will I receive chemotherapy? For how long?

• Will I receive chemotherapy at a hospital or clinic? Or will I take it at home?

• What side effects can I expect during treatment?

• Who should I contact about any side effects I experience? And how soon?

• What are the possible long-term or late effects of this chemotherapy regimen?

• What can be done to prevent or manage these side effects?

Questions to ask about having hormone therapy

• Is hormone therapy recommended as part of my treatment plan?

• What hormone is being overproduced by the tumor?

• When will I need to start hormone therapy? For how long?

• How will the treatment be given?

• What side effects can I expect during hormone therapy?

• Who should I contact about any side effects I experience? And how soon?

• What are the possible long-term or late effects of this hormone therapy?

• What can be done to prevent or manage these side effects?

Questions to ask about having radiation therapy

• Is radiation therapy an option to treat the tumor?

• What type of radiation therapy do you recommend?

• What is the goal of radiation therapy?

• How many treatments will I need, and how long will each one take?

• What side effects can I expect during treatment?

• Who should I contact about any side effects I experience? And how soon?

• What are the possible long-term or late effects of having radiation therapy?

• What can be done to prevent or manage these side effects?

Questions to ask about planning follow-up care

• What is the chance that the tumor will come back? Should I watch for specific signs or symptoms?

• Will I need to have hormone replacement therapy? For how long?

• What long-term side effects or late effects are possible based on the treatment(s) I received?

• What follow-up tests will I need, and how often will those tests be needed?

• How do I get a treatment summary and survivorship care plan to keep in my personal records?

• When should I return to my primary care doctor for regular medical care?

• Who will be leading my follow-up care?

• What survivorship support services are available to me? To my family?

The next section in this guide is Additional Resources. It offers more resources on this website that may be helpful to you. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.