ON THIS PAGE: You will find some questions to ask your doctor or other members of the 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 cancer 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 thyroid 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?

• If medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is diagnosed, do I need a genetic test? Why or why not? Should family members be tested?

Questions to ask about choosing a treatment and managing side effects

• What are my treatment options?

• What types of research are being done for thyroid cancer 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 cancer, help me feel better, or both?

• What experience do you have in treating this type of thyroid cancer?

• Where can I get a second opinion?

• Do I need to make a treatment decision right away?

• 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?

• Will any of these treatments cause hypothyroidism? If so, what can I expect during this time?

• How will this treatment affect my daily life? Will I be able to work, exercise, or 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 the costs of cancer 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 surgery

• Is surgery recommended? If so, how much of my thyroid gland will be removed? Will lymph nodes be removed as well?

• What type of scar can I expect?

• Do I need other tests, such as an ultrasound, before surgery to determine the extent of the cancer?

• How experienced is the surgeon in this type of surgery? How many thyroid surgeries does the surgeon do per week? How many years has the surgeon been performing thyroid surgery?

• What complications and outcomes have other patients had after being treated by this surgeon?

• How long will the operation take? How long will I be in the hospital for the surgery?

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

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

Questions to ask about thyroid hormone therapy

• Will I need to take thyroid hormone pills before and/or after surgery? If so, for how long?

• When do I need to start taking thyroid hormone pills?

• Should I take my pill at the same time each day?

• What are some ways I can remind myself to take my pill each day?

• What should I do if I miss taking a pill?

• Who should I contact about any side effects of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism I experience? And how soon?

• Will my dose be adjusted in the future? How often? 

• What supplements or medications interfere with thyroid hormone replacement?

Questions to ask about radioactive iodine (I-131) treatment 

• Is radioactive iodine treatment recommended? Why or why not? If so, can you describe this procedure to me?

• Will I need to follow a low-iodine diet before this treatment? If so, when and for how long?

• Are there precautions I should take after having this treatment?

• What are the possible side effects of this treatment, in the short term and over time?

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

• What can be done to prevent or relieve the side effects?

Questions to ask about having other treatments, such as targeted therapy, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy

• What type of treatment is recommended?

• What is the goal of this treatment?

• How long will I have this treatment?

• Will I receive this treatment 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 having this treatment?

• What can be done to prevent or relieve the side effects?

Questions to ask about planning follow-up care

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

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

• If I need to take thyroid hormone replacement, how often do I need my dose checked through blood tests?

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

• Will I need to stop taking thyroid hormone replacement for these tests? If so, for how long and what can I expect during this time?

• 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.