Uterine Cancer: Questions to Ask the Health Care Team

Approved by the Cancer.Net Editorial Board, 12/2022

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 your 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 encouraged to ask 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 about the risk of developing uterine cancer

  • Do I have a genetic predisposition to uterine cancer?

  • Are my family members at risk of this cancer? What should I tell them? How can they be tested?

  • Are there any risk factors for uterine cancer I can control?

Questions to ask after getting a diagnosis

  • 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?

  • Has the cancer been tested for a genetic change or mutation, such as mismatch repair defect, to see if I have Lynch syndrome?

Questions to ask about choosing a treatment and managing side effects

  • What are my options for treatment?

  • What types of research are being done for uterine cancer in clinical trials? Do clinical trials offer additional treatment options for me?

  • Is hormone therapy a treatment option for this type and stage of uterine cancer?

  • What treatment plan do you recommend? Why? Are there other treatment plans or approaches to consider?

  • What is the goal of each treatment? Is it to eliminate the cancer, 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?

  • Will this treatment affect my ability to become pregnant? Should I talk with a fertility specialist before treatment begins?

  • Could this treatment affect my sex life? If so, how and for how long?

  • Could this treatment cause early menopause?

  • How will this treatment affect my daily life? Will I be able to work, exercise, and perform my usual activities?

  • If I’m worried about managing 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 having surgery

  • What type of surgery will I have?

  • Will lymph nodes be removed? If so, what is the risk of lymphedema?

  • Will I have a sentinel lymph node biopsy or more extensive lymph node removal? How will you decide what needs to be removed?

  • How long will the operation take?

  • How long will I be in the hospital?

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

  • 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 surgery?

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

Questions to ask about having radiation therapy

  • What type of treatment is recommended?

  • What is the goal of this treatment?

  • How long will it take to give this treatment?

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

  • Will I receive external radiation or internal radiation (brachytherapy)?

  • 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 systemic therapy using medication, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or hormone therapy

  • What type of treatment is recommended? Which drug(s) will be used?

  • What is the goal of this treatment?

  • How long will it take to give 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?

  • 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?

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