Gestational Trophoblastic Disease: Questions to Ask the Health Care Team

Aprobado por la Junta Editorial de Cancer.Net, 11/2022

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 of GTD, 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 gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) do I have?

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

  • What is the stage of the tumor? What does this mean?

  • Is it low risk or high risk? What does this mean?

  • Is it cancerous?

Questions to ask about choosing a treatment and managing side effects

  • What are my treatment options?

  • What types of research are being done for GTD 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?

  • Will I be able to become pregnant after treatment? Should I talk with a fertility specialist before GTD treatment begins?

  • Do you recommend that I wait after treatment to try to become pregnant? If so, how long should I wait? Is it OK to use birth control pills or other methods during this time?

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

  • 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 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 contact?

Questions to ask about having surgery

  • What type of surgery will I have?

  • 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 chemotherapy

  • What type of treatment is recommended?

  • What is the goal of this treatment?

  • How long will it take to give this treatment?

  • How often will I receive it?

  • 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 tumor will come back? Should I watch for specific signs or symptoms?

  • What long-term side effects or late effects are possible based on the 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?

  • If I become pregnant in the future, are there specific tests or exams that I need? How often will I need them?

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