Questions to ask your doctor
Use the questions below to help prepare for doctor visits throughout your journey
Take steps to have a voice in your care
This is your cancer journey—no one else’s. Follow these steps to decide how you want to be involved in making decisions about your care and treatment.
Step 1: Educate yourself
- What and how much do you want to know? Every person is different. Some want to know what exactly treatment involves, and others don’t. Tell your doctor if you do or don’t want to know the details.
- How do you want to make treatment decisions? Some people prefer to take the lead in making decisions with their doctor, while others may want to turn all decisions over to their doctor. Some people may also want to include family or friends to help them decide. Talk to your doctor about who you want to take part in treatment conversations.
Step 2: Discuss your treatment goals
Knowing what you hope to get out of treatment can help narrow down your choices:
- Cure: When first diagnosed, many people are interested in learning if a cure is possible.
- Control: Treatments are available that may help to shrink tumors or stop the cancer from growing or spreading.
- Comfort: For those with advanced stages of cancer or cancer that hasn’t responded to the treatment, being comfortable may be more important than treating the cancer. You can discuss options for managing symptoms with your doctor.
The type of cancer you have, the stage, and available treatment options and their potential effectiveness also play a part in choosing the treatment goal.
Questions to ask your doctor about your diagnosis
- What kind of cancer do I have?
- Where is the cancer located?
- How do I get a copy of my pathology report with my diagnosis?
- Has the cancer spread beyond where it started?
- What’s the cancer stage? What does that mean for my health?
- How will this affect my treatment options?
- What are my chances of survival?
- Will I need other tests before we start treatment?
- Should I think about taking part in a clinical trial?
- If surgery is an option for me, are there treatments/therapies before or after surgery that may be considered?
What kind of cancer do I have?
Where is the cancer located?
How do I get a copy of my pathology report with my diagnosis?
Has the cancer spread beyond where it started?
What’s the cancer stage? What does that mean for my health?
How will this affect my treatment options?
What are my chances of survival?
Will I need other tests before we start treatment?
Should I think about taking part in a clinical trial?
If surgery is an option for me, are there treatments/therapies before or after surgery that may be considered?
Questions to ask your doctor before treatment
- What’s the goal of my treatment?
- How does the treatment work?
- How is the treatment given?
- How often will I get treatment?
- How many treatments will I have?
- Where will I get treatment?
- What lifestyle changes will I have to make?
- What if the treatment doesn’t work or the cancer comes back?
- What risks and side effects should I expect?
- Will I be able to work during treatment?
- Will the treatment hurt?
- How can I best prepare for treatment?
What’s the goal of my treatment?
How does the treatment work?
How is the treatment given?
How often will I get treatment?
How many treatments will I have?
Where will I get treatment?
What lifestyle changes will I have to make?
What if the treatment doesn’t work or the cancer comes back?
What risks and side effects should I expect?
Will I be able to work during treatment?
Will the treatment hurt?
How can I best prepare for treatment?
Questions to ask your doctor during treatment
- How will I know if the treatment is working?
- What can I do to manage my side effects?
- Are there any limits on what I can do?
- What symptoms or side effects should I tell you about right away?
- Will I need special tests during treatment? How often?
- Can a family member or friend come with me to my treatment sessions?
How will I know if the treatment is working?
What can I do to manage my side effects?
Are there any limits on what I can do?
What symptoms or side effects should I tell you about right away?
Will I need special tests during treatment? How often?
Can a family member or friend come with me to my treatment sessions?
Questions to ask your doctor after treatment
- After my treatment, do I need to change the foods I eat?
- Are there any limits to what I can do?
- How often will I need follow-up exams and tests?
- How will I know if the cancer has come back? What should I watch for?
- What are my options if the cancer comes back?
After my treatment, do I need to change the foods I eat?
Are there any limits to what I can do?
How often will I need follow-up exams and tests?
How will I know if the cancer has come back? What should I watch for?
What are my options if the cancer comes back?
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