Questions You Could Have For Your Doctor

1. DO I HAVE CANCER?
1. I have noticed a change/abnormality/lump.  How can I get it diagnosed as quickly as possible?
2. What is the chance I have cancer?
3. What tests/procedures do you suggest?  Which one is best for me and why?
4. How reliable are these tests?
5. How do I prepare for the test?
6. What will the test feel like?  Will it hurt?
7. What will this certain test show?  Will all abnormalities show up?
8. How long will I have to wait for the results?
9. Who will give me the results?
10. What does it mean if the change if benign (not cancerous)?
11. What does it mean if the change is malignant (cancerous)?
12. If it is cancerous, what happens next?
13. If it is benign and I find another abnormality, what happens then?

2. AFTER DIAGNOSIS
1. What can be done to treat the cancer?
2. Do I need to decide on my treatment right away or can I think about it and get more information?
3. This is such a big decision.  How do I get a second opinion?
4. What chance is there that my cancer will come back after treatment?
5. May I come back later today or in a few days with my spouse, partner or friend to talk to you again?

3. SURGICAL TREATMENT
1. What are my options for removing the cancer?
2. How long will I be in hospital after my surgery?
3. What will my recovery be like?
4. What will my scar look like?
5. Will I need nursing care after I go home and if yes, what will be available to me?
6. When I get back home, who can I talk to if I need help between clinic visits?

4. OUTLOOK AFTER SURGERY
1. What tests can be done to find out if the cancer has spread?  When will I have them?
2. How big was the tumour?  What does that mean?
3. What type of cancer is it?  How fast is it growing?
4. At what stage is my cancer?
5. What are the results of my tests?
6. What are my chances of survival?
7. What chance is there that the cancer will show up somewhere else?

5. PHYSICAL RECOVERY FROM SURGERY
1. What pain/discomfort can I expect?  How long will it last?
2. How can I help myself cope?
3. What types of activity (if any) should I avoid?
4. What symptoms might signal medical problems – swelling, fever, nausea, etc.?
5. How long will it take for the incision to heal?  What is the best way to take care of my incision?

6. NON-SURGICAL TREATMENT
1. What is chemotherapy?  What is radiation therapy?  Will I need them?  How will they help me?
2. Will chemotherapy or radiation therapy improve my chances of survival?
3. What are the short-term and long-term effects of these treatments?
4. How soon will I start treatment?  If I have surgery, how soon after will I start treatment?
5. What are complementary/alternative therapies?  How can I get more information about this kind of therapy?
6. What if I choose not to have treatment?
7. What are clinical trials?  How can I find out about them in my area?

7. RADIATION THERAPY
1. Do I need radiation therapy?  Why or why not?
2. Where will I go for treatment?
3. What is radiation therapy like?  Will it hurt?
4. How long will each session take?  How many sessions will I need?
5. What side effects should I expect?  What can I do to reduce the risk of side effects?
6. Will the radiation therapy affect any other organs?
7. What precautions should I take before treatment? (May I eat?  Is it okay to use perfume, deodorant or lotion, etc.?)
8. What do I need to know about taking care of my skin during radiation treatment?
9. How long will it take for the area to heal?
10. What is involved in treating the side effects of radiation therapy?  How much will this cost me?

8. CHEMOTHERAPY
1. Do I need chemotherapy?  Why or Why not?
2. Where will I go for treatment?
3. How will it be given?  How often?  Over what period of time?
4. What are my options regarding the drugs I can take?  How many drugs will I be taking at one time?
5. What are the side effects?  When do they begin?  How can they be reduced?
6. Will these drugs cause me to gain or lose weight?
7. Will I lose my hair?  If so, how soon?  Is a good wig/head covering covered by health insurance?
8. How will I feel after treatment?  When should I start to feel better?
9. Will I need help with housework or work commitments during treatment?
10. Should I take a leave of absence from work?
11. What can I do for myself to get the most benefit from my treatment?
12. What is involved in treating the side effects of chemotherapy?  How much will this cost me?

9. EMOTIONAL RECOVERY
1. What kinds of feelings (grief, anger, vulnerability, loss of control) might I have after the surgery and/or treatments?
2. Where can I find emotional help if I need it?
3. How might my family members feel?  What behaviour should I expect from them?
4. What support is available for family members?
5. How do I talk to my children about my cancer and my treatment?
6. How does a spouse/partner usually react?
7. What can I do to help us both?
8. How can I talk about the changes in my body with my partner?
9. How can I rekindle my sexuality?
10. Treatment has made me feel less desirable and incomplete.  How can I begin to feel whole again?
11. Would complementary therapies such as relaxation therapy, music therapy, meditation or massage help?  Where can I find these?

10.  GETTING ON WITH LIFE
1. What might have caused my cancer?
2. Should I change my lifestyle to keep the cancer from coming back (exercise, diet, better stress management)?
3. When will I get back to my normal energy level?
4. For women:  Is it safe to take birth control pills after cancer?
5. Does this mean my children have a greater risk of getting cancer?
6. What about my extended family?  Are they more likely to develop the disease?
7. What can they do to help reduce their risk and ensure that cancer is detected early?