When you have finished your cancer treatment, you will talk with your doctor about next steps and follow-up care. You may want to ask your doctor some of the following questions: How long will it take for me to get better and feel more like myself? What kind of care should I expect after my treatment?
- What are my treatment options?
- Which treatment do you recommend and why?
- What's the goal of my treatment?
- What side effects does this treatment have?
- How often will I have treatments? How long will they last?
- How should I prepare for treatment?
What questions should I ask my doctor about my cancer treatment?
You may want to ask your doctor some of the following questions before you decide on your cancer treatment. What are the ways to treat my type and stage of cancer? What are the benefits and risks of each of these treatments? What treatment do you recommend? Why do you think it is best for me? When will I need to start treatment?
How can I talk to my doctor about my cancer diagnosis?
Talking frankly and openly with your doctor and the rest of your cancer care team is also important. They need to be the ones to answer some specific questions you may have, and they want to be able to answer all of your questions. It helps if you know what to ask.
How can I better understand my cancer treatment options?
Here are some questions that you can use to help better understand your cancer and your treatment options. Don’t be afraid to take notes and tell the doctors or nurses when you don’t understand what they’re saying. You might want to bring another person with you when you see your doctor and have them take notes to help you remember what was said.
What should I bring to my next cancer appointment?
You may want to print the list of questions below to bring to your next appointment. Or you can download Cancer.Net’s free mobile app for a list of questions and other interactive tools to manage your care. Bring a notebook or a tape recorder to the appointment. During the appointment, write down the answers or make an audio recording.
What questions should I ask about cancer treatment?
Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Your TreatmentWhat are treatments for my type and stage of cancer?Where can I find more information about the types of cancer treatments?What are the benefits and risks of each of these treatments?What treatment do you recommend? ... When will I need to start treatment?More items...•
What questions should I ask my chemo doctor?
Questions to Ask About ChemotherapyWhich chemo drugs will I be given?How will the drugs be given to me?How often will I need to get chemo?How long will my treatments last?Where will I get chemo?What's the goal of chemo for my cancer?What are the chances that the chemo will work?More items...•
What are the best questions to ask an oncologist?
7 Key Questions to Ask Your OncologistWhere and when do you recommend getting a second opinion? ... What can I do to preserve my fertility? ... Is a clinical trial right for me? ... What should I do if I'm simply having trouble coming to grips with my diagnosis? ... What is the goal of my treatment? ... What will my treatment cost?More items...•
What can I expect at a cancer consultation?
At the first appointment, the oncologist will talk about treatment options. The doctor will explain which ones are available, how effective they are and what the side effects may be. Then the oncologist will recommend a course and talk about when the treatments should take place.
What questions should I ask at my first oncology appointment?
At the appointment, ask this:What kind of cancer do I have? ... What stage is it? ... Do I have to undergo any further diagnostic tests before we can begin treatment?Should I see a specialist? ... What are my treatment options?Which treatment or combination of treatments would you recommend and why?More items...•
What should you not do during chemotherapy?
9 things to avoid during chemotherapy treatmentContact with body fluids after treatment. ... Overextending yourself. ... Infections. ... Large meals. ... Raw or undercooked foods. ... Hard, acidic, or spicy foods. ... Frequent or heavy alcohol consumption. ... Smoking.More items...•
How do I talk to an oncologist?
Improve Communication With Your OncologistEstablish goals for the conversation. ... Don't ask “yes” or “no” questions. ... Listen and repeat. ... Don't keep secrets. ... Be clear about what matters in your life. ... Don't leave an appointment without “next steps.” This is especially true when we're getting bad news.More items...•
How do you feel after first chemo?
The most commonly reported side effect after receiving chemotherapy is fatigue. 7 Give yourself time for extra rest and sleep in the days after a session. Tell your healthcare provider if your fatigue begins to affect your ability to function or complete basic tasks, like bathing.
What are some questions to ask your doctor?
Questions to ask your doctor about your diagnosisWhat may have caused this condition? Will it be permanent?How is this condition treated or managed? What will be the long-term effects on my life?How can I learn more about my condition?
How quickly does cancer treatment start after diagnosis?
Cancer treatment should start very soon after diagnosis, but for most cancers, it won't hurt to wait a few weeks to begin treatment. This gives the person with cancer time to talk about all their treatment options with the cancer care team, family, and friends, and then decide what's best for them.
How do I prepare for my first oncologist appointment?
What to bring to your first oncology appointmentPre-appointment forms. Complete paperwork before your appointment to save time during check-in and help your team prepare.Insurance and ID cards. ... Medication list. ... Medical and family history. ... Your medical records. ... A notepad. ... A loved one.
How many rounds of chemo is normal?
During a course of treatment, you usually have around 4 to 8 cycles of treatment. A cycle is the time between one round of treatment until the start of the next. After each round of treatment you have a break, to allow your body to recover.
10 Cancer Questions for Your Medical Oncologist About Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, or Immunotherapy
Why are you recommending this treatment for me? Why is it preferable to others?
10 Cancer Questions for Your Surgeon or Surgical Oncologist
Why are you recommending this surgery for me? Why is this treatment preferable to others?
10 Cancer Questions to Ask the Radiation Oncologist
Why are you recommending this treatment for me? Why is it preferable to others?
If you need surgery
Is breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) an option for me? Why or why not?
During treatment
Once treatment begins, you’ll need to know what to expect and what to look for. Not all of these questions may apply to you, but asking the ones that do may be helpful.
Why is it important to learn about cancer?
Learning more about your diagnosis and treatment plan helps you take an active role in planning your cancer care. Studies show that people with cancer who are well informed about their disease and treatment options usually have better outcomes and fewer side effects than those who simply follow doctors' orders.
How to record an appointment?
Bring a notebook or a tape recorder to the appointment. During the appointment, write down the answers or make an audio recording. You can also ask a family member or friend to record them for you. This will allow you to read or listen to the information later and take the time you need to process it.
Why is asking questions important?
Asking questions is an important part of managing your care. The questions you choose should be based on your unique needs and interests, and those questions may change over time.
