Some Questions to Ask Your Doctor

As you cope with cancer and cancer treatment, you need to have honest, open discussions with your doctor. You should feel free to ask any question that's on your mind, no matter how small it might seem. Here are some questions you might want to ask. Be sure to add your own questions as you think of them. Nurses, social workers, and other members of the treatment team may also be able to answer many of your questions.
Would you please write down the exact kind of cancer I have?
Has my cancer spread beyond the place where it started?
What is the stage of my cancer and what does that mean for me?
What treatment choices do I have?
What do you recommend and why?
What is the goal of this treatment?
What are the risks or side effects of the treatment?
What should I do to be ready for treatment?
What are the chances my cancer will come back after the treatments you suggest?
What are my chances of survival, based on my cancer as you see it?