If You Are Diagnosed with Cancer
Questions for your healthcare provider
Here is a list of questions to ask your healthcare provider:
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What kind of cancer do I have?
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Where is it?
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Has it spread beyond where it started?
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What's the stage of the cancer? What does that mean?
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Is this cancer linked to genetic (inherited) factors? Are my family members at risk?
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What have the tests shown?
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Do I need any more lab tests or imaging scans?
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What is the purpose of each test or scan?
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How will this information help decide what types of other tests or treatments I should have?
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What are my treatment choices?
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What are the expected benefits of each kind of treatment?
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What are the risks of each treatment?
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What are the side effects of each treatment?
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What do you advise and why?
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Are there new treatments or clinical trials that I should consider?
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How long will my treatment last?
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What are my chances of being cured?
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How soon do I need to start treatment?
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How will we know if treatment is working?
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How will each treatment affect my daily life? My sex life? My ability to have children?
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Will treatment affect how I look? How my body works?
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Will I be able to work during treatment?
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What are the chances that the cancer will come back again?
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Based on what you know about my cancer, how long do you think I'll survive?
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Is there anything else I need to know?
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Where can I get more information?
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Will my insurance cover treatment? How much will I have to pay?
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What can I do to get ready for treatment?
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How will I reach you after hours, or during weekends and holidays?
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What support services are available to me or my family members?
Online Medical Reviewer:
Jessica Gotwals RN BSN MPH
Online Medical Reviewer:
Rita Sather RN
Online Medical Reviewer:
Todd Gersten MD
Date Last Reviewed:
5/1/2023
© 2024 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare provider's instructions.