Vulvar Cancer: Treatment Questions

Deciding on a treatment

• What kind of vulvar cancer do I have?

• What is the grade and stage of my cancer? What does this mean?

• Has the cancer spread anywhere else in my body?

• Are there any other tests I need before treatment starts?

• What are my treatment choices?

• What treatment do you think is best for me? Why?

• What side effects should I expect?

• How long will the side effects last?

• Will treatment affect my sex life? How? For how long?

• Will I be able to have children after treatment?

• What are the goals of the treatment you’re recommending?

• What's the success rate of this treatment for my type and stage of vulvar cancer?

• What's the life expectancy for someone with my stage of cancer who gets this treatment?

• Are there any clinical trials that I should think about joining? How can I find out?

• Will my health insurance cover treatment? Is there someone who can help me with insurance questions?

• Will there be costs I have to pay? Is there someone who can help me with financial questions?

Getting ready for treatment

• What can I do to get ready for treatment?

• Should I follow a special diet?

• Do I need to change any of the medicines I take?

• Who will be on my treatment team?

Surgery

• Will I have to stay in the hospital? For how long?

• How long will the surgery take?

• What will you do during the surgery?

• Will you have to take out lymph nodes?

• What are the risks of surgery?

• How will my body look after surgery? Will I need skin grafts or reconstruction?

• How will my body work? Will I be able to enjoy sex? Pee normally? Have normal bowel movements?

• What will recovery be like? How long will it take?

Chemotherapy or radiation

• How long will I get treatment?

• How long will each treatment take?

• Where do I have to go for the treatment?

• Who will give me the treatment?

• Does someone need to go with me during treatments?

• Can I take my other medicines during treatment?

Coping during treatment

• How will we know if treatment is working?

• What side effects should I watch for?

• Are there side effects that I need to call you about? How soon do I need to call?

• How do I reach you after hours and on weekends?

• What can I do to help prevent or ease side effects?

• Should I change my diet? What foods can't I eat?

• Will I be able to go to work and be around my family?

• Are there support groups that I can join?

After treatment

• How will I feel after the treatment?

• How will my body look and work after treatment?

• What type of follow-up care will I need after treatment?

• Who will I need to see for my follow-up care?

• What long-term side effects do I need to watch for?

• How will we know if treatment worked?

• What are the risks of the cancer coming back? What signs and symptoms should I watch for?

• What services are available to me as a survivor?