Questions to Consider

The following are some questions you might want to consider asking your primary care physician, specialist or other health care provider about your condition or treatment options.

• What kind of cancer do I have?
• How quickly will I be seen by a specialist?
• What are my tests for and when will I get the results?
• Is my doctor a recognized cancer specialist?
• Can I seek a second opinion?
• Will my general practitioner be notified of my diagnosis?
• How quickly will treatment start, what will it be like and what are the side effects?
• Can I have chemotherapy in my local hospital?
• Who should I contact if I am worried about my diagnosis, treatment or prognosis?
• Who can offer support to me and my family?
• Is cancer contagious or hereditary?
• What are the early signs of my type of cancer?
• What are my treatment choices?
• What are the risks associated with treatment?
• How long will my treatment last?
• How will treatment affect my daily activities?
• How can I find out what my insurance covers?
• Do I need an operation? What kind of operation will it be? How will I feel after the operation?
• Will I need more treatment after surgery and how long will I be in the hospital?
• What are my treatment choices?
• What are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment and what can be done about them?
• Will I have to be in the hospital to receive treatment?
• What are the chances that the treatment will be successful?
• Is there research for new treatments?
• What can I do to take care of myself during therapy?

If you’re participating in a clinical trial or just want to learn more about whether or not a clinical trial is available or appropriate for you, then you might want to consider asking your primary care physician, specialist or other health care professional some of the following questions.

• Would a clinical trial be appropriate for me?
• What is the purpose of the research study?
• Will the new drug or treatment be more effective than standard therapy?
• Who is sponsoring the clinical trial?
• Has the study been reviewed and approved?
• What safety procedures are in the clinical trial?
• How long does the trial last?
• What are my responsibilities during the trial?
• What costs will I be responsible for by enrolling in the trial?
• What are the short-term benefits if I participate?
• What are the short-term risks associated with the study?
• What are the long-term risks of the trial?
• What other drug(s) or treatment(s) may be appropriate for my cancer?
• What additional treatments, procedures or tests will be done during the study?
• How do the tests in the trial differ from those I have had previously?
• Does enrolling in a clinical trial effect the medication I currently take?
• How much time will I need to commit weekly to the clinical trial?