Questions to Ask Your Oncologist

When you receive a cancer diagnosis, the first question that might pop into your mind is "Is it curable?" Depending on the type of cancer, you might not need to consult an oncologist. Some cancers can be surgically extracted from the body. This type of cancer, such as basel-cell skin cancer, has a low likelihood of recurrence. With other cancers, such as a thyroid cancer, you will need to seek the help of a specialist.

General Questions

• Before you contact an oncologist, it is wise to have basic information about the kind of cancer you have. You might want your doctor to answer the following questions:

  What is the name of the cancer?

  Is it slow-growing or aggressive?

  What stage is it?

  Can I go back to my regular routine or should I immediately contact a specialist?

  Do you have any reading material I could take home?

  Should I get a second opinion?

Questions for Cancer Specialist

• When you are directed to a cancer specialist, you want to make sure that his or her diagnosis matches the previous one. Ask about the kind, size and stage of the cancer that you have. Here is a list of additional questions to ask your oncologist:

  What are the treatment options for my type of cancer?

  What are the best treatments for me at this stage?

  Will I have to stay at the hospital for the treatment?

  How often do I have to come in for the treatment?

  Will the treatment stop me from performing any functions?

  Are there any clinical trials that might help?

Questions About Chemotherapy

• When your oncologist recommends chemotherapy, you might want to inquire about:

  What type of chemotherapy is good for me?

  How long will the treatment take and how often do I have to undergo it?

  What side effects does the treatment have?

  What can I do to ease the side effects?

  How long will it take me to recuperate after the treatment?

  When will I be able to resume my normal activities?

  How effective is chemotherapy?

  Are there instances in which the chemo did not work?

  Are there examples of symptoms getting worse after the chemo?

Natural Treatments

• Inquire about the alternative cancer treatments. There are naturopathic remedies for cancer treatment. Here is a list of questions to ask:

  Are there any alternative therapies for me?

  What is their success rate?

  Do you know of any specialists that have experience with the type of cancer that I have?