At the doctor's
Having cancer means that you are confronted with a difficult and new situation. Things move quickly. Be upfront in asking about and discussing with your doctor the things that preoccupy you. This will help give you strength and you will receive the help you need.
You can bring along a relative or friend with you to the doctor’s
Your friend or partner can offer support and security by listening and asking the doctor important questions. On the other hand, it is also useful to meet the doctor alone for at least some of your visits, because it is then easier to raise more delicate matters.
Appointments are limited in time
Try to focus on essentials by talking about your main symptoms, the possible side effects of treatment and the questions that preoccupy you the most at that time. If you have a lot to discuss for one appointment you can ask for another appointment for the near future.
Be sure that you have understood what is going on
Be open, ask questions yourself about what concerns you the most and make sure that you get answers: “I don’t understand this…, Could you explain more precisely?…, What does that word mean exactly?..., How should I cope from now on?...”. You can also ask the doctor to illustrate things that are hard to understand with the help of images or X-rays. Understanding helps both your treatment and your condition.
Keep a treatment journal
You can also write about the things that preoccupy you, your feelings and thoughts, what you know about your illness and the things you have been told: who (the doctor or nurse), where (at the hospital), when and what (the sort of treatment you received), and so on. In this way you can follow the progress of your treatment and be abreast of everything that happens to you.
Take notes to help you
It is a good idea to write down the things that go through your mind and to take your notes with you when you visit your doctor. In this way you will not forget to raise the questions that are important to you.
Doctors can change with appointments and generally a cancer patient will meet with physicians from different fields during the course of his or her treatment. We’ve put together a few key questions which are good to begin with and which you can make more specific based on your own situation.
Things to ask the surgeon:
- Why specifically this operation?
- What risks are associated with this operation?
- How should I prepare for the operation?
- What will happen during the operation??
- How long will I have to be in hospital?
- What if the wound becomes infected?
- What difficulties will I have after the operation? ?
- Will I be able to return to work?
Things to ask the oncologist:
- What kind of treatment is recommended for my condition?
- Why has this treatment been selected for me?
- What are the side effects of this treatment?
- How long will the disadvantages of the treatment last?
- Are there any other alternatives to the treatment?
- What are the common side effects?
- Will I lose my hair?
- How often will I need the treatment?
- How long does the treatment last?
- What things should I avoid during the course of the treatment?
- What changes should I make to my diet and my lifestyle?
Questions to ask the doctor responsible for radiotherapy:
- Why do I need radiotherapy?
- What dangers and side effects should I take into account?
- What are the long-term drawbacks of the treatment?
- How long does radiotherapy take each time?
- How long does the course of radiotherapy last overall?
- Will I become radioactive?
- What should I avoid doing during the treatment?
- How should I take the treatment into account in my diet and way of life?
- Will the treatment dry my skin?
Questions to ask the nurse of doctor:
- How much does the treatment cost?
- What symptoms (side effects of the treatment) should make me contact the hospital?
- Where should I contact during day time hours? And at other times?
- How can I alleviate the side effects of the treatment by myself?
- Will my illness or treatment impose limits on my life? Can I do heavy work, have saunas, take exercise or drink alcohol?
Questions to ask the advice service of the Cancer Organisations, the provincial cancer associations or the organization of cancer patients:
- Can I get further information from other sources?
- What kind of rehabilitation and support services are available?
- How can I get in touch with other cancer patients?
Updated 10.7.2009
