One of the scariest things you can hear from your doctor is: “You have cancer.” Processing the diagnosis can take time, and you will feel overwhelmed with a wide range of emotions and questions. That’s natural and understandable.
As questions and concerns arise it’s good to write them down prior to meeting with your physician or oncologist. It’s also good to think about and decide how involved you want to be in the decision-making process. You may decide to learn only the basics about your cancer and leave the decisions to your doctor. Or you may want to be very involved and know all the facts. No matter which you decide, the Mayo Clinic provides 13 questions to consider bringing with you to your appointment:
- What kind of cancer do I have?
- Where is the cancer?
- Has it spread?
- Can my cancer be treated?
- What is the chance that my cancer can be cured?
- What other tests or procedures do I need?
- What are my treatment options?
- How will the treatment benefit me?
- What can I expect during treatment?
- What are the side effects of the treatment?
- When should I call the doctor?
- What can I do to prevent my cancer from recurring?
- How likely are my children or other family members to get cancer?
If you can get a friend or family member to go with you to the appointment he/she could help you remember the answers to these questions. If not, then jotting down a few notes can help later on. For more tips on coping with cancer, click here.
