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If you receive a diagnosis of cancer or you support a person with cancer, you will need to know the largest possible amount of cancer and treatment.
Below are some questions that must be considered in asking an oncologist on your first date or at any time during treatment to help you get a better understanding of what is the next on your cancer journey.
Ask oncologist questions to help you understand your cancer diagnosis
You will likely want more information about diagnosing your cancer or your loved ones. Your doctor can help you get the answers you need.
- What kind of cancer I have? The doctor can confirm the type of cancer and where it is located in your body. For example, they can tell you if you often have lung cancer in the airway or if you have leukemia, a leukemia that affects the immune system.
- What is the stage of cancer? The gradual is the process that doctors use to describe the size and spread of cancer.
- Did cancer spread to lymph nodes or other organs? Do not always explain the cancer stage exactly exactly the place of cancer, so it is good to ask this question to understand whether it has spread to other areas of your body.
- What is the condition of hormone receptors for Cartani? With breast cancer, cancer cells may have receptors for some hormones and dependent on them to grow. Knowing the state of the future of hormones From your cancer gives doctors a better idea of how to treat it.
- Will I need other tests before moving forward? Depending on the progress of your cancer, your doctor may recommend additional tests to inform your treatment plan.
- Should I think about genetic tests? The genetic test may reveal whether the cancer is due to the inherited genes mutation, which can help determine how to treat it.
Ask oncologist questions about treatment options
There are different types of cancer treatments. Recommended treatments depend on you on the type of cancer you have. The oncologist can help you understand the treatments that will work better for you.
- What is the extent of cancer treatment? The oncology doctor can give you an idea of what can be expected based on the type and stage of cancer.
- What are my treatment options? What is their success? The oncology doctor will be able to tell you the appropriate options for you. Depending on the type of cancer, the recommended treatments may include chemotherapy, surgery, immune therapy, hormonal therapy, radiation or other treatments.
- What are the goals of each treatment? Many people will need more than one type of treatment, and this is called a complex treatment plan. As part of the plural plans, treatments can have different purposes. The primary treatment may be, which means that they are the main way that the oncology doctor will try to treat cancer or remove it from your body. But treatments can also be used before or after basic treatment, or to help manage side effects.
- What is the treatment you recommend first? In some cases, the first treatment will be the primary treatment. In other cases, the first treatment can be used to make basic treatment more successful. For example, radiotherapy can be used first to reduce the size of the tumor before surgery.
- Why this treatment plan is logical to me? Cancer treatment plans should be customized based on your needs and preferences. Understanding the reason for the oncologist recommends a specific treatment plan that can make you feel comfortable and confident that the plan is the best for you.
- What are the possible side effects of each treatment? Some cancer treatments come with side effects such as fatigue, loss of your hair or a feeling of disease. Understanding possible side effects can be useful when making decisions about your care.
- How will we know if the treatment is working? Your cancer care team will use tests or surveying operations to see if the treatment helps. The oncologist can tell you about the number of times you are examined and what may happen if the treatment does not succeed.
- Can I reach clinical trials? In some cases, emerging treatments may be available to you through clinical cancer trials. The Healthpartners Research Center for Cancer Patients provides access to clinical trials and research, often in the hospital or local clinic.
Ask the questions of an oncologist to help you prepare for treatment
Cancer treatments are given in various ways. You can know when the treatments and time you will need to start in planning your schedule will start and make the treatment process more smoothly.
- When do I need a treatment? The oncologist may recommend that you start treatment immediately or wait until you have an additional test. For some types of cancer, such as prostate cancer, the oncologist may recommend free waiting, which means that the doctor will see the cancer and stop the treatments until it is logical to start.
- How long will I need treatment? The length of cancer treatment can vary depending on the type of cancer, its stage, the treatment plan, and how your body responds to treatment. The oncology doctor can give you an idea of what can be expected.
- Where will my treatment sessions happen? Cancer care centers can provide most types of cancer treatment. In some cases, treatments may be provided in the hospital or surgery center. Ask an oncologist about what you can expect from your treatment plan.
- How many times will I need treatment? This depends on the treatments included in your treatment plan. Some treatments may be given daily, weekly, or monthly, for a period of time. Others, such as surgery, can be one -time procedures.
- Who will provide treatments? Your treatment may be provided with different types of oncologists or other medical professionals, so it is good to know what can be expected.
Ask the oncologist about how cancer treatment affects you and how to manage side effects
The treatment of cancer can cut your schedule and change what your body feels. The oncologist and the care team can suggest ways to help you deal with cancer.
- How will this treatment affect my life style? Some people continue to work during treatment, but others may need a vacation. Ask the oncology doctor about what they recommend based on your treatment plan.
- What can I do to help myself during this time? When you take care of your body, you can make your treatments more effective and improve the quality of your life. Your doctor can provide information about food to eat cancer and exercise while recovering cancer.
- What are the best ways to manage side effects of treatment? It is common for cancer treatments to have side effects, but there are ways to manage them. The oncology doctor and cancer will work hard to make you as comfortable as possible. For example, cannabis of cancer can be useful in managing the side effects of chemotherapy.
Ask questions for the oncologist about obtaining support during and after cancer treatment
It is important to know that you are not alone. During cancer treatment (and beyond), you will have support from the cancer care team. Oncology specialist can also guide you to other resources that can help.
- Who will be in my treatment team and who should call if I have questions? Your treatment team may include many oncology, genetic consultants, surgeons, nurses, clinical experience and others. It may be useful to know who will be in your team and how to answer questions.
- Are there support groups? There are many cancer support groups in Minnesota and abroad. The oncology doctor may be able to make specific recommendations to you.
- Is there any financial help available? Various organizations provide financial assistance to cancer patients. Oncology specialist can tell you who talks if you have financial needs.
Through the date of the first oncology, any question is a good question
Your first appointment with an oncologist can be overwhelming. The diagnosis will not only feel more information, but there is a lot of information to be processed. Asking questions such as the above mentioned can help you feel support and confidence in the treatment plan and comfortable with an oncology doctor.
You can also find a lot of useful information in our cancer guide (PDF). This guide includes information about cancer diagnosis, our care for care, various treatment options (including side effects) and and resources available during and after treatment.
If you are not sure that the oncology doctor is a good match or you want to get a second opinion about treating your cancer, there is nothing wrong with that. In Healthpartners, we have one of the largest cancer care programs in the region, and we can help you find a care team that will provide the support you need in every step of the cancer journey.
