Questions To Ask Your Doctor After Cancer Diagnosis
- 29 Jan 2019
- #Cancer
- #Cancer Awareness
- #Cancer Treatment
- #Chemotherapy
- #Radiation
Learning that you have cancer is never easy to deal with. It can leave you feeling overwhelmed and devastated. It is crucial that you take your time and come to terms with the ailment.
As with any other ailment, understanding the how and why of the illness is important because it puts you in a position of control. You know what to expect and can hence actively invest in your journey towards recovery. The good news is that, according to studies, cancer patients who are well informed about their illness and treatment options generally have better outcomes and fewer side effects than patients who just follow doctors' orders.
After diagnosis, your communication with your oncologist has a huge role to play in your journey towards recovery. A possible way to strengthen this communication is by asking your doctor questions. Keep in mind that no question is too small or trivial.
You can use this note as a tentative guide to what to ask your doctor at different stages of your cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Questions On Diagnosis and Symptoms
At this stage, your doctor will generally hear your symptoms and review test results to ascertain the type of cancer you have. Asking questions at this stage will help you understand the basics of your illness.
You can ask your oncologist questions such as:
Questions On Treatment And Side Effects
Once a diagnosis has been confirmed, your doctor will proceed towards treating your cancer. Different forms and stages of cancer are treated differently. At this stage, it is important to understand what your treatment options are, what the goal of your treatment is, the expected timeline of treatment and the like.
Ask the following to prepare yourself for the treatment head:
Questions Related To Support Services
As part of your treatment, it is useful to understand the support services you will require. This includes nutritionists who will advise you on your diet, palliative care services to help manage pain, counselors, rehabilitation specialists, and support groups, amongst others.
To understand what support services you require, you can ask your doctor questions such as:
Questions For Follow-Up Care
Post your treatment, your doctor will educate you on the way forward and the precautions you need to take. Now is a good time to ask the following questions:
Bear in mind that you do not need to ask your doctor all these questions in one sitting. If at any point during your consultation you feel like you’re being given more information than you can handle, talk to your doctor. He or she will understand where you’re coming from. You can also choose to make notes or record the conversation with your doctor.
Pen down your questions before your appointment to reduce stress. Taking a family member or friend along with you to an appointment can be very helpful, especially from the emotional support point of view.
Related articles
Prev How To Recover From A Gallstone Surgery?
Next Foods to Stay Healthy this Winter