Questions to Ask

Before choosing chemotherapy as a treatment option, a patient should understand the associated benefits, side effects and risks. Patients should consider asking their doctor or nurse the following questions about treatment and realistic expectations for an outcome.

• What is the goal of chemotherapy for my cancer?
• What are the chances that the chemotherapy will be successful?
• Following my chemotherapy, what will be my condition; cured, in remission or relieved of symptoms?
• What other ways might I achieve these same goals?
• How will I know if the chemotherapy is effective?
• Are there alternative treatments, if my chemotherapy doesn't work?
• What potential risks and side effects are associated with the particular anticancer drug(s) I will be taking?
• How do these side effects compare to those of other treatments?
• How will I receive my chemotherapy, how often and for how long?
• Where will I be going for the chemotherapy?
• In what ways might I prepare for treatment and decrease my chance of side effects?
• How will my diet, daily activities, work, exercise and sexual activities be restricted?
• Will I also be treated with surgery and/or radiation? If so, why and when?
• What results are expected of each type of treatment?
• If chemotherapy is scheduled to follow surgery and/or radiation, will it destroy any remaining cancer cells? Could chemotherapy be used without the surgery and/or radiation?
• What clinical trials are available that I could take part in?

Tips for remembering your doctor's answers

• Take notes during every appointment, and don't be shy about asking the doctor to slow down if you need more time to write.
• Take a friend or relative to help you better understand what your doctor says during your appointment and to refresh your memory afterward.
• Ask your doctor, nurse and pharmacist any questions you may have. If you cannot understand their answers, ask them to explain it again. Keep a list of questions that you can add to as new questions arise.