Questions to Ask the Doctor

One of your biggest allies in battling cancer is your oncologist. Questions are your primary resource to gain a better understanding of your disease and enhance your quality of care. Well-thought-out questions can help you get the most out of your appointments and can make all the difference. Here are some questions you may want to ask:

• What type of leukemia do I have?
• What tests do I need? What do they involve?
• Can you explain my pathology report and test results to me?
• Is my leukemia acute or chronic? What is the prognosis?
• What is the goal of treatment? What are my treatment options?
• Will my case be discussed in a multi-disciplinary planning conference before treatment decisions are made?
• How will treatment be administered? How often? For how long?
• What are the benefits of each treatment?
• What are the risks and side effects of each treatment?
• Do you have any advice on managing side effects? What can I do to take care of myself during treatment?
• Will treatment affect my ability to have children?
• For men, would you recommend storing sperm in a sperm bank prior to treatment?
• For women, would you recommend storing fertilized eggs prior to treatment (invitro fertilization)?
• How will my condition be monitored during treatment? How will I know if the treatment is effective?
• Should I be considered for a stem-cell transplantation?
• Would you recommend that I participate in a clinical trial? What trials are available at your center?
• Will you help me arrange for second opinions if I feel unsure about a next step in my treatment program?
• What should I do if the treatment doesn't work or the leukemia/disease comes back?
• What should I tell other people (kids, parents, siblings, friends, etc.) about my cancer when they ask?
• Is there any role for immunotherapy in AML management?