Questions to Ask the Doctor

One of your biggest allies in battling mesothelioma 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 your doctor:

• What type of mesothelioma do I have?
• What exposures could have lead to this?
• Who else in my family might be at risk for this?
• What is the stage of my disease? What is my prognosis?
• What are my treatment options?
• Will my case be discussed in a multi-disciplinary planning conference before any irrevocable treatment decisions are made?
• 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?
• How do you feel about clinical trials? Would you recommend that I participate in one?
• Will you help me arrange for second opinions if I feel unsure about a next step in my treatment program?
• What will my appointment schedule be? What follow-up tests will I receive?