Questions to Ask Your Oncologist Upon Receiving a Cancer Diagnosis

July 28, 2023

4 min read

Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be unbelievable, scary, and overwhelming, to say the least. But it’s vital to understand what your situation is, what to expect, and what you should be doing during this stage to ensure you understand everything about your diagnosis and your oncologist’s expectations.

When you receive a diagnosis, it can be challenging to know what questions to ask. Oncologists always try to be informative, but you can do yourself a lot of good by being proactive and asking questions. Your oncologist is there to answer your questions so take advantage and pick their brain.

Also, keep in mind that patients and families that advocate for themselves in constructive, positive ways generally receive better care.

1) When and where should I get a second opinion?

Getting a second opinion after a cancer diagnosis is essential. This will allow you to first and foremost double-check if the first diagnosis is correct.

Also, it will help you explore all of your treatment options. It’s normal to be reluctant to ask your oncologist about getting a second opinion because nobody wants to offend their doctor, but your doctor will understand, and possibly even encourage you to get a second opinion.

Seeking a second opinion will allow you to confirm your diagnosis (if it’s the same). If your first diagnosis was performed at a small medical facility, they may not have the most up-to-date diagnosis methods. If that’s the case, a second opinion is even more vital.

Getting a second opinion will also allow you to explore more options for treatment. The field of pathology is constantly growing and changing so different doctors may have different ideas for treatment options.

2) What type of cancer do I have and what stage is it?

This may sound like an obvious question to ask, but you need to be absolutely certain that you understand the type of cancer you have and how advanced it is. These factors will help you plan your treatment and can influence your outcome.

3) What can I do to preserve my fertility?

If you’re planning on having children in the future, it’s very important to ask this question. Also, keep in mind that just because you were diagnosed with cancer, doesn’t necessarily mean you should give up on having kids.

Ask this question before treatment, or it could be too late. Make sure to discuss the prospect of having children with your doctor and partner and what treatment options could damage your fertility.

Here are some fertility-related questions to ask your oncologist:

Will cancer treatment impact my menstrual cycle?
How long should I wait after receiving treatment to become pregnant?
Will I be able to successfully carry a pregnancy after treatment?
Do I need to wait a specific period of time after treatment if I want to become a father?
Should I be thinking about sperm banking?

4) Should I opt for or avoid a clinical trial?

Some people worry about clinical trials because they’re unsure about the validity of the treatment and feel like guinea pigs for pharmaceutical and medical companies. But in reality, there’s a lot of misinformation and misplaced distrust when it comes to clinical trials.

Clinical trials are often beneficial to patients as they’re receiving future medical breakthroughs early on. In fact, many patients are better off in clinical trials than those who aren’t.

The goal of clinical trials is to test for ways to prevent, treat, and diagnose cancer. But they also serve to manage side effects and symptoms. Also, there are clinical trials available for each stage of cancer.

If your oncologist brings up the option of clinical trials, make sure to ask questions before agreeing or disagreeing.

Some questions about clinical trials for your cancer treatment include:

How does the cost of the clinical trials compare to the costs of other treatments?
What are the benefits of clinical trials for my cancer treatment?
What are the risks?
What are my other treatment options?

5) What should I do if I can’t come to terms with my diagnosis?

Struggling to cope with a cancer diagnosis is totally normal. Even if this isn’t your first time receiving a cancer diagnosis, it’s never easy to deal with. If you don’t know where to get help, you should start by asking your oncologist and making your feelings clear.

Your oncologist will be able to direct you toward cancer support groups, therapy, and other options that focus on helping you cope with your diagnosis.

6) What is the goal of my treatment?

Define the goal of your treatment upfront. This will provide you with vital information to better understand your situation. Treatment can range from long-term remission to prolonging life, to improving quality of life.

Understanding the goal of your treatment will allow you to make better decisions about your own life. For example, if your cancer is likely to come back within a year or two after treatment, you may not be willing to put up with the side effects of treatment.

Takeaway

Receiving a cancer diagnosis is never easy, but you have to remember to ask as many questions as possible. Make sure you understand all of the treatment options, the costs, possible side effects, and the nature of your disease.

It can help to bring a friend or partner to your doctor's appointment and keep notes on your phone or a notepad so you don’t miss or forget anything.