What questions you should be asking your medical team

We often hear from our patients that being diagnosed with cancer feels like a full-time job. We understand why it can feel that way—a cancer diagnosis is unique to the individual, there are often a variety of treatment routes, and in general, the health system is often fragmented and not easy to navigate. There’s a lot of information to find and absorb and it’s not always clear how you can set yourself up for success. 

Thankfully, you’re not alone. Your clinical team is ready and able to help you navigate initial questions about your diagnosis, treatment options and what you might expect. Jasper counselors can also be particularly helpful during this phase as they’re trained by the American Cancer Society to help with a variety of needs, among which is helping you get the most out of your medical team. 

To start, get in the habit of asking questions and do so early on. You have the right to understand every part of your diagnosis, how you might collaborate with your medical team and what you can expect. If you feel anxious or hesitant to have these conversations, consider seeking outside support. Otherwise, we’ve put together some questions you might consider asking prior to starting your treatment (or during it). 

Understanding your cancer diagnosis

One thing is absolutely non-negotiable: you should have access to information that gives you a thorough understanding of your cancer. For many, this means partnering with their medical team to ask as many questions as needed to achieve a level of confidence on the part of the patient. For others, it’s enlisting the help of experts like Jasper counselors to help them understand both their diagnosis and treatment options. Regardless of your approach, here are some questions that you might consider asking as you navigate the initial stages of your diagnosis.

• Where is my cancer located? 
• Is this a fast-growing or slow-growing cancer? 
• What is the likely cause of my specific cancer? Is it genetic factors, immune factors, toxicity factors etc.? 
• How many people are diagnosed with this type of cancer each year? 
• What is the five-year survival rate for this type of cancer? 
• What lifestyle changes—such as diet, exercise, and rest—do you recommend I make to stay as healthy as possible before, during, and after treatment? 
• Where can I find more information about my type of cancer? 
• How likely is it that my cancer will metastasize?

Learning more about your treatment options

Whether you’re recently diagnosed or in treatment, you should feel empowered to ask as many questions as you need of your medical team. Think of it this way: you’re partnered with them to achieve the best possible results and to do so, you should have a thorough understanding of every part of your cancer diagnosis. Consider asking the following questions to get a better sense of what treatment options are available:

• Which treatments or combination of treatments do you recommend? Why? 
• What is the goal of the treatment you are recommending? Is it to eliminate cancer, slow its growth, help me feel better, or both? 
• What is the likelihood of this treatment being successful and what are the chances of my cancer coming back? 
• In order to feel confident going into treatment, I’d like to get a second opinion, what is the process to do that? 
• What is the expected timeline for my treatment? Do I need to start treatment immediately? How many weeks/months with my treatment last?
• How will this treatment affect my daily life? Will I be able to work, exercise, and perform my usual activities? 
• What are the short and long-term side effects of this treatment? 
• Do any of these drugs have life-threatening side effects? 
• What can I do to strengthen my immune system during treatment? Are there any precautions I need to take during treatment to protect myself while my immune system is weakened?
• What can I do to prevent the side-effects of this treatment and how will you treat the side-effects if they occur? 
• Will biomarker testing be completed to ensure this is the right treatment plan for me?
• I read that many chemotherapy drugs are carcinogenic. Is there a risk that this treatment may cause a secondary cancer? 
• What’s the recurrence rate for this cancer after treatment? 
• If this treatment doesn’t work, what are my options?
• How much time do you think I’ll have to live if I do this treatment? How about if I do nothing? 
• What other treatment options are available besides the ones we’ve discussed? 
• What is the five-year, disease-free survival rate for my specific diagnosis with your treatment protocol? 
• Am I a good candidate for a clinical trial? If so, how would I learn more about what trials might be available to me?  

Knowing your doctor and care team

While not applicable to everyone, many patients feel hesitant or anxious about asking their doctor about things like their experience, qualifications and how available they would be to them once treatment begins. This is expected and our counselors regularly work with patients who need additional support to have these conversations with their clinicians. It’s important to learn as much as you can about your provider so that you know how to best work with them once treatment begins. A few questions you might consider asking are:

• How much experience do you—or other members of your care team—have treating this type of cancer? 
• Did they change their diets or make any major lifestyle changes? Were they more susceptible to responding to treatment? If so, why? 
• Is there any way I could contact any of your patients with the same cancer as me that have been cancer-free after five years? 
• Would you recommend my treatment to any of your family members? If I decide to undergo treatment, how can I contact you with questions?  

Establishing a foundation for a good partnership

As you begin treatment, one final thing you could consider inquiring about is how you can establish the best rhythm with your clinical team. In doing so, you’ll make sure that lines of communication are clear and that both sides are feeling good about the partnership. Some questions you might consider asking include:

• What is the best way to contact the provider and/or care team?
• In the event of an urgent matter, is there a 24/7 line you can call or email?
• Does the provider work with a nurse whose direct line you can have for non-urgent questions?
• During treatment, how often will you see the provider for an exam?
• Will the provider or member of the care team check in on me each day when I come for treatment?
• What side effects would require me to call in to report outside of normal clinic hours?
• What side effect would require me to go to the ER or urgent care?

If you need help tailoring questions to your unique diagnosis, consider reaching out to a Jasper counselor today—we’ll be happy to assist you.

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