Important Questions People with Advanced Cancer Can Ask Their Doctors

A patient’s communication with the healthcare team and people close to them is an important part of the cancer treatment process. If you learn that you have advanced cancer, it is helpful to know some steps that can make the treatment process easier to manage. Rather than relying on information online whose source is unknown and which is unreliable, asking your doctor questions directly and receiving answers is a better step for you. Although accepting the diagnosis can be difficult, active involvement, such as asking questions about treatment, benefits patients with advanced cancer.

Studies on this subject show that patients who discuss the treatment process and possible outcomes with their doctors have a better quality of life than patients who avoid communication.

Knowing your treatment options helps you feel better and more hopeful. The more accurate information you have about your illness and treatment, the better the decisions you and your loved ones can make about your care.

Questions You Can Ask About Cancer When You Meet Your Doctor:

• What does “advanced cancer” mean for me?
• Are there any other tests I need to better understand the cancer?

Questions to Ask About Treatment Options:

• What do we expect from treatment for advanced ( stage 4 ) cancer? What is our goal?
• What are my treatment options? Which treatment do you recommend for me, and why?
• Will this treatment plan help reduce side effects, slow cancer progression, or both?
• Is there a chance that a new treatment will be found while we are trying the treatment we have chosen?
• Is participating in a clinical trial appropriate for me?
• What types of care can I receive if I do not want active treatment for my cancer?

Questions About Symptoms and Side Effects:

• What are the possible side effects and other disadvantages of the treatment we have chosen?
• How can I best manage the symptoms of my advanced cancer or the side effects of its treatment?

Questions About Transitioning to Palliative Care in Cancer Treatment:

• How can we decide whether to continue cancer treatment?
• When should I consider going to a palliative care center?
• How can I tell whether I have the best possible quality of life?
• Can I receive supportive care at home?
• Where can I get help with financial and legal rights issues?

The answers to these questions can provide basic information that may generally help you. Having enough information about your illness and its treatment allows you to make better-informed decisions about whether to continue treatment. Do not hesitate to ask your healthcare team about treatment options and their approximate durations. Sharing this process with your family or loved ones may help you make better decisions together.