QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR PHYSICIAN WHEN YOU AND/OR YOUR PHYSICIAN FEEL A LUMP
1a. What kind of testing do I need? A mammogram? An ultrasound? Both?
1b. Where should I schedule my mammogram?
1c. How skilled are the radiologists at diagnosing breast lumps?
1d. Would an MRI give more information?
1e. How does the radiologist tell the difference between a cyst and a lump?
1f. Do I need a breast biopsy?
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR PHYSICIAN WHEN YOU HAVE A BIOPSY SCHEDULED
2a. Do you think I need to have a biopsy? If so, why? If not, why not?
2b. What type of biopsy do you recommend? Why?
2c. How soon will I know the results?
2d. What will the scar look like after the biopsy and later, after it heals?
2e. Do you suggest local or general anesthesia?
2f. What are the advantages of local anesthesia? Of general anesthesia?
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR AFTER A BIOPSY
3a. Can I have a copy of the pathology report?
3b. Would you please explain that report to me?
3c. What type of breast cancer do I have? What stage of breast cancer do I have? What grade of breast cancer do I have?
3d. Did a pathologist who is experienced in diagnosing breast cancer examine my biopsy slides? What lab tests were done on the tumor tissue? What do the results mean for me?
3e. Should my biopsy slides be examined again? Why or why not?
3f. What are the chances that the cancer has spread within or outside my breast?
3g. How fast are the cells changing?
3h. Were estrogen and progesterone receptor tests done? What do the results mean for me?
3i. What lab tests were done on the tumor tissue? What do the results mean for me? What other tests do I need? (Chest x-ray, bone scan, etc.)
3j. What are my treatment choices? How can I get more information about them?
3k. What benefits can I expect from each kind of treatment?
3l. What are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment? Short-term? Long-term?
3m. What are the risks if I don’t get treatment?
3n. What are my chances for recurrence?
3o. How can I get another opinion?
3p. Would it be appropriate for you to check NCI’s PDQ ® database for physicians to get the latest information about my type and stage of breast cancer?
3q. Is there any research being done on my kind of cancer?
3r. Is it appropriate for you to check NCI’s Web site for clinical trials on the Internet at http://cancertrials.nci.nih.gov?
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR SURGEON IF YOU REQUIRE SURGERY
4a. What kind of surgery do you recommend for me?
4b. How much of my breast will be removed?
4c. If I have a mastectomy, will I be able to have breast reconstruction?
4d. Do you recommend that at the time of surgery or later? Will I meet with the plastic surgeon before surgery?
4e. Will you remove any of my lymph nodes? Do you perform sentinel node biopsy?
4f. Will I have an axillary node biopsy, a sentinel node dissection, or both? How many of these procedures has the surgeon performed?
4g. Where will the operation be done? Will I have local or general anesthesia? Why?
4h. How should I feel after the operation? If I have pain, how can I get relief?
4i. What side effects should I report to you?
4j. How large will my scars be? Where will they be? What will they look like?
4k. Will a nurse or physical therapist teach me how to exercise and care for my arm?
4l. How long will I stay in the hospital?
4m. Will I need follow-up care?
4n. When can I get back to my normal activities?
4o. What activities should I avoid?
4p. What do I need to do to prepare for surgery?
4q. Shall I see a lymphedema specialist or a physical therapist?
4r. When should it start?
4s. Will I have a drain? If so, what will I have to do to care for it?
4t. Are there any special exercises I should perform after my surgery?
4u. How long should I take off from work?
4v. Would it be possible to have a consult with a cancer rehab physician?
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR SURGEON AFTER SURGERY
5a. What did you learn from the pathology report? Please explain what is in the pathology report.
5b. How many lymph nodes were removed? Was a sentinel node biopsy done? Were they free of cancer? If not, how many showed signs of cancer?
5c. Did the tumor have clear margins (was there normal tissue around the tumor?)
5d. Were hormone receptor tests done? What are the results?
5e. What other tests will be done on the tissue? When will I know the results?
5f. Do I need further treatment?
5g. Should I consider joining a clinical trial?
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR ONCOLOGIST IF YOU NEED CHEMOTHERAPY
6a. Why do you think I need chemo? Why do you think I do NOT need chemo? Should I have an oncotype diagnostic test run?
6b. What drugs do you recommend? How successful is this treatment for my type and stage of breast cancer?
6c. Why are there so many variations? Why does one woman get one drug and another women get a different type of drug?
6d. What are the benefits and risks of chemotherapy?
6e. What are the common side effects of these drugs and how can I manage them?
6f. How long will I have to have chemotherapy? How many treatments will I need?
6g. Are there any research studies that I should consider?
6h. How will you and I be sure that the drugs are working?
6i. Where and how will I receive these drugs? Will someone stay with me during treatments?
6j. How many treatments will I need, and how long will I be on chemotherapy?
6k. What are the common side effects of these drugs and how can I manage them?
6l. Will I be able to work while I am having treatment?
6m. What side effects should I report to you or to your nurse?
6n. Are there any restrictions? Will I be able to maintain my normal activities?
6o. How should I prepare for the treatment?
6p. Will I be able to drive home alone afterwards?
6q. Will there be long-term side effects? Will I need follow-up care?
6r. What if I choose not to have chemotherapy?
6s. Am I at high risk for my cancer to return?
6t. Will I need a special port for IV chemotherapy?
6u. Do you recommend that I use any complementary therapy procedures?
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST ABOUT HORMONAL THERAPY
7a. What benefit might I get from hormonal therapy?
7b. If I might benefit from hormonal therapy, would you recommend surgery to remove my ovaries instead?
7c. What drugs will I be taking? How will I know if they are working?
7d. What are the side effects of hormone therapy?
7e. Is there anything that will help me deal with these side effects?
7f. How long do I have to take hormone therapy?
7g. Will I need follow-up care?
7h. What if I don't have hormonal therapy?
7i. Do you recommend any complementary therapy?
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR RADIATION ONCOLOGIST
8a. What benefits will I get from radiation therapy?
8b. What are the risks or side effects?
8c. When will my treatment begin? What is the schedule?
8d. When will my treatment end?
8e. What should I do to prepare for each treatment?
8f. Who will give the actual radiation treatment?
8g. How long will each session take?
8h. What will happen during each treatment? Will I feel anything?
8i. How do I care for myself during the weeks of therapy?
8j. What side effects should I report to you?
8k. How will we know the treatment is working successfully?
8l. How will my breast look and feel when radiation therapy is completed?
8m. Will I be able to drive to and from the radiation center alone?
8n. Are there any restrictions to my normal activities?
8o. When can I get back to my normal activities?
8p. How will my skin feel after the treatments?
8q. What kind of care will this irradiated area require?
8r. How long will I have to protect the irradiated skin from the sun?
8s. Will I need follow-up care?
8t. What if I don't have radiation therapy?
8u. Do you recommend complementary therapy? Which ones?
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR PLASTIC SURGEON
9a. What is the latest information on the safety of breast implants?
9b. How many breast reconstructions have you done?
9c. How many surgeries will I need?
9d. Why type of surgery will give me the best result?
9e. How long will the surgery take?
9f. What kind of anesthesia will I have?
9g. When do you recommend I begin breast reconstruction?
9h. What are the risks at the time of surgery? Later?
9i. Will there be scars? Where? How large?
9j. Will the surgery be only on the side where I had my breast cancer, or will you also operate on the opposite breast for symmetry or evenness?
9k. Will flap surgery cause any permanent changes where tissue was removed?
9l. What complications should I report to you?
9m. Can I see pictures of women you have reconstructed?
9n. Could I contact someone you have reconstructed?
9o. How long will my recovery take?
9p. When can I return to my normal activities?
9q. What activities should I avoid?
9r. Will I need follow-up care?
9s. How much will it cost?
9t. Will my health insurance pay for breast reconstruction?
9u. Will my skin feel differently after the surgery?
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