Questions to ask about treatment

The following are questions that you can ask the healthcare team about treatment options. Choose the questions that fit your, or your child’s, situation and add questions of your own. You may find it helpful to take the list to the next appointment and to write down the answers.

  • Is treatment available for this type of cancer?
  • What are the treatment options?
  • Which treatment do you recommend? Why?
  • Will more than one treatment be given?
  • What are the benefits and risks of having treatment?
  • What are the chances that treatment will be successful?
  • How will we know that the treatment is working?
  • Who will do the treatment?
  • When will treatment begin? Is there a waiting list for treatment?
  • How is the treatment given?
  • Where will the treatment be given? Does this treatment require a hospital stay?
  • Can a support person (such as a partner, parent or friend) be present during treatment?
  • What can I do to prepare for treatment?
  • How long will the treatment last?
  • What are the possible side effects of treatment? When would they start? How long do they usually last?
  • What can be done to help manage side effects?
  • What else should be considered before we make a decision about treatment?
  • What might happen without treatment?
  • How much time can be taken before we make a decision about treatment?

Medical disclaimer

The information that the Canadian Cancer Society provides does not replace your relationship with your doctor. The information is for your general use, so be sure to talk to a qualified healthcare professional before making medical decisions or if you have questions about your health.

We do our best to make sure that the information we provide is accurate and reliable but cannot guarantee that it is error-free or complete.

The Canadian Cancer Society is not responsible for the quality of the information or services provided by other organizations and mentioned on cancer.ca, nor do we endorse any service, product, treatment or therapy.


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