Talking with healthcare providers about cancer can be overwhelming. It can be hard to take in all of the information. It helps to be prepared. Make a list of questions and bring them with you to your appointments. Make sure you ask how the treatment will change your daily life, including how you eat, your ability to talk, and how you will look and feel after treatment. Ask how successful the treatment is expected to be, and what the risks and possible side effects are. Write the answers down in a notebook. You may also want to ask a friend or family member to go with you. He or she can take notes, write down the answers, and also ask questions you may not think of.
Here are some questions you might want to ask:
Deciding on a treatment
Where exactly is the cancer?
What is the grade and stage of my cancer?
Has the cancer spread anywhere else in my body?
Are there other tests that need to be done before we can decide on treatment?
Are there other doctors I need to see?
What are my treatment choices?
What treatment do you think is best for me? Why?
What are the goals of the treatment?
How will treatment affect how I eat? How I talk? How I look?
What is the success rate of this treatment for my type and stage of laryngeal cancer?
What will we do if this treatment doesn’t work?
How long will I be able to live with my stage of cancer getting this treatment?
How much experience do you have treating laryngeal cancer?
Should I get a second opinion?
Are there any clinical trials that I can apply for?
How much will treatment cost? Will my insurance cover it? How much will I have to pay?
Will I be able to work during treatment?
Getting ready for treatment
Is there anything I can do to get ready for treatment?
Do I need to see another specialist, like a plastic surgeon, nutritionist, or speech therapist?
How long will I need to get treatment?
How long will each treatment take?
Where do I have to go for the treatment?
Who will give me the treatment?
Does someone need to come with me during treatments?
Can I take my other medicines during treatment?
Coping during treatment
What side effects should I expect during and after treatment?
How long will the side effects last?
Are there side effects that I need to call you about?
How do I reach you after hours and on weekends?
What can I do to ease the side effects?
What kind of toothpaste and/or mouth washes do you recommend?
Should I change my diet? What foods can’t I eat?
Will I be able to go to work and be around my family?
How will we know if treatment is working?
Are there any support groups nearby that I can join?
After treatment
How will I feel after the treatment?
What will I look like after treatment?
How will I eat and breathe after treatment?
Will I be able to talk after treatment?
What type of follow-up will I need after treatment?
How will we know if treatment worked?
What is the risk of the cancer coming back? Is there anything I can do to help prevent this?
