When a person is first diagnosed with cancer, shock and stress are natural reactions. These feelings will make it difficult to think of everything to ask the doctor. Often, it helps to make a list of questions ahead of time. To help you remember what the doctor says, you may take notes during the visit, or bring a family member or friend with you when you talk to the doctor.
Here are some questions you may want to ask the doctor before treatment begins. You may find it helpful to print out this list and bring it with you to your next office visit.
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Initial Dermatology Visit |
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Do you think
this mole is melanoma? |
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Are you going
to remove the entire tumor? |
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Will I need a
skin graft? |
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How long will
the biopsy take? |
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Will it hurt? |
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Will it leave
a scar? |
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What side
effects can I expect and how
long will they last? |
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Am I going to
have local or general anesthesia
during the procedure? |
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How soon will
I know the results of the
biopsy? Who will talk to me
about the results? |
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Diagnosis |
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What is my
diagnosis? |
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What did the
biopsy show? |
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How thick is
my tumor? |
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Has the cancer
spread? How far? |
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Are more tests
needed? |
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Do I need a
sentinel lymph node biopsy? |
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What are the
chances that this cancer might
come back? |
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Treatment |
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If I do have
cancer, who will talk with me
about treatment? When? |
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What treatment
choices are best for me? Which
do you recommend? Why? |
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What are the
chances that the treatment will
be successful? |
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What are the
risks and possible side effects
that I should know about? |
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What is my
expected prognosis (or: what can
I look forward to), based on
what you know about my cancer? |
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How will I
feel after the operation? |
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If I have
pain, how can it be controlled? |
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Will I need
more treatment after surgery? |
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Will I need a
skin graft or plastic surgery?
Will there be a scar? |
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What should I
(and my family) do to be ready
for treatment? |
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Will treatment
affect my normal activities? If
so, for how long? |
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What are the
chances of my cancer recurring
(coming back) with the treatment
programs we have discussed? |
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What steps
should I take to avoid the sun? |
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Do I need
follow-up appointments to check
for the possibility of cancer
coming back, or the start of a
new cancer? How often will I
need checkups? |
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What is the
treatment likely to cost? Will
my insurance cover some/all of
it? |
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Are any new
treatments being studied that
might fit my condition? Would a
clinical trial be right for me? |
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Be sure to
write down some of your own
questions to ask, in addition to
those listed here. |
