Preparing yourself to ask the questions you need answered

If you have ever been worried about what cancer related questions to ask during an appointment, or remembering all the answers to those questions, you’re not alone. There might be endless questions you want to ask your doctor or treatment team, but are unsure where to begin.

Below are some questions that might be helpful and relevant to you.

• What kind of cancer do I have and how common is it?
• Where is the cancer at the moment? Has it or can it spread to other parts of my body?
• What impact will the cancer have on my day-to-day life?
• When do I need to start having treatment?
• What will be the financial impact of my treatment?
• Will I be able to continue to go to work, school and/or uni while I have treatment?
• Will I have access to additional support if I need it (e.g. a social worker, counsellor or psychologist)?
• What will life look like when I finish my treatment?

These are just some of the questions you might have, but you can click here to see a full list of questions which you may want to ask. It's a good idea to refer to this information prior to your appointment, as there are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to a cancer diagnosis or treatment.

Remembering the answers to all these questions can be a daunting task too. A good idea is to use your phone to record the conversation so you can listen back to the answers later. However, if you decide to do this, you should let all the people in the room know before you begin.