As you deal with your cancer and the process of treatment, you need to have honest, open discussions with your cancer care team. You should feel free to ask any questions you might have, no matter how trivial they might seem. Among the questions you might want to ask are:
- What kind of testicular cancer do I have?
- Has my cancer spread beyond the primary site?
- What is the stage of my cancer? What does the staging mean in my case?
- Are there other tests that need to be done before we can decide on treatment?
- How much experience do you have treating this type of cancer?
- What treatment choices do I have?
- How many retroperitoneal node dissections have you done?
- What should I do to be ready for treatment?
- How long will treatment last? What will it involve? Where will it be done?
- How long will it take me to recover from treatment?
- When can I go back to work after treatment?
- What risks or possible side effects can I expect from my treatment?
- How soon after treatment can I have sex?
- What are the chances I will become infertile? Should I bank sperm?
- What are the chances that my cancer will recur? What would we do if that happens?
- Does one type of treatment reduce the risk of recurrence more than another?
- Should I get a second opinion before I start treatment, and when would a second opinion be helpful to me?
You will no doubt have other questions about your own personal situation. Be sure and write your questions down so you remember to ask them during each visit with your cancer care team. Keep in mind, too, that doctors are not the only ones who can give you information. Other health care professionals, such as nurses and social workers, may have the answers to your questions.
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