What should you ask your child`s doctor about childhood leukemia?

It is important to have frank, open discussions with your child's cancer care team. They want to answer all of your questions, no matter how small they might seem. For instance, consider these questions:

• What kind of leukemia does my child have?
• Are there any specific factors that might affect my child's prognosis?
• Are there other tests that need to be done before we can decide on treatment?
• Are there other doctors we need to see?
• How much experience do you have treating this type of leukemia?
• Should we get a second opinion?
• What treatment choices do we have?
• Should we consider a stem cell transplant? When?
• What do you recommend and why?
• What should we do to be ready for treatment?
• How long will treatment last? What will it be like?
• How much of the treatment will need to be done in the hospital?
• How will treatment affect our daily activities?
• What are the risks and side effects to the treatments that you recommend?
• Which side effects start shortly after treatment and which ones might develop later on?
• How might treatment affect my child's ability to learn, grow, and develop?
• Will treatment affect my child's future ability to have children?
• What are the chances of curing the leukemia?
• What would our options be if the treatment doesn't work or if the leukemia comes back?
• What type of follow-up will we need after treatment?

In addition to these sample questions, be sure to write down your own. For instance, you might want more information about how treatment might affect your child's school schedule. Or you may want to ask about clinical trials for which your child may qualify. You may also want to ask about the typical costs of treatment, and what is likely to be covered by insurance.