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| Detailed Guide: Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancer |
What Should You Ask Your Doctor About Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancer? |
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As you cope with cancer and cancer treatment, we encourage you to have
honest, open discussions with your doctor. Feel free to ask any
question that's on your mind, no matter how small it might seem. Here
are some questions you might want to ask. Nurses, social workers, and
other members of the treatment team may also be able to answer many of
your questions.
- What kind of oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer do I
have?
- Has my cancer spread beyond the main (primary)
site?
- What is the stage of my cancer? What does the stage mean in
my case?
- What treatment choices do I have? Which do you recommend?
Why?
- Based on what you've learned about my cancer, what are my
chances for long-term survival?
- What side effects can I expect from my treatment?
- What are the other risks of treatment?
- How long will it take me to recover from
treatment?
- When can I go back to work after treatment?
- Will I need reconstructive surgery or a prosthesis after
treatment?
- What are the chances that my cancer will recur?
- Does one type of treatment reduce the risk of recurrence
more than another does?
- What should I do to be ready for treatment?
- Should I get a second opinion?
In addition to these sample questions, be sure to write down
some of your own. For instance, you may want to ask about clinical
trials for which you may qualify.
Revised: 09/28/2007
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