Ask yourself, “How much do I want to know?”

Having an idea of how much you want to know is the first step toward feeling good about talks with your doctor.

You may want to know a lot of medical details about your illness. Some people feel more in control of what’s happening to them when they know all of the facts. Decide how much detail about the cancer and your treatment you want, and let your doctor know.

But maybe you want only small amounts of information. Some people get upset when they are told too many details. They may want simple directions—what pill to take or what their treatment will be and when it will be done. They feel overwhelmed by medical details and would rather leave most decisions to the doctor.

You may want to discuss everything. Some people want to talk about the pros and cons of all the options before they choose and start treatment. They find reliable sources of information and learn all they can about what’s going on. They try to fully understand their cancer and what they can expect.

Don’t be afraid to tell your doctor how much or how little you want to know.