What Should You Ask Your Doctor About Cervical Cancer?

It is important for you to have frank, open discussions with your cancer care team. They want to answer all of your questions, so that you can make informed treatment and life decisions. For instance, consider these questions:

When you're told you have cervical cancer

• What type of cervical cancer do I have?
• Has my cancer spread outside the cervix?
• Can the stage of my cancer be determined and what does that mean?
• Will I need other tests before we can decide on treatment?
• Do I need to see any other doctors or health professionals?
• If I’m concerned about the costs and insurance coverage for my diagnosis and treatment, who can help me?

When deciding on a treatment plan

• What are my treatment choices?
• What treatment do you recommend and why?
• How much experience do you have treating this type of cancer?
• Should I get a second opinion? How do I do that? Can you recommend someone?
• What would the goal of the treatment be?
• How quickly do we need to decide on treatment?
• What should I do to be ready for treatment?
• How long will treatment last? What will it be like? Where will it be done?
• What risks or side effects are there to the treatments you suggest? Are there things I can do to reduce these side effects?
• How might treatment affect my daily activities?
• What are the chances my cancer will recur (come back) with these treatment plans?
• What will we do if the treatment doesn’t work or if the cancer recurs?
• Will I be able to have children after my treatment?
• What are my treatment options if I want to have children in the future?

During treatment

Once treatment begins, you’ll need to know what to expect and what to look for. Not all of these questions may apply to you, but asking the ones that do may be helpful.

• How will we know if the treatment is working?
• Is there anything I can do to help manage side effects?
• What symptoms or side effects should I tell you about right away?
• How can I reach you on nights, holidays, or weekends?
• Do I need to change what I eat during treatment?
• Are there any limits on what I can do?
• What kind of exercise should I do, and how often?
• Can you suggest a mental health professional I can see if I start to feel overwhelmed, depressed, or distressed?

After treatment

• Will I need a special diet after treatment?
• Are there any limits on what I can do?
• What other symptoms should I watch for?
• What kind of exercise should I do now?
• What type of follow-up will I need after treatment?
• How often will I need to have follow-up exams and imaging tests?
• Will I need any blood tests?
• How will we know if the cancer has come back? What should I watch for?
• What will my options be if the cancer comes back?

Along with these sample questions, be sure to write down some of your own. For instance, you might want more information about recovery times. Or you might ask if you qualify for a clinical trial.

Keep in mind that doctors aren’t the only ones who can give you information. Other health care professionals, such as nurses and social workers, can answer some of your questions. To find out more about speaking with your health care team, see The Doctor-Patient Relationship.