A diagnosis of breast cancer can be very frightening. It's important to manage your treatment from the start to best understand what's happening to your body and how best the cancer can be eradicated, if possible. Besides bringing a friend to help listen and a tape recorder to go over the answers later, it can be very helpful to bring a list of questions to your doctor appointment.
About the Cancer
Start with questions that focus on the cancer itself. Focus on the type of cancer that you have, the stage at which the cancer is diagnosed and the aggressiveness anticipated for this form of cancer.
Find out if the doctor is planning additional tests, and, if so, what sort of information the doctor anticipates getting from the tests. Also find out if timing is important (for example, will your menstrual period have any impact) for further testing and how quickly you will get results. Make sure you have a clear understanding of the tests themselves and how best to prepare yourself for them.
About Treatment
Go over the treatment plan that the doctor is suggesting. Make sure you understand what the comprehensive plan is (is it surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, a combination of two or will treatment comprise all three?). Find out the potential of recurrence with this treatment plan and, if it recurs, if it can be treated in this same way. Lastly, understand clearly when the treatment should start and the specific timing anticipated for treatments.
About Surgery
If the doctor is recommending surgery, explore with her what the cosmetic impact will be from the surgery--from lumpectomy scars to full breast removal. Explore what options you have in terms of prosthetics or implants to replace your breast if a mastectomy (full surgical removal of breast tissue) is the option under consideration. Find out if there are any medical reasons (such as potential recurrence) to avoid reconstructive surgery and what your doctor recommends in your particular case.
Make sure you understand clearly the insurance coverage and payment options for surgery as well as the amount of time you will be required to be in the hospital. Lastly, discuss with your doctor followup treatments and the time frame in which you can anticipate returning to normal activity levels again.
About Chemotherapy
Make sure the doctor delineates specifically the time frame for any chemotherapy treatments and uses the names of the drugs involved, not just the jargon or acronyms with which he is very familiar. Since you may be hearing this for the first time, clarity is key to understanding the regimen of drugs that will be administered. Explore with the doctor why this particular regimen is recommended. Find out if it is more effective than other regimens for your particular cancer and, if so, why.
Make sure you understand how the chemo will impact your life. Will you still be able to work and care for your home and children? Ask what you can do to minimize side effects and if your hair will fall out. Will you experience nausea, mouth sores, fatigue? Is there a particular diet the doctor recommends to complement the chemo? Can you still have sex? And can you enjoy an occasional drink? You may also want to ask if there be impact on your fertility as a result of this drug regimen.
About Radiation
If radiation is part of your treatment plan, make sure you understand what areas of the body or breast will be irradiated for treatment. Find out how many treatments you'll have and what the side effects will be, as well as what to do to minimize these effects. Also, similar to chemo, find out what diet the doctor recommends and the impact radiation will have on your sex life and future fertility.
About Followup
Query your doctor closely about the danger signs for which you should be alert, both during treatment and once treatment is over. Make sure you understand clearly when you'll see the doctor post-treatment and how often. Find out if additional testing will be part of the followup process and, if so, what tests, how quickly results will be returned and what information the doctor hopes to gain from such tests.
