Living with incurable but treatable cancer

Questions to ask your health professionals

Asking your health professionals questions will help you make informed decisions. You may want to include some of the questions below in your own list

  • What is the treatment goal? To control the cancer, or to relieve symptoms?
  • What does my prognosis mean?
  • What side effects or symptoms should I expect from the treatment? How can I manage them?
  • How often will I need to have treatment?
  • Are there any side effects or symptoms I should look out for and tell someone about?
  • Are there any clinical trials I could join?
  • What happens if the treatment stops working?
  • Who can I contact between appointments?
  • Can you refer me to a palliative or supportive care team?
  • Are there support services that may help me?
  • Can you refer me to a psychologist or counsellor to help me cope with the uncertainty?
  • How can I connect with other people in a similar situation
  • Can you help me talk to my family about this?