Questions to Ask Your Oncologist About Breast Cancer Treatment

Whether you’re leaning toward an approved breast cancer treatment or a clinical trial treatment, it’s paramount to get all of the relevant information from your oncologist. Ultimately, your decision will be based on which breast cancer treatment option seems to offer the most potential benefits with the least drawbacks.

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Susan K. Williford, M.D., Medical Oncologist

Some questions to ask your doctor are what type of breast cancer do I have, what stage is my breast cancer, what surgery and specifically what reconstruction options do I have, are there, any clinical trials that I can go on.

There are many things you can do to be part of your healthcare team, stay active and exercise. Exercise has been shown to help cancer fatigue. Also eat healthy and maintain a positive attitude. Be forgiving of people who love you but don’t know what to say.

  • Where do I receive the breast cancer treatment?

  • Is it an outpatients clinic or will I need to stay in the clinic?

  • How many breast cancer treatment cycles will I receive?

  • How is the breast cancer drug delivered?

  • What are the known side effects of the breast cancer treatment?

  • Are there short or long term side effects from the breast cancer treatment?

  • How long will the side effects stay after the breast cancer treatment is done?

  • How can the side effects of the breast cancer treatment be overcome?

  • How will the breast cancer treatment affect my daily life?

  • Will I be able to work during the breast cancer treatment?

  • Will I be able to take care of myself or will I need help?

  • Will I be able to take care of my family?

  • What is the expected outcome of the treatment?

  • What is the breast cancer treatment’s success rate?

  • What is the likelihood that the breast cancer will come back?

  • If a clinical trial is using new drugs, were they previously tested on a different type of cancer?

  • What were the outcomes of previous breast cancer clinical trials?

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Download this questionnaire, print it out, and bring it to your first oncologist appointment. There’s space for you to write the answers to each question on the pdf print-out.