Chemotherapy is the treatment given to a cancer patient to destroy the cancer cells that can be life threatening. The treatment given to a patient is given by a team of doctors who are specialists in their fields. They decide a regimen for the treatment or a patient. This regimen would depend on various factors like the stage of cancer, the age, the overall health of the patient and many other factors. These days, there are many types of treatment options that are available to people diagnosed of cancer. However, before you start with your treatment, there are many questions related to chemotherapy that come to your mind.

So, before you start with your treatment, have your doubts solved by a doctor or a counselor. If you get these doubts cleared, you will be able to cope up with the side effects of chemotherapy and will be in a better position to take care of your health during and after the treatment. If you do not know what to ask your doctor, you can take a look at the following questions and note down a few to ask during your next visit.

Questions that you can ask about Chemotherapy/Treatment Options:

• Why should I undergo chemotherapy treatment?
• Will I have to under go only chemotherapy or some other treatments along with it?
• I have to take XYZ medicines for my ______ (name the health problem). Should I stop taking them when I undergo chemotherapy?
• Will these medicines change the way the drugs for chemotherapy works?
• What are the ways in which chemotherapy will be given? (Here you should ask if you will be given chemotherapy intravenously,  by injection, orally, or by using port a cath?
• How frequently will I be given chemotherapy?
• Do I have to stay in the hospital during my treatment?
• How long shall one sitting for chemotherapy treatment last?
• Is it necessary that a family member or friend accompany me home after the chemotherapy treatment?
• What precautions should I undertake during this time?
• What precautions should my family members take (or your care giver take) when I undergo chemotherapy?
• Should there be any dietary restrictions that I should undertake?
• Will I have to change my daily schedule when I undergo the treatment?
• Are there any counselors in your hospitals who can answer my questions?
• What are the drugs that you will use for the chemotherapy treatment?
• What shall be the overall cost of chemotherapy treatment?
• What are the other sources of information that are available for chemotherapy patients?
• What are my chances of getting normal or completely cured after the treatment?

Questions about Side Effects of Chemotherapy

There are many side effects of chemotherapy. You may not have all the side effects mentioned by your doctor. However, it is important to note when you should immediately contact your oncologists on an urgent basis. Your family members or your care givers should know when to contact your doctor. Let us take a look at some of the questions that you should ask:

• What are the side effects of the drugs used for chemotherapy?
• Will I have all the side effects mentioned?
• Can the side effects be avoided or minimized?
• Should I have the drugs or medicines to prevent side effects  even if there are no side effects?
• What happens if I miss a dose of a medicine prescribed for side effects?
• Whom should I contact if I have any queries regarding any drug or medicine?
• Are there any support groups or care givers that you know about?
• What happens in case of chemotherapy spill?
• Should all the side effects be treated at home?
• What side effects should I notice that I should get in touch with my oncologist?
• Are there any clinical trials for drugs that are being researched for side effects?
• What are the risks that a person suffering from neutropenia undertakes?
• Can this risk or complication related to neutropenia be minimized?

Questions that you can ask your Surgeon

• Why is surgery important?
• What will you operate upon in the surgery?
• How long will it take to recover from the surgery?
• How much experience do you have in treating similar cases?
• What are the other treatment options other than surgery?
• How will surgery cure my cancer?
• What are the risks involved in this surgery?
• Do you think there are any risks involved if I postpone the operation?
• How long will I have to stay in the hospital after the surgery?
• Do I have to undergo any tests before the surgery?

Before you start with your treatment, have your doubts clarified from your doctor. If you are unable to remember the questions that you planned to ask your oncologist, then before going for your next visit, write them down on a piece of paper and make sure to leave some space after every question to write the answers. This will make sure that you don’t just ask the questions related to chemotherapy, but remember their answers too.