Before meeting with your doctor, it's a good idea to write down any questions you or your child want to ask. In situations like this, it's easy to become so overwhelmed with information and concerns that you are not able to think of questions about what you've heard. Examples of frequently asked questions include:
- What type of cancer does my child have (diagnosis)?
- What is the stage of disease?
- What does this stage mean?
- What are the treatment choices?
- Which treatment do you recommend and why?
- What are the chances that this treatment will be successful?
- How will we know if it is successful?
- What are the risks of this treatment (short-term and long-term)?
- What is the expected length of treatment?
- If my child participates in this study, what will we need to do that is different from standard care?
- How much will this treatment cost? And will my insurance pay for it?
- How can I help prepare my child for this treatment?
You'll want to bring a pen and paper to the meeting so you can take notes. You should ask a friend or relative to come to the meeting to take notes for you and help make sure everything is clear. You may also wish to discuss with your physician having a tape recording of the meeting.
For more information, visit CureSearch.org's Clinical Trials Information page found in the Resource Directory.