Questions to Ask Your Doctor

This content has been reviewed and approved by

Daniel P. Petrylak, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Director, Genitourinary Oncology Program
Columbia University Medical Center

If you've been recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, you probably have many thoughts running through your head and you may feel unable to think clearly. Your doctor will understand this. You should feel free to ask questions about any concerns you may have. Be sure to take a pen and pad with you, as you probably won't remember all the answers. If the doctor uses words you don't understand, ask for an explanation.

You have the right to have your concerns answered. If your doctor does not have time to give you all the information you need, the nursing staff in his office may be able to answer your questions. You may also want to ask if there is any patient literature available.

If possible, bring a spouse, friend, or relative with you. They can take notes from your conversation with the doctor. You may even want to tape record your discussion so you can replay the answers to your questions at a later time. Of course, you must first ask your doctor's permission to do this.

• How far advanced is my cancer?
• Do you know how quickly it is likely to grow?
• What is the recommended treatment for my stage of cancer?
• Can I enroll in a clinical trial? How could a trial improve my treatment?
• If I don’t have insurance coverage, what are my options?
• Which center would be able to provide the best treatment for my cancer?
• When should I start treatment?
• If I have this treatment, what are my chances of survival?
• If I have treatment, will my cancer return?
• If the cancer comes back, can it again be treated successfully?
• What other tests are you recommending?
• What extra information do you get from each of these tests?
• How soon I do get the results of these tests?
• Could you please describe what each of these tests involves, and tell me how to prepare for them?
• Will it make a difference if I change my diet?
• Are there any lifestyle changes I can make to improve my prognosis?

For Surgery 

• How many days will I have to spend in the hospital?
• Will the surgery be painful?
• How will I feel afterwards?
• What are the side effects after surgery?
• Afterwards, will I feel physically normal?
• When will I know if it was successful?

For Chemotherapy 

• What are the names of the drugs that will be used?
• Why are you recommending those particular drugs?
• Is there evidence that they are more effective than other chemotherapy drugs?
• How many treatments will I need?
• How will the treatments be given?
• Can I go home afterwards?
• What will I feel like after my treatments?
• Will I be able to work? Take care of my wife and children?
• What are the possible side effects of these treatments?
• Will my hair fall out? Will I be nauseous? Will I be exhausted? Will I get mouth sores?
• Is there anything I can do to lessen the side effects?
• If I am taking chemotherapy, can I eat all kinds of foods?
• Can I drink alcohol?
• Can the cancer spread, even though I am on chemotherapy?
• Will chemotherapy affect my sex life?
• Will chemotherapy affect my chances of fathering a child?

For  Radiation 

• What areas of my body will be irradiated?
• How many treatments will I have?
• How will I feel after the treatments?
• Will I be able to work? Take care of my wife and children?
• What are the side effects of radiation?
• Is there anything I can do to lessen the side effects?
• Can I eat anything I want during the weeks I have radiation?
• What about alcohol?
• If I'm not on hormones, will this affect my sex life?
• Will this affect my sex life?
• Will radiation affect my chances of fathering a child?

For Hormone Therapy 

• I’ve heard that there is a choice between surgical and medical hormone therapy.
• What are the benefits and shortcomings of each?
• Is it true that medical hormone therapy can last several years?
• What are the side effects of hormone therapy?
• Do they ever diminish?
• Will hormonal therapy affect my sex life?
• Can I father a child while on hormonal therapy?

Questions for Specific Stages 

Stage 1 

• Is the safest course of therapy the most aggressive?
• Should we do surgery and radiation?

Stage IV/Recurrent 

• Will the results of the treatment be worth the side effects I may get?
• Can I choose less aggressive treatment just to keep me comfortable?
• What will happen if I refuse further treatment?