When someone is told they have cancer, they are given a lot of information. It’s hard to deal with a new reality, and it takes time to learn new words and knowledge about treatment. Make a list of questions you want to ask your doctor before your first appointment. This is a good way to learn. This also helps you feel more at ease talking to your doctor as you start your cancer treatment.
What You Should Ask Your Oncologist If You Have Cancer
When people go to an oncology visit, doctors ask them a number of questions. An oncologist may ask about your health history, habits, and other helpful things during your first appointment with them. The questions doctors ask their patients on a regular basis are meant to help them understand their needs better and give them the best care.
But asking your questions can help you get your wants across better. It also gives you a place to start making sense of all the information that comes with being told you have cancer. Before you start chemo or another treatment, these are the seven most important things you should ask.
What kinds of treatments are there for the type and stage of cancer I have?
This is one of the most important things you should ask your doctor at your first appointment. Treatment choices are very different depending on the stage and type. For example, surgery and chemotherapy are often used to treat stage 4 colon cancer because the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. In addition to these, there may be other ways to stop cancer from growing.
Depending on what the doctors find, surgery with or without chemotherapy may be part of a plan to treat stage 2 colon cancer. If you have cancer in stage 4, you may also want to find out about palliative care. This can help you deal with your symptoms while you get treatment and fight the cancer.
What kinds of cancer treatments do you suggest?
After medical school, doctors who want to become oncologists have to go through a few years of specialized training. So, they know how to figure out the best treatment or treatments for your type and stage of cancer while also taking into account any other health problems you may have. This is helpful because most of the information about treatments on the internet is pretty general.
What are the pros and cons of each treatment?
There are some minor to severe side effects that can happen with every treatment. Your doctor can tell you if there are any supportive drugs that may be best for your stage and type of cancer to help you deal with the bad effects of treatment. As an example, some medicines that work make people sick. Luckily, today there are a number of medicines that can help with that sickness. Treatments for cancer can also make it harder to get pregnant, but there are ways to store eggs or sperm. Knowing how a treatment might change your life, either for the better or for the worse, can help you choose a treatment and make a more detailed plan.
Where Can I Find Out More About These Medicines?
After you and your oncologist talk about different ways to treat your cancer, you can ask for good study sources. This could help you find more answers to your questions about cancer.
When do I need to start treatment?
You may need some time to learn more about the different ways to treat your condition. In the early stages of some types of cancer, treatment might not begin for a few weeks. Setting up surgeries or treatments can take a while. On the other hand, oncologists generally say that people with more aggressive or late-stage cancer should start treatment right away. This information can help you decide if you need to miss work or make other plans.
Are There Any Tests For Humans?
A popular misconception is that clinical trials are only for people with cancer that has already spread. But there are also bumps in the road in the beginning. You are likely to have more questions about oncology if you are interested in clinical studies. For example, you could ask your oncologist what the point of the trial is, how long it lasts, what tests or treatments are part of it, and why it might be better than another treatment that was suggested. Both you and your oncologist will be able to tell if you are a good candidate for clinical studies after you learn more about them.
How will I know if the medicine for my cancer is working?
This question could lead to too much information. Oncologists use blood, tissue, or urine samples to look at enzymes, proteins, and other signs. Imaging tests are also used to keep an eye on growth and cancer cells. The more you go through treatment, the more test-related words you will know.
Ask as many questions as you want about cancer. Don’t be afraid to add to your list as you think of them. Think of your doctor as your ally in the fight against cancer. If you want a second opinion on how to treat your cancer, you can also talk to more than one doctor.
Horizon Oncology is dedicated to giving our patients the best service possible. There are a lot of different conditions that our doctors can treat, and we offer a wide range of cancer services to meet the needs of each patient and their family. Get in touch with us to find out more about our custom treatment plans.
If you’ve been told you have cancer, know that you don’t have to go through this alone. Your doctor will be with you every step of the way. You can be your own champion as a cancer patient by asking questions and taking an active role in your care.
If you just found out you have cancer, you might be thinking, “What’s next?” Step one is to make a list of any questions you may have about your illness and bring it with you to your next visit.
You can also bring a loved one with you. This person can not only help you remember any important information the doctor gives you, but they can also be there for you emotionally if you need it.
What kind of cancer do I have? What stage is it in?
Figuring out what kind of cancer you have is very important for making a good treatment plan. Cancer is a very complicated disease, and different kinds and stages of cancer may need different treatments.
Your ability to make smart choices about your treatment and care will improve as you learn more about your situation.
What kinds of treatments are there?
Once you and your oncologist are sure of the type of cancer you have and its stage, you can talk about your treatment choices. It is very important for people with cancer to know about the different treatments and how they might work together.
What are the pros and cons of each treatment?
Each type of treatment comes with its own risks and rewards. Your doctor will tell you about the possible side effects, success rates, and long-term effects of each treatment option so that you can compare them and make an educated choice.
When do I have to start treatment?
When you get treatment is a very important part of your cancer care. You can plan and make the necessary arrangements in other areas of your life once you know when your personalized treatment plan will start and end.
What are some new signs I should watch out for after treatment starts?
Not only can recognizing and dealing with treatment-related symptoms improve your quality of life and comfort, but they can also keep problems from getting worse. It can also help make changes to treatment quickly if they are needed, which could lead to better control and even better outcomes.
How will treatment change the things I do every day?
The way you treat your cancer may affect your daily life, your job, and your relationships. It’s important to talk to your doctor about these changes and know how to handle them.
Can I have children after treatment?
Some cancer treatments, like chemotherapy and radiation therapy, can make it impossible to get pregnant for a short time or for good. So, you should talk to your oncologist about ways to keep your fertility. If necessary, they may send you to a fertility specialist.
What kinds of support programs are out there to help me deal with my diagnosis?
During your whole cancer path, you may need support services to help you deal with the emotional parts of the illness.
CanHOPE is a non-profit service run by Parkway Cancer Center that helps people with cancer. It provides counseling, nutrition in cancer care, rehabilitation, palliative care, and events and programs for support groups. Talk to your doctor about what services you need.
Should I think about taking part in a research trial?
Patients may be able to get access to cutting-edge treatments by taking part in a clinical study. Ask your oncologist if there are any appropriate clinical trials that you can join and what the possible benefits and risks are. Talk about it with your doctor to see if it’s a good choice for your type and stage of cancer.
How likely is it that I will live the long term?
You should definitely talk to your oncologist about your outlook (prognosis) and make sure to clear up any questions you have. Know that talking about prognosis can be hard because cancer is a difficult disease and every patient is different, which means that each patient can react to treatment in different ways.
How to take charge of your cancer journey
It can be hard to get through your cancer path, but it can be made easier if you know as much as you can about it and the different ways you can treat it.
Most of the time, patients are scared because they don’t know what to do. But getting your questions answered can give you the strength to deal with your sickness. You can take charge of your cancer journey and give yourself the power, strength, and confidence to fight it by working with your doctor.
You may be wondering, “How do I change oncologists?” if you have cancer.“, you are probably unhappy with some part of your cancer care. You likely never thought you’d be asking yourself this during your cancer journey, but it’s a very important question.
To begin with, switching doctors during treatment is not something that should be done without much thought. On the other hand, people may feel like they need to make this choice for good reasons.
It’s possible that you want to switch doctors if
- You feel like your doctor doesn’t listen to you, spend enough time with you, or answer your questions.
- You feel like a number on a belt of treatment.
- Your care team doesn’t seem to be talking to each other, or you think they or you might be missing something.
- Your care team isn’t giving you any helpful answers because the side effects are making your life very difficult or making it impossible for you to continue treatment.
- You want to know if there are any newer, more improved ways to treat cancer.
- There are other times when you have no choice, like when:
- If your doctor quits, you won’t be able to see anyone else.
- The doctor you’ve been seeing is no longer available because your insurance is changing.
- You are the one moving, so you need to find a new doctor.
- It’s upsetting to have to find a new doctor because of practical issues when you’re happy with the care you’ve been getting. If you are in this group, know that this post is mostly for people who are thinking about switching doctors because they are unhappy with some part of their care. However, the tips in this post may still help you find a new oncologist who meets your needs.
Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) would never tell a patient that they need to find a new doctor. The patient has to make this very private choice. If you want to change doctors for any reason, though, there are some things you should think about and questions you should ask yourself before you decide.
Is it ever okay to switch oncologists?
Can you switch oncologists? If so, when? You can switch doctors whenever you want. A more reasonable answer is that you should think about switching oncologists if you’re not happy with a big part of your care and can’t work things out with your present one.
In other words, you have the power to choose your own doctor and other care options at any time and for any reason. Of course, every choice and deed has results. To make choices you’ll be happy with in the long run, you should make sure you have all the facts.
In general, patients sometimes get so unhappy with their oncologist that they start looking for a new one because of the treatment options and the bond between the doctor and patient.
Choices for treatment
Getting new doctors
Once you’ve been told you have cancer, your doctor will give you treatment choices based on the type and stage of your cancer. You could have surgery, radiation treatment, chemotherapy, or a type of precision medicine like immunotherapy or targeted therapy. The doctor may suggest a mix of treatments at times. Active surveillance, which is also called active watching or watchful waiting, is something else the doctor might suggest.
Once you know what treatments your doctor suggests, you can choose to go with them, get a second opinion, or make a different choice about your care. You don’t have to do what your doctor tells you to do.
Of course, that doesn’t mean the doctor you’re seeing will agree with your choices if they’re not in line with what he or she thinks is right. For example, if a doctor thinks it’s not the right thing to do, they can refuse to do or suggest a certain surgery or type of therapy that you’ve heard good things about.
Another possibility is that your doctor might not be able to suggest any other treatments besides the ones he or she has already given you. That might be annoying, especially if you wanted more choices.
Patients sometimes agree to the treatment plan and start it, but later become unhappy with it. Some side effects can be so bad that they make you not want to or even unable to continue treatment. For instance, if you’re so sick that you can’t eat, you might lose so much weight that you’re too weak to handle treatment. You might want to look elsewhere if your treatment team tells you that’s the only way to deal with those side effects and they can’t help you.
Another possibility is that the cancer will keep getting worse even after treatment, or it may come back. In these situations, you might start to wonder if your doctor and the treatments they are suggesting are really best for you. You might be interested in a clinical study or another cutting edge treatment that your doctor doesn’t know about.
How a doctor and a customer interact
Even when things are going well, relationships can be hard. During cancer treatment, your bond with your oncologist and care team is even more important and can have an effect on how you feel about your health.
Everybody has a different way of communicating, and everyone has different wants. Some patients are fine with having short, to-the-point talks with their doctor. Others want to talk for a long time and feel like their doctor understands how they feel.
If you think you’re getting the right care but don’t like your relationship with your doctor or other care team members or staff at the practice, it could be because of how you talk to each other. Is this important? Your answer will depend on how important it is to you.
You should at least trust that the doctor is telling you the truth about your situation and treatment and that they are explaining things in a way that you can understand. You can expect the doctor to do their best to answer your questions and listen to your worries. You shouldn’t feel rushed that you leave with questions unfilled or like you don’t matter. These are important things that you should talk to your doctor about if you don’t feel like you’re getting them from them.
Carefully think about your worries and wants
If you’re upset with some part of your care and are thinking about switching oncologists, you should first take a step back and think about what you want to achieve with a new doctor. You might want to ask a family friend or someone else you trust to help you with this.
Answer the questions, deal with the worries, and deal with the things that are making you sad. Do you think it’s true? Does it treat you? Need more help taking care of the side effects? Do you need more help with something else? Do you want a different doctor with better patient care?
Finally—and this is a tough one—do you really think that getting a new doctor will fix all of these problems?
Things you should do before you decide to switch oncologists
If you’ve reached a point where certain worries are no longer acceptable to you, you should think about a number of other important steps and factors before making a final choice.
Talk to the doctor you already have first
Getting new doctors
It might be hard to follow this advice, but talk to your doctor about your worries first. You could talk about this at your next meeting, but it might be better to make a separate one just for this talk. Bring a list of the exact problems you’ve found.
It’s not easy for everyone to have this kind of talk. You might be afraid of upsetting your doctor or hurting your friendship with them. For people who don’t like conflict, it might feel too direct. If so, here are some things you can do to make things easier:
Talk to a friend ahead of time about what you want to say. And your friend might be able to give you helpful feedback. This might help you say what you want to say more clearly.
Bring a friend or caregiver you trust with you to the meeting to help you. In case you can’t put your thoughts into words or think the doctor isn’t hearing you, this person might be able to help you.
If you don’t feel safe talking to the doctor, you might feel better talking to the oncology nurse or the nurse practitioner. Ask them to talk to the doctor about your worries on your behalf. Also, he or she might know of other ways to help that could make a difference.
In the event that your first talk with the doctor did not go as planned, you may either try again or seek alternate advice.
You might want to get a second view
Getting new doctors
There is a difference between getting a second opinion and announcing that you want to switch doctors. But you should think about it because it might help answer some of your questions or ease some of your worries about your diagnosis, outlook, and treatment choices. Your second opinion may make you want to switch oncologists based on what you learn and how you feel during the visit. It could also mean that you change your mind after all. It’s a good thing to do before making a choice, no matter what.
When do most people get a second opinion?
Everyone can have a second thought. Don’t be afraid that asking for one will make your doctor mad. A lot of people get second views, and most doctors recommend it. In some cases, your doctor may even be able to help you find someone who can help you in a certain way.
People usually get a second opinion at one of two points in their journey: right after being told they have cancer or later on in treatment.
A lot of the time, when someone is told they have cancer, they go straight to the oncologist that their primary care doctor or surgeon suggested. It makes sense. For the most part, this is the easiest and fastest thing to do because you trust your doctor and get along well with them. Patients who have been told they have cancer normally want to start treatment as soon as possible.
You don’t have to rush into care all the time, though. Now is the time to step back. Take a deep breath. Read and learn more about it. Find support groups in your area or online to talk to other people who have been diagnosed with the same thing. Find out what kinds of treatments are available for your type of cancer. Write down things you want to ask your doctor. At this point, getting a second opinion might help you feel more sure of yourself and at ease about starting treatment.
A lot of people also get a second opinion after a while of treatment or after their cancer comes back. If you want to change doctors, this could be what you’re going through right now. You’re not sure what kind of treatment to get. The side affects are making things hard for you. You’re not happy with or sure about some part of your care and want to know if there’s something else that could help you. These are all good reasons to get a second view.
What should you expect from a second opinion?
Getting a second opinion is a great way to find out what another doctor thinks about your case. Does the doctor agree that you have cancer and that it has spread? What does the outlook look like? How would he or she go about getting help? Is their method different from the one your current doctor uses?
If you’re already getting treatment, the doctor giving you a second opinion might know about new treatments, surgeries, or clinical studies that you can try that you weren’t able to before.
You should know that getting a second view won’t always give you more choices. The second doctor agrees with the first doctor some of the time. There are times when treatment choices are limited. You might not want to hear this, but it could also be good news that you and your doctor have picked the right treatment plan for you.
One of our CTCA® locations is a larger cancer center where you can get a second opinion. There, you may also find other tools that aren’t available at other oncology practices. A cancer hospital usually has more expert doctors, clinical trials, and supportive care that is meant to help you avoid and deal with side effects. Advanced genetic testing may show you and your doctor a way to treat your condition that you weren’t aware of. You might get a better second opinion if you have access to these tools, but you might also decide that they would help your ongoing care.
If the connection between the doctor and patient is important to you, you might like the way the second doctor talks to you more. The new doctor might be able to explain things better, have more time for you at each visit, or seem more open, friendly, or understanding. There may be a nurse practitioner, nurses, technicians, and receptionists who go out of their way to make you feel welcome and encouraged. Not everyone cares about these things, but for some, they’re very important.
How about a third or fourth view? You can go after those things too, as long as you have the time, energy, and money to do so. That many tries might be needed to find the right fit. But making appointments, getting medical information, and going to appointments all take a lot of time and effort. Think about what you want to achieve and whether this is the best way to spend your time and energy.
Picking out a new cancer doctor
- If you have cancer, you might need to find a new doctor at some point. The oncologist you see might be leaving, or you might be moving. Your insurance may not cover the office anymore, or you may have decided it wasn’t a good fit.
- If you’re moving, your doctor is leaving, or your insurance company stops covering them, you might want to ask them for a recommendation. You might also want to ask other people on your care team for ideas.
- You could also ask family, friends, members of online or real-life support groups, or patient advocacy groups for suggestions. Calling your insurance company or going to their website to get a list of doctors who are experts in a certain type of cancer is another way to get names.
A lot of cancer support groups offer free listings of doctors, such as
- The ASCO stands for the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
- There is an American College of Surgeons.
- ASTRO stands for the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.
- The ASH is the American Society of Hematology.
- The American Brain Tumor Association
- Group for Gynecologic Oncology
- Group of Urologic Oncologists
- You might also care about board qualification. You can use a free tool from the American Board of Medical Specialties to find out if a doctor is qualified by the board. Getting certified means that you have more training, information, and skills in a certain area of medicine.
- Some other things to think about
Before making a final choice, here are some other important things to think about
Money is an important thing to think about. There are different kinds of contracts between insurance companies and health care providers. Does the new doctor take your insurance? Will you have to pay more out of pocket? There aren’t many people who can pay whatever it costs. Before you decide, make sure you’ve done your homework.
Care interruptions could be a big problem. Moving from one provider to another and making meetings may take some time. Is there any chance that waiting to get care could hurt you?
Think about where the new doctor is located as well. Will you have the energy to go where you need to go for daily treatment? Will you be able to do it? How will your family or guardians be affected by your trip? At CTCA, for example, between 70 and 80% of our patients come from another state to get care at one of our hospitals. We have a team whose only job is to help patients make trip plans so that it is as simple and easy as possible.
There are personal reasons why people want to switch doctors. There is no one reason that is always right or wrong. But if you’re thinking about it, be clear about why you want to change doctors and how that might help you solve your problems. These steps might help you make a choice that you’re happy with.
