Tips for Talking with Your Doctor
An important part of good health
care is a good relationship between you and your doctor. You must be able to
communicate well with each other so your needs are met.
At Dana-Farber, doctors from
different specialties, as well as experts in nutrition and other supportive
services, may be involved in your care. However, it's a good idea for one
doctor to be your main source of information.
Ask yourself, "How much do I
want to know?"
Don’t be afraid to tell your
doctor how much, or how little, information you want. You might be an
“information junkie” who wants all the facts. Or you may prefer a general
overview with simple directions – what pill to take, what treatment you’ll
have, and when you’ll be done.
Asking questions
Here are some basic questions
your doctor can answer for you:
- What's
wrong with me?
- What
treatment do you recommend?
- Are
there other treatments?
- What
are the benefits of these treatments?
- What
are the risks?
- What
medicines are you giving me? What are they for?
- How
should I expect to feel during treatment?
- What
side effects, if any, can I expect to have?
Here are some additional
questions you may want to ask:
- Who
else receives information about me? Are my records shared?
- Will
the disease or the treatment keep me from working or caring for my family?
- Will
I have any physical limitations?
If
you have persistent low or hopeless feelings, mention this to your doctor. You
may need help for clinical depression, a treatable illness that can occur along
with cancer.