Asking your doctor questions will help you make an informed choice. You may want to include some of the questions below in your own list.
Learn more about:
Diagnosis
- What type of cancer do I have?
- How far has the cancer spread? How fast is it growing?
- What is my prognosis? How long am I likely to live?
Treatment
- What treatment do you recommend and why?
- Are there other treatment choices for me? If not, why not?
- Are there any clinical trials I can join?
- Are there any complementary therapies that might help?
Side effects
- What treatment do you suggest for any pain or discomfort?
- What are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment?
- What will happen if I don’t have treatment?
Palliative care
- Can I have palliative care?
- Can I call the palliative care team at any time?
- Does the palliative care team inform my GP and other specialists about my care?
- Do I have to pay for any palliative care services?
- Can you help me talk to my family about what is happening?
| Visit Palliative Care Australia for more suggested questions. |
Prof Nicholas Glasgow, Head, Calvary Palliative and End of Life Care Research Institute, ACT; Kathryn Bennett, Nurse Practitioner, Eastern Palliative Care Association Inc., VIC; Dr Maria Ftanou, Head, Clinical Psychology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and Research Fellow, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, VIC; Erin Ireland, Legal Counsel, Cancer Council NSW; Nikki Johnston, Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner, Clare Holland House, Calvary Public Hospital Bruce, ACT; Judy Margolis, Consumer; Linda Nolte, Program Director, Advance Care Planning Australia; Kate Reed- Cox, Nurse Practitioner, National Clinical Advisor, Palliative Care Australia; Helena Rodi, Project Manager, Advance Care Planning Australia; Kaitlyn Thorne, Coordinator Cancer Support, 13 11 20, Cancer Council Queensland.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
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