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Questions about advanced cancer
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.
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