Below are some questions about chemotherapy to ask your doctor to learn more about it as a treatment option, and whether it’s the right fit. If you don’t understand your doctor’s answers, ask for clarification.
Learn helpful questions about:
Treatment
- Why do I need chemotherapy?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of chemotherapy for me?
- How successful is chemotherapy for the type of cancer I have?
- What is the goal of this chemotherapy?
- Are there any other treatments I can have instead?
- Is there any targeted therapy for the type of cancer I have?
- How much does treatment cost?
- What drugs will I be receiving? How will they be given?
- How often will I receive chemotherapy? How long will I have treatment?
- How will you decide the dosage?
- Are there clinical guidelines you are following?
- Where will I have chemotherapy? Can I have it close to where I live?
- How will we know if the treatment is working?
Side effects
- What are the risks and possible side effects of this treatment?
- Will chemotherapy affect my sex life and fertility?
- What can I do to help manage any side effects?
- Are there any complementary therapies that might help me?
- Who should I contact for information or if I have a problem during treatment? Who is my after-hours contact?
After treatment
- How often will I need check-ups after treatment?
- Am I at risk of developing late effects from chemotherapy? What might there be? What can I do to prevent this?
Listen to our podcasts on Coping with a Cancer Diagnosis and Making Treatment Decisions
Dr Prunella Blinman, Medical Oncologist, Concord Cancer Centre, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, and Clinical Senior Lecturer, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, NSW; Gillian Blanchard, Oncology Nurse Practitioner, Calvary Mater Newcastle, and Conjoint Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Newcastle, NSW; Julie Bolton, Consumer; Keely Gordon-King, Psychologist, Cancer Council Queensland, QLD; John Jameson, Consumer; Dr Zarnie Lwin, Medical Oncologist, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, and Senior Lecturer, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, QLD; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Dr Felicia Roncolato, Medical Oncology Staff Specialist, Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre, NSW. We also thank the health professionals, consumers and editorial teams who have worked on previous editions of this title.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
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