These questions about cancer care and your rights will help you make an informed choice. You may want to include some of the questions below in your own list.
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Choosing a specialist
- Have you treated a lot of people with this type of cancer?
- What stage is the cancer and what does it mean?
- Do you specialise in treating this type of cancer? If not, could you recommend someone who does?
- Do you work in a multidisciplinary team? Who else is in the team?
- What hospitals or treatment centres do you work or operate in?
- Are you a member of a specialist medical college? If so, which one?
- I’m thinking of getting a second opinion. Can you recommend anyone?
Treatment choice, side effects and informed consent
- What are my treatment options? What is the aim of each treatment?
- What treatment do you recommend? What is the expected outcome of the treatment?
- Are there other treatments that you aren’t recommending? Why?
- What should I expect if I don’t have treatment?
- How long will treatment take? Will I have to stay in hospital?
- If this particular treatment does not work, are there other options?
- What is the likely success rate of any surgery or treatment?
- What are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment?
- What is the chance that these complications or side effects will occur?
- What will be done to prevent these side effects?
- Are the side effects immediate, temporary or long-lasting?
- What follow-up care can I expect after treatment?
- Will I need to take medicines long-term after treatment?
Financial impacts
- Are there any out-of-pocket costs not covered by Medicare or my private health cover?
- Can the cost be reduced if I can’t afford it?
- Will I be able to work while having treatment?
Toni Ashmore, Cancer and Ambulatory Services, Canberra Health Services, ACT; Baker McKenzie, Pro Bono Legal Adviser, NSW; Marion Bamblett, Acting Nurse Unit Manager, Cancer Centre, South Metropolitan Health Service, Fiona Stanley Hospital, WA; David Briggs, Consumer; Naomi Catchpole, Social Worker, Metro South Health, Princess Alexandra Hospital, QLD; Tarishi Desai, Legal Research Officer, McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer, VIC; Kathryn Dwan, Manager, Policy and Research, Health Care Consumers Association, ACT; Hayley Jones, Manager, Treatment and Supportive Care, McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer, VIC; Victoria Lear, Cancer Care Coordinator, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Deb Roffe, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Michelle Smerdon, National Pro Bono Manager, Cancer Council NSW.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
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