Questions you may want to ask your doctor or nurse when you are considering immunotherapy:
- What type of cancer do I have?
- How much experience do you have in treating this specific type of cancer?
- What stage is my cancer?
- What does this stage mean for my treatment and prognosis?
- What genetic testing has been done to classify and identify the specifics of my cancer?
- Are there additional tests (genetic sequencing, mutational analysis, etc.) that could be done to help gather specific information to aid in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment?
- What kind of treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, etc.) are potential options for me?
- What are the goals of these treatment options? (to cure the cancer, control the cancer, or improve quality of remaining life?)
- What are the potential risks and benefits of each treatment option?
- What are the potential side effects and how might we be able to manage them?
- What is the cost of these treatment options and are they covered by insurance?
- What options are available to help me with these costs?
- What clinical trials are available to me?
- Where can I get more information on all cancer clinical trials?
- Where can I get a second opinion? Both locally and nationally?
- Can I have a copy of my pathology report and all my test results?
- Where is my biopsy stored and will it be available for second opinions and additional or future tests?
- Who is part of my health care team, what are their roles and how can I reach them?
- What is the best way to reach someone from my health care team?
- When will I get a written report that includes treatment options and specifics about my cancer diagnosis?
- What support organizations are available to me and my caregivers?