Contrary to the views of the media, your doctor is very likely to be trying very hard to help you!  You may be quite nervous in the clinic and so it’s helpful to have a list of questions ready to ask.  These are some suggested questions.

 

General Questions	Brachytherapy
Watchful Waiting	Hormone Treatment
Radical Radiotherapy	Palliative Radiotherapy
Radical Surgery

 

 

 

  1.  Are there any alternative treatments?

  2.  Do I need treatment at all?

  3.  Are there any side-effects from treatment?

  4.  What are my chances for a remission of my illness …… will the treatment work?

  5.  What do you think is the best treatment for me?

  6.  How long to I have to live?

  7.  Has the cancer spread?

  8.  Is there any benefit from vitamins?

  9.  Should I change my diet?

10.  Can I still drink alcohol?

 

 

 

  1.  What are the chances that I will need treatment at some point?

  2.  Why don’t I need treatment?

  3.  What are the benefits of not having active treatment?

  4.  When would I need treatment?

  5.  What symptoms should I look out for?

  6.  How often do you advise that I be seen for follow-up?

  7.  Are there any risks to this approach?

  8.  Does this mean I will never be treated?

  9.  What are the features of my illness that indicates that no active treatment is required?

 

 

 

  1.  What are my chances of cure?

  2.  How long does treatment last?

  3.  Do you have computer planning?

  4.  Do you advise conformal radiotherapy?

  5.  What are the side-effects from treatment?

  6.  What proportion of patients develop impotence?

  7.  What percentage become incontinent?

  8.  Do you advise extra hormone treatment?

  9.  How long do you think that the additional hormone treatment should last?

10.  Do you advise early treatment with Viagra for impotence?

 

 

 

  1.  To be asked tactfully ……..!  Do you do this operation often?

  2.  What are my chances of cure?

  3.  How long will I be in hospital?

  4.  How long does it take to recover from the operation?

  5.  How long is the catheter left in after surgery?

  6.  What is the likelihood of my being sexually potent after surgery?

  7.  What is the chance of my being continent after the operation?

 

 

 

  1.  To be asked with some tact ……… Is this done often in this hospital?

  2.  How many anaesthetics will I require?

  3.  Is this procedure risky?

  4.  Are there any immediate side-effects?

  5.  How long will I be in hospital?

  6.  Are there any long term side-effects?

  7.  Is there any risk of impotence, incontinence or chronic diarrhoea?

  8.  Will I be cured?

  9.  What is my chance of surviving ten years?

10.  Why is this the best treatment for me?

 

 

 

  1.  Do you recommend intermittent treatment?

  2.  Do you advise using a combination of tablets and injections?

  3.  How effective is treatment?

  4.  Is there a chance that things will get worse?

  5.  How long have I got?

  6.  Are there side-effects?

  7.  What are the side-effects of treatment?

  8.  Is there any treatment that is without side-effects?

  9.  What do I do about side-effects?

10.  Is there any treatment for hot flushes or for impotence?

11.  Are there treatments for when and if the illness comes back?

 

 

 

  1.  How many treatments do you recommend?

  2.  Will this help my pain?

  3.  What are the chances that I’ll get better?

  4.  Is there any other choice of treatment?

  5.  Is radioactive strontium a good idea for me?

  6.  Should I expect any side-effects?

  7.  Will I become radioactive and harm other people?