Below is a list of questions that could help you decide about the treatment of your breast cancer. You may want the answers to some of the questions straight away, while some may become important later on. Some may not matter to you at all. You can either ask these questions directly, or use them as a guide to put together your own questions.
General questions
- Do you mind if my husband/partner/friend/relative comes with me to the consultation?
- Do you mind if I tape record this consultation?
About breast cancer
- What is early breast cancer?
- Where exactly is my breast cancer?
- Can breast cancer be inherited? Should I be tested for this?
- Can I die from breast cancer?
- What are the chances of the breast cancer coming back in the same breast after treatment?
- What are the chances of getting a new breast cancer in the other breast?
- What are the chances of the breast cancer spreading to other parts of my body after treatment?
- Is it still possible to have children and breastfeed after treatment
for
breast cancer?
About your treatment
- What treatment do you recommend?
- What are the benefits of each treatment?
- What are the risks of each treatment?
- What are the side effects of each treatment?
- How successful are these treatments for breast cancer?
- I’d like a couple of weeks to make a decision – will that make any difference?
- Where do I go for treatment?
- How can I speak with other women who have been treated for breast cancer?
- Are there alternative/complementary treatments that might help me?
- Can I have alternative/complementary and other treatments at the same time?
- Can I take the pill (oral contraceptive pill) while I’m having treatment?
- Can I take the pill after I’ve finished treatment?
- Will I experience menopause early?
- Will my sex life be affected?
- Can I have Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) while I’m having treatment? Can I have HRT after I’ve finished treatment?
- Can I work while I’m having treatment?
- Can I decide to not have a treatment?
- Can I seek another medical opinion?
- What will treatment cost?
