Surgical Oncologist
- Why do I need this surgery?
- What are my surgical options?
- Is the procedure performed on an inpatient or outpatient basis?
- Will I receive general or local anesthesia?
- Do you recommend any treatments prior to surgery to shrink the tumor?
- What is the recuperation process?
- How long before I can resume my normal lifestyle?
Medical Oncologist
- Please explain my diagnosis.
- What stage is my disease?
- What treatments are available and appropriate for my diagnosis?
- What are the cure/remission rates for this treatment?
- What results do you expect?
- How will you know if the treatment is working?
- Are there clinical trials available?
- Could the recommended treatment cause a secondary problem (i.e., lung, heart, kidney, damage/disease, fertility problems)?
Radiation Oncologist
- What is the goal of this treatment? Is it to eliminate cancer?
- What are the chances that this treatment will prevent cancer from coming back?
- What are the potential side effects of this treatment?
- (long and short term side effects especially to the heart, lung, spinal cord, esophagus) Will I burn?
- How can I ease the side effects?
- How is the radiation planned in order to limit the radiation to the heart, lung, spinal cord, and other critical structures?
- How often will I receive radiation therapy? What is the duration of each treatment, and what is the course of radiation?
- If I decide to have reconstructive surgery, how would radiation therapy affect my treatment plan?
- Will this treatment affect my fertility in the future?
- Will I be radioactive and a danger to my loved ones?
- How will this treatment affect my daily life? Will I be able to work, exercise, and perform my usual activities?
- What is the time frame for me to make a decision?
Breast Reconstruction Specialist
- Am I a candidate for breast reconstruction?
- What types of breast reconstruction are available?
- Which type(s) am I a candidate for?
- What are the disadvantages and advantages of each type?
- How will my other treatments (i.e., chemotherapy and radiation) affect my reconstruction?
- Will the reconstruction match my other breast?
- How will the reconstructed breast feel?
- Will I need to have surgery again in the future?
- How will weight change or pregnancies affect reconstruction surgery?
- How and when can the nipple and areola be reconstructed?
- What are the costs involved with breast reconstruction? Will my insurance cover the surgery?
- Tell me about your training and experience with reconstruction. (Are you board certified? How many cases do you do a year?)