M. D. ANDERSON ONCOLOG

House Call

How to Talk with Your Doctor

Advances in cancer treatments and the explosion of cancer research and clinical trials in the past few years mean more treatments are available for patients with cancer. Often, patients are faced with several treatment options that could lead to the same outcome but have different limitations and side effects. So how do you know which treatment is right for you? With the help of your doctor and the support of family and friends, you can gain a better understanding of your disease and make informed decisions about your treatment.

Communication involves not only understanding what your doctor tells you but also making your needs and wants clear to your doctor. Below are some tips for talking with your doctor that will help you leave his or her office informed of your options and able to make important decisions.

Before your appointment:
Decide what type of doctor-patient relationship you want. Do you want your doctor to describe your options and leave the decisions to you, offer suggestions for the treatment plan, or make the decisions for you? Be sure to let your doctor know which kind of relationship you prefer so he or she can act accordingly.

If you decide that you want to make some or all of the decisions regarding your treatment, you will need to be prepared. Do as much research as possible through sources such as medical journals, Internet sites, and your telephone. Good online sources of information are the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org), the National Cancer Institute (www.cancer.gov), and the Cancer Information Service (CIS) (cis.nci.nih.gov). CIS also has a toll-free telephone number (1-800-4-CANCER).
Write all the questions that you have on a notepad, and take it with you to your appointment. Be sure to ask all of your questions, and don't be embarrassed about writing down your doctor's answers. Doctors appreciate a patient's desire for knowledge and communication. Here are some questions you might consider asking:
Although you will probably see several doctors during the course of your cancer treatment, it may be helpful to choose one doctor as your primary source of information and establish a level of trust with that doctor. This will allow you to feel secure in the recommendations of your doctor and in your treatment plan.
At your appointment:
Bring a friend or family member to the appointment with you for moral support and to help you ask questions and remember important information.
If you don't understand something your doctor tells you, keep asking questions until you do. Understanding your options is vital to helping you make decisions that are right for you.
Tape record the visit so that you can listen again at home. This way, you can replay the doctor's words as often as you want to increase your level of understanding. Just be sure to ask the doctor's permission to record first.
Before your appointment ends, make sure you know what the next step in your treatment plan is. Will you need to set up another appointment? Arrange for tests at another location? Make an appointment with another doctor?
After your appointment:
Based on what your doctor told you during your appointment, you may want to conduct more research on the particulars of your treatment options when you get home.
What if you think of one more question after you arrive home from your appointment? Before leaving your doctor's office, find out how he or she prefers to communicate--perhaps by telephone or e-mail.
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For more information, contact your physician or contact the M. D. Anderson Information Line:
(800) 391-1611 within the United States, or
(713) 792-6161 outside the United States.
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M. D. ANDERSON ONCOLOG
Volume 45, Number 12 (December 2000)
Copyright 2000 The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas