Questions to Ask Your Medical Oncology Team

A medical oncologist is a doctor who treats cancer with chemotherapy and other medications. Below is a list of questions that are often talked about before treatment. You can use this list as a guide to help you take notes. It can be helpful to bring someone to your appointments or have them call in to help you take notes.

Before Treatment

• Do I need any scans or lab tests before starting treatment?
• Who decides what my treatment plan will be?
• What is my treatment plan? (Which medications, how often, and what dose?) 
• Can I still take all of my other medications?
• Who will give me my treatment?
• Where will I have my treatment—in the hospital, in the clinic or infusion center, or at home?
• Do I need a central line (a long-term IV, which may also be called a Portacath, Hickman, or PICC line)?
• Is my treatment taken by mouth (oral) or given by an IV (through a vein)?
• What are the common side effects of this treatment?
• What serious side effects should I watch for?
• When should I let you know about side effects?
• Can I take anything to help with side effects?
• Who do I call if my side effects don’t get better with medication?
• Who do I call if I have questions or concerns when I am at home?
• Do I need to take any special precautions at home? Does my caregiver?
• How do I practice safe sex during treatment?
• Are there any late or long-term side effects of my treatment?
• How much will my treatment cost?
• Will my insurance cover my treatment?
• If my insurance doesn’t cover all of the costs, is there help available?
• What if I need to reschedule an appointment?

After Treatment

• How often will I see you or another provider from the team after I finish treatment?
• Will I need scans or lab tests after treatment?
• How will we know if the treatment worked?
• What happens if the treatment doesn’t work?
• Will I need physical or occupational therapy during or after treatment?
• Will I get a survivorship care plan and treatment summary after treatment?
• Will you talk to my primary care provider about my treatment?

If you have more questions or concerns after any of your appointments, make sure to contact your provider’s office.