Ten Important Questions to Ask Your Doctor After a Diagnosis
These 10 basic questions can help you understand your disease or condition, how it might be treated, and what you need to know and do before making treatment decisions.
1. What is the technical name of my disease or condition, and what does it mean in plain English?
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2. What is my prognosis (outlook for the future)?
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3. How soon do I need to make a decision about treatment?
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4. Will I need any additional tests, and if so what kind and when?
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5. What are my treatment options?
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6. What are the pros and cons of my treatment options?
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7. Is there a clinical trial (research study) that is right for me?
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8. Now that I have this diagnosis, what changes will I need to make in my daily life?
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9. What organizations do you recommend for support and information?
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10. What resources (booklets, Web sites, audiotapes, videos, DVDs, etc.) do you recommend for further information?