10 Best Questions to Ask Your Oncologist About Chemo for Breast Cancer
Welcome back to Twins4wellness, in this blog post I have created a list of the best chemotherapy questions to ask your oncologist. I learned I had breast cancer in early December 2022 and I started treatment for hormone-positive stage IIb breast cancer later that month. There are many questions to ask your oncologist but when you are diagnosed it is very overwhelming. I have come up with a list of important questions to ask your oncologist about chemotherapy to help empower you through your journey. Write these questions down and make sure to bring a pen and some paper to your next appointment!
Here are the Best Chemotherapy Questions to ask your Doctor:
- How will chemotherapy help me in my specific situation? Will it shrink the breast tumor? Slow the spread of cancer?
- What is the name of the chemotherapy medications that are recommended? What are the main side effects of these chemotherapy drugs? What types of chemotherapy do I need?
- How long will the chemotherapy session last and how frequently will I need to undergo sessions?
- What is the expected timeline for the treatment including breaks and intervals?
- Are there any alternative treatments or complementary therapies that I should consider alongside chemotherapy?
- Will chemotherapy affect my fertility? If so, are there options to preserve fertility?
- Are there any lifestyle changes I should make during chemotherapy? Diet? Smoking? Water consumption? Alcohol consumption? Exercise?
- How will chemotherapy be given? IVS, orally or both. Will I need a port or central line?
- How will chemotherapy impact my life and activities? Will I be able to work? Go to the gym?
- Are there any diet restrictions or recommendations during chemotherapy? Can I drink alcohol during treatment?
These questions are just a start to a list of questions you should ask your oncologist. There will be many more that you will want to ask. I would advise you to write down any question that comes to mind so you remember your question for your next doctor’s appointment. I did not think chemotherapy was as bad as I thought it would be. I’ll be adding more posts about my experience with chemotherapy soon.
