What should you ask your doctor about malignant mesothelioma?

As you cope with cancer and its treatment, you need to have honest, open discussions with your doctor. You should feel free to ask any question, no matter how small it might seem. Here are some questions you might want to ask. Nurses, social workers, and other members of the treatment team may also be able to answer many of your questions.

• What kind of mesothelioma do I have?

• Has my cancer spread beyond where it started?

• What is the stage (extent) of my cancer, and what does that mean in my case?

• Is my cancer likely to be resectable (removable by surgery)?

• Are there other tests that need to be done before we can decide on treatment?

• Are there other doctors I need to see?

• How much experience do you have treating this type of cancer?

• Should I get a second opinion?

• What treatment options do I have?

• What is the goal of treatment?

• What do you recommend and why?

• What risks or side effects are there to the treatments you suggest?

• What should I do to be ready for treatment?

• How long will treatment last? What will it involve? Where will it be done?

• How will treatment affect my daily activities?

• What would we do if the treatment doesn’t work or if the cancer recurs?

• What type of follow-up might I need after treatment?

Along with these sample questions, be sure to write down some of your own. For instance, you might want more information about recovery times. Or you may want to ask if you qualify for any clinical trials.