World Cancer Day 2021: 5 questions every Cancer patient should ask their doctor before the treatment

World Cancer Day is observed annually on February 4 to raise awareness against the chronic disease and encourage its prevention, detection and treatment. This day is led by the Union for International Cancer Control. The primary goal of this day is to reduce the illness all over the world and the rate of death caused by this.

Dealing with a chronic disease like cancer is not easy for the patients. At first, things might seem to be very complex and confusing. It might get even hard to realise what’s going on with you. So, at this moment, the only thing that matters is to focus on your treatment. So, here are 5 questions that you should ask your doctor after getting diagnosed with cancer.

The current stage of cancer that you have?

This is one of the most important questions to ask your doctor. Knowing what type of cancer you have and its stage will help you to ease your confusion giving you some clarity. So, first, talk to your doctor about its stage.

What are the first steps?

Next question is what are the steps of the treatment. Do you need surgery or chemotherapy or radiation or all of them? Knowing this will help you to plan and prepare yourself accordingly for the treatment. This will also give you clarity about the complexity of cancer treatment.

Timeline of your treatment?

Each cancer patient is different from each other and so is their treatment procedure. So, talk to your doctor about the timeline of your cancer treatment. From when you have to start the treatment after your diagnosis? What to expect during the treatment? When you can get back to your normal life? These are some of the common questions that you can ask your doctor.

Purposes of this treatment?

Cancer treatment depends on its stage and type. Patients generally think that the purpose of the treatment is to get rid of cancer. But many cancer treatments are done to slow down the progression of the disease. So, talk to your doctor properly about the aim of the treatment.

Whom can you call for further clarifications?

After the consultation, you may forget certain information regarding the disease after getting back to home. Because currently, there are many things going on in your head. So, to be on the safe side, ask your doctor, whom can you call if you need any further clarification? There should be a helpline number to clear all your doubts when you need it.

ALSO READ: Cancer etiquettes: Tips on how to converse with a Cancer patient