When Facing Cancer, Don't Be Afraid To Ask Questions
- There is no one-size-fits-all approach to prostate cancer treatment, and the path forward may vary based on your cancer’s characteristics, your overall health, and your personal values.
- Patients should feel comfortable bringing questions and concerns to their medical team — about options, potential side effects, and more.
- Experts recommend patients ask about their doctors experience, the potential outcomes for the recommended treatment, what surveillance will be like after treatment — and to seek out a second opinion if they are uncertain.
“Any man who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer — when they see a urologist, urologic oncologist, radiation oncologist — should ask very basic questions,” Dr. Shirin Razdan, director of the robotic surgery department at the Comprehensive Urological Surgery Institute in Miami, tells SurvivorNet. “How many patients have you treated with my specific cancer? And that means my Gleason score, my PSA, MRI findings — and what have their outcomes been?”
Read MoreHow Much Experience Do You Have?
One of the first and most important questions to ask is about your doctor’s experience — both in general and specific to your situation. Prostate cancer is a broad term that encompasses many different disease presentations. It ranges from slow-growing tumors that may never cause harm to aggressive forms that require urgent intervention.Knowing whether your doctor has extensive experience treating your specific risk category — be it low-risk localized cancer, high-risk disease, or metastatic cancer — can help you gauge the expertise behind the treatment recommendations.
Some follow-up questions may include:
- How many prostate cancer patients do you treat each year?
- Do you specialize in a particular treatment modality (e.g., surgery, radiation)?
- Are you part of a multidisciplinary team that includes urologists, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists?
A physician who regularly treats patients in your category is more likely to be up-to-date with the latest clinical guidelines and nuanced in the use of cutting-edge technologies and treatment approaches.
“It’s not an unfair question to ask your treating physician. You are essentially trusting your life to this individual, and you want to know what their outcomes are,” Dr. Razdan explains.
What Are The Most Common Outcomes?
Once you’ve established your doctor’s experience, the next logical question is about expected outcomes. However, this is not a simple answer. Outcomes can include several aspects: cancer control, survival rates, quality of life, and side effects.
Ask your doctor to be specific about outcomes. This may include questions like:
- What is the likelihood that my cancer will be cured with the treatment you are recommending?
- What are the chances of recurrence?
- What is the impact of this treatment on urinary, sexual, and bowel function?
These questions help you weigh not just the effectiveness of the treatment but also the potential impact on your lifestyle. For example, some treatments are associated with higher risks of incontinence or erectile dysfunction, while others may carry a longer timeline for recovery.
If your doctor uses risk calculators or predictive tools (such as the CAPRA or MSKCC nomograms), ask them to walk you through the results so you understand your individual risk profile and prognosis.
What Is Post-Treatment Surveillance Like?
Treatment for prostate cancer does not end once the radiation sessions are over or after surgery is completed. Ongoing monitoring is a crucial part of prostate cancer management, regardless of the initial treatment modality.
Surveillance typically includes:
- Regular PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing
- Periodic physical exams
- Imaging (in select cases)
- Assessment of long-term side effects
Ask your doctor:
- How often will I need follow-up visits?
- What signs should I watch for that may indicate recurrence?
- Will I need additional treatment down the line?
- If my cancer comes back, what are my options?
Understanding what lies ahead after treatment helps set realistic expectations and reduces anxiety. Surveillance schedules can vary depending on your initial cancer risk, the type of treatment you received, and how well you respond. Knowing this up front prepares you for the long-term nature of prostate cancer care.
Should I Get A Second Opinion?
Asking for a second opinion is not only reasonable — it’s encouraged. Prostate cancer is a field where multiple valid treatment options may exist for the same patient, especially in cases of localized cancer. For example, a patient with favorable intermediate-risk disease may be a candidate for surgery, radiation, or even active surveillance.
Reasons to seek a second opinion include:
- To confirm the diagnosis and stage of disease
- To hear a different perspective on treatment options
- To explore clinical trials or emerging therapies
- To feel more confident in the path you’re choosing
Most doctors welcome second opinions and may even recommend a colleague or another institution for review. This is especially true in complex or borderline cases. Large academic centers and cancer institutes often offer multidisciplinary clinics where you can meet with a urologist, radiation oncologist, and medical oncologist in a single visit.
Additional Questions To Ask Your Doctor
In addition to the “core four,” here are some other valuable questions that patients often find helpful:
- What are all my treatment options?
- What are the short-term and long-term side effects?
- How urgent is treatment?
- How will this treatment affect my daily life?
- What resources are available for support?
Content independently created by SurvivorNet with support from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.
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