Questions for Your Provider

• Why is chemotherapy recommended for me?
• How will chemotherapy affect my risk of having local recurrence, distant metastasis or a new breast cancer? Please explain the differences to me.
• What was the hormone receptor status of my tumor? Was it estrogen receptor-positive or progesterone receptor-positive (ER+ or PR+)? How does this affect my treatment plan?
• What was the HER2/neu status of my tumor? How does my HER2/neu status affect my treatment plan?
• Was cancer found in the lymph nodes? How many of my nodes had cancer? How does this affect my treatment plan?
• Should I have chemotherapy even if my lymph nodes do not have cancer?
• Are there extra tests that could or should be done on my tumor to decide whether I should have chemotherapy?
• What chemotherapy drugs do you recommend? Why have you chosen these drugs for me?
• What are my estimated risks of recurrence and chance of survival with these drugs? How do these numbers compare with those for other therapy options, including a plan without chemotherapy?
• What are the side effects and long-term risks of chemotherapy?
• Which side effects should I report to you right away?
• In what form and how often will the treatment be given? Will I need someone to come with me to the treatment sessions? Will someone need to drive me home?
• How long will each treatment take? How many treatments will I have?
• What medicines will you give me to help reduce the side effects of chemotherapy? How and when should I take them?
• Can I continue to work, exercise, etc. during these treatments? Are there special precautions I should take while on chemotherapy or afterwards?
• Can I have sex during chemotherapy?
• Are there any other medications or complementary therapies I need to avoid during my treatment?
• Should I continue to see my internist/general practitioner and gynecologist during my treatment?
• Where can I find a support group for people living with breast cancer (or cancer in general)?
• Who will be responsible for my follow-up care after treatment is over?
• How often should I return for an exam, X-rays or other tests?
• Will the cost of treatment be covered by my health insurance?
• If I lose my hair during chemotherapy, where can I buy a wig? When should I do this? How do I get reimbursed from my insurance company?
• What do I need to consider before treatment begins if I would like to have a child after I have been treated for breast cancer?
  

Learn more about talking to your health care provider.

Updated 08/24/09

Long-Term Side Effects of Chemotherapy