Sdbtf.org

Questions to Ask Your Doctor 
This is a question list for newly diagnosed brain tumor patients. It is designed to put you in
control of your life again and help you make proactive choices.
Please take a family member or friend to take notes or tape the discussion at all your doctor
appointments. We often are so nervous we only hear part of what is said, or hear it differently
than our significant other. No one gets answers to all these questions at one doctor's appointment,
they are meant for you and your family to think about and discuss with various members of your
entire medical team.
Some patients take paper copies of all their current medications, allergic reactions list and
insurance details to bring to their appointments to cope with the filling out forms frustration. I
hope this helps you and your loved ones discuss and make informed treatment decisions.
PRINT THIS OUT TO PUT IN YOUR MEDICAL NOTEBOOK, OR START ONE
Questions to ask your medical team or doctors and other things to think about especially if he/she
is recommending immediate surgery or radiation for your tumor: Simply being told that surgery
is required tomorrow, or that nothing else but radiation can be done, is not conducive to making
an informed medical decision.
1. What specific operation or procedure are you recommending for my condition?
a. If it were your son or daughter what would you do?  b. Who would you recommend I go to for a second opinion? Note: PLEASE BE SURE to get another opinion, especially if you are not satisfied with your current doctor and your symptoms are still manageable. Perhaps two or more if you want, this is YOUR brain, you AND your loved ones want to be satisfied with your doctor and his team. Human errors sometimes do occur and another doctor might see something that was missed the first time. SURGERY OR RADIATION are both options for some people. Some neurosurgeons are specialists in brain surgery; make sure yours is experienced with your tumor type and location. If they tell you they cannot operate, that does not mean all neurosurgeons would have the same opinion. I think you might find there are almost as many medical opinions, standard, conservative, experimental and aggressive treatment options as there are doctors and equipment. <http://cancerguide.org/second_opinion.html> 2. Do you have any free reading materials or brochures about my tumor?
a. Do you have photos/illustrations or any written information about this procedure or  b. Where can I get additional reading material about my tumor and/or your planned  3. What kind of equipment do you use? Do you have modern MRI guided treatment? How
old is your equipment? Can you explain what kind and how much radiation I will get?
Note: Measured in units called grays. (There are several different types of FSR, IMRT and many
brand names of brain radiation machines like Gamma knife, Electra, Linac Accelerator,
Peacock IMRT, Proton Beam, etc.)
a. Can I have free copies of my printed MRI reports?  b. A free copy of my own set of MRI films?  c. Can I send my MRI films to other major medical locations that have free evaluations 
A couple of more geographic places that give free consultations--this is a good way to get
information and a free second opinion (only the cost of the FED ex copies of your MRI or CT
scans) from some of the best places in the country.
http://www.csmc.edu/nsi/contact.html Cedars-Sinai Neurosurgical
Institute 1-800-CEDARS-1 (1-800-233-2771)
http://www.csmc.edu/ in California
http://www.mc.duke.edu/Duke University Medical Center
http://www.mc.duke.edu 1-800-MED-DUKE (1-800-633-3853) in Virginia
Note: If you ask for personal MRI film copies BEFORE the MRI or CT scan imaging
appointment, it maybe easier to get them for free or at a reasonable cost. If you keep your own
sets, you are always ready for your next appointment and can learn to make your own
comparisons of size and location of tumor.)

4. Are there different ways of treating this condition or doing this procedure?
a. Will you do a biopsy first?  b. Will hormone receptor tests be included in the pathology report?  c. Why do you want to do the operation or procedure one way instead of another? Note: There are several theories and ways to access inside your skull or attach equipment
depending on tumor location and brand name, etc.
5. Why do you think I need this operation or procedure? How soon? To relieve pain? To
reduce my symptoms? To improve my body function? To diagnose my
condition/problem? To save my life?
Note: One doctor may say you need surgery immediately, another one may say you have a few weeks, months or more to consider treatment plans, you will have to choose what you are going to be comfortable with, based on your own symptoms, and the information you have gathered and been given. 6. What are the risks/side effects/complications/benefits associated with my condition or
this procedure and/or medications? And afterwards?
a. Is it written down anywhere for me in printed materials? Did I sign a release?  b. How common are these risks/side effects/complications/benefits?  c. What is the current location and size of my tumor? What functions and parts of  my brain or spinal cord may be effected by this tumor or this treatment? Swelling,(Edema)? Nerve damage? Balance? Vision Paralysis? Weakness?  7. What are the advantages and benefits of this particular surgery or procedure you are
recommending?
a. What is the next most frequently used standard treatment?   b. Its advantages, disadvantages?  c. What will my follow‐up care and medications be like?  d. Will it include annual MRI's or medications for how long? The rest of my life?  8. How long do you anticipate the surgery or this procedure will take? How long will my
family and loved ones have to wait? Hours, days or weeks? Where can they wait?
Note: Most regional or national brain centers have budget housing and there are medical discount airfares and some free flights by volunteer pilots for those in financial need. 9. Is this surgery/radiation procedure considered experimental in any way?
How many times is it performed in the US each year? At your hospital?  Is there a good reason to try something that is not standard? or brand new? 10. How many brain tumor patients with this specific type of condition do YOU treat each
month? Weekly? Annually? Can I meet or talk to some of them?
How does that compare to other doctors/facilities/teaching institutions in this area? Regionally? Nationally?   Note: Cost wise too, can or should I travel far away to a national major medical center for the most well known doctor or treatment and be away from home, family and friends, or is the major regional medical center or university hospital going to have a skilled, competent physician, and team and be more convenient for me and my family and closer for follow-up visits in the future months and years ahead? What if this or complications become a medical crisis or emergency down the road? 11. What are YOUR RESULTS with this condition and this type of surgery or treatment?
Do you think the known benefits outweigh the unknown risks?
Note: Choose a neurosurgeon, radiologist, neuro-oncologist or oncologist who has had plenty of experience. Ask how familiar he or she and their team are with your tumor location, type and their newer treatments and their own new equipment too. 12. What kind of anesthesia and pain killers will be used?
b. What about anti‐seizure meds? c. What side effects might occur?  
13. Are there any medical chemotherapy treatments available that you know of? Clinical
Trials? Go to
14. Should I continue to take all my regular and over the counter medications and
supplements, including thyroid medicines, hormone replacement therapy? Birth
control? What about Norplant? NO Norplant! What if I am pregnant? Or get
pregnant?
Note: These tumors are often thought to be hormone related, some medical researchers say stimulated by pregnancy, progesterone, estrogen and/or perhaps pre-menopause, or menopause especially in females. Maybe ask an endocrinologist about hormone receptor drugs?
15. If I don't do anything about this problem, what's likely to happen? What benefits can
be expected from this therapy? When? What are TIA's? (Transient ischemic attacks)
Stroke symptoms?
16. Is one alternative to immediate surgery or radiation treatment "watchful waiting"?
What are the risks for me if we choose to watch and wait my MRI's for a while or
several years? What if I just want it done right away to avoid an agonizing wait? How
can I reduce stress? What complementary therapies or nutritional foods can I use in
addition?
17. How might this tumor, surgery or treatment option affect me and my family--
financially? Physically? Mentally? And last but not least, emotionally? Now and later
on. Will I have personality changes? Mild brain damage?
18. What is your follow-up plan if this current surgery or treatment does NOT work? How
important is this to know ahead of time? Can it be predicted by biopsy or pathology
report after surgery?
19. How much of the cost of this treatment will my insurance/Medicare cover? How much
will I have to pay out of pocket? Can I try a clinical trial treatment?
Note: You may also have to call your insurance company or HMO for this information, especially if you decide and want to go out‐of‐network and/or out of town. BE POLITE AND PERSISTENT!  20. What effect will this surgery/radiation procedure have on my other medical problems
and medications? What benefits can be expected from this treatment? How long do you
think I might be hospitalized? In ICU?
21. What other medical costs or medications will there be after the surgery or this radiation
procedure? What are the correct doses?
a. Will I need any cognitive therapy? occupational or physical therapy?  b. Neuropsychological testing? Before and/or after treatment?  c. What if I still need more radiation or surgery? When? Why? Who will pay?  22. Can I donate blood before surgery to have on hand in case I need it?
a. Can others donate blood for me too?  b. Do I have time to think about this surgery or treatment? How much time?    c. Note: Donating your own blood before surgery is called "autologous donation." and is not usually needed for most brain surgery, but is done several weeks before surgery. 23. When will I hopefully be discharged from this facility/ hospital/institution?
a. How much medical care or rehab might be needed when I return home?  b. Can my family care for me? Can I get extra help? When can I drive again?  (How,  what kind of home care and how much will it cost?)  24. When will I be able to return to work, full-time, part time, and handle everyday
activities again? What about Disability and Social security payments? Can I talk this
over with a hospital social worker? Now? Later?

25. How long do you think I might need medicine afterwards? How often will I be followed
up? Who do I call and talk to about chronic after effects?
a. How much and how many meds? What are their side effects?  b. What if I become allergic to them? What symptoms should I look for?  26. Do you have a copy of my Advance Directives?
Note: This is about life support decisions. This is a must before any hospital procedure and/or biopsy--no matter how minor. Usually at large hospitals they have a legal notary public available before any surgery or procedure. 27. After this treatment, can I prevent this condition from happening again? Where do
your opinions or statistics come from? How often will I have follow-up MRI's?
Semiannual? Annual?
28. Where can I get a SECOND opinion about this?
Note: Many HMO insurance companies and Medicare pay for a second opinion, but you must often ask specifically. If the doctor protests, instead of recommending another respected doctor for a second opinion, you probably don't want him anyway!) IMHO second opinions should be standard or mandatory, you should not feel intimidated into automatically accepting the first diagnosis or prognosis when your life or the life of your loved one is at risk.

Source: http://www.sdbtf.org/docs/questions-to-ask-your-doctor.pdf