Bone Cancer Questions

By asking bone cancer questions about your diagnosis, testing procedures, treatment options, and more, you can take a proactive role in making decisions about your medical care and cancer treatment. Because it can be difficult to remember all of the bone cancer questions you want to ask the doctor, you might find it helpful to make a list prior to your appointment.

Bone Cancer Treatments

Bone Cancer Questions: An Introduction

Many people with bone cancer want to take an active part in making decisions about their medical care and their bone cancer treatment. However, the shock and stress after a bone cancer diagnosis can make it hard to think of everything to ask the doctor. Some patients find that it is helpful to make a list of bone cancer questions prior to their appointment with their doctor.

Bone Cancer Questions to Ask Before a Biopsy

Questions to ask the doctor prior to a biopsy include:

What type of biopsy will I have? Why?
How long will it take? Will I be awake? Will it hurt?
How soon will I know the results?
Are there any risks? What is the chance of infection or bleeding afterward?
If I do have cancer, who will talk with me about treatment? When?

Bone Cancer Questions to Ask Before Treatment

Questions to ask the doctor prior to treatment for bone cancer include:

What kind of bone cancer do I have?
Has the cancer spread? What is the bone cancer stage?
Do I need any more tests to check for spread of the disease?
What is the grade of the tumor?
What are my bone cancer treatment choices? Which do you recommend for me? Why?
What are the expected benefits of each kind of treatment?
What are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment?
What is the treatment likely to cost?
How will treatment affect my normal activities?
How often should I have checkups?
Would a bone cancer clinical trial (research study) be appropriate for me?

(Bone Cancer Questions Continued: Page 2)