QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS

There are lots of questions you will feel you need to ask your Doctor at your appointment. I found the best thing to do is to write them all down and ask them. Once you have answers to your questions, it puts your mind at rest about things. This list will be ever growing and there are always new questions popping into your head. Usually AFTER you have had your appointment. Don’t worry though, you can always ask them next time you go.

However if you are worried about anything, please call your Chemo Suite. I found mine very helpful and more than willing to answer any worries I had during my treatment.

The questions in this section were taken from the “Questions for Patients to Ask” booklet, produced by the Commission for Health Improvement and the Audit Commission. After each question they have described the features of a good service to help you understand what should happen at each stage.

This list will cover most of the questions you will need to know in the first stages of being diagnosed, then on to your treatment and palliative care.

Diagnosis

What are you referring me to a consultant for?
How quickly will I be seen? Are you referring me as “urgent” or “non urgent”?
How long will it be before I have all the tests? Where will they be carried out? Will I need to visit several departments?
What are the tests for? How many will I need? Who will give me the results and when?
Will the person doing the test look after me while it is being done? Will they tell me what to expect?
What times are available for me to have my tests, for instance, could they be done in the evening?
Is the doctor I will be seeing a recognised cancer specialist?
Will the doctor have all my test results? Will the meeting be for diagnosis or treatment?
Can I bring someone with me to discusss my diagnosis and treatment?
Will the consultant understand my concerns and give me time to ask questions? Will a specialist nurse be there to help me?
Who can I telephone when I think of questions later? Can I make another appointment to see someone in person? Can I seek a second opinion?
Will someone have passed on the diagnosis and what is planned to my GP? How quickly will this happen?



Treatment and Care

How quickly will the treatment start?
What will the treatment be like and how long will it take? Will there be side effects and what can I do about them?
Is my surgeon a specialist in my form of cancer? Is this important for my type of cancer?Is the doctor prescribing my chemotherapy an oncologist? Will the nurses on hand during the chemotherapy have the right training?Can I have the chemotherapy in my local hospital?Can my surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy be speeded up by being performed outside normal office hours?Will my treatment be discussed by a multidisciplinary team? Does this team include cancer nurses as well as doctors?Will all the hospitals I attend know about my diagnosis and treatment?Who should I contact if I am worried about my diagnosis, treatment or prognosis? What help is available for my family? What patient support groups are there in my area?Will I need special equipment or support when I go home? Will I get this? Does my GP know I am being discharged?Who should I contact if I have questions or concerns, once my treatment has finished?What are the treatment guidelines and standards for my treatment and care? Can I see them?Palliative Care

How quickly will the treatment start?
Who will take responsibility for identifying any new care needs I may have, such as for pain or tiredness? Will someone also offer me and my family support?
Will I be able to talk to a palliative care consultant or a specialist palliative care nurse?
What do I do if I need help overnight or at a weekend?
Who do I go to first if I need help or have questions?
Who else can I talk to about how I am feeling? What support is available for my immediate family?
If I die, will I be able to die where I want?
If I die, who will offer my family support?

DIAGNOSIS

What are you referring me to a consultant for?
What should happen:Cancer Referral Guidelines for GP’s in England were published in 2000 by the Dept of Health. Your GP should use them to determine whether you need to see a consultant.

How quickly will I be seen? Are you referring me as “urgent” or “non urgent”?
What should happen:
If your GP feels you need urgent attention, you should get your first hospital appointment within two weeks.

How long will it be before I have all the tests? Where will they be carried out? Will I need to visit several departments?
What should happen:
Your hospital should organise your tests as quickly as possible. The people looking after you should tell you where the tests will be carried out.

What are the tests for? How many will I need? Who will give me the results and when?
What should happen:
You should be told about the nature and purpose of tests, when you will receive the results and who will give them to you.

Will the person doing the test look after me while it is being done? Will they tell me what to expect?
What should happen:
You should experience minimum discomfort during tests and receive good information and support.

What times are available for me to have my tests, for instance, could they be done in the evening?
What should happen:
Your tests should be organised at a time to suit you.

Is the doctor I will be seeing a recognised cancer specialist?
What should happen:
You should be referred to the appropriate cancer specialist.

Will the doctor have all my test results? Will the meeting be for diagnosis or treatment?
What should happen:
Your test results should be passed quickly to the specialist who will be seeing you. The first meeting is normally to give you the diagnosis.

Can I bring someone with me to discusss my diagnosis and treatment?
What should happen:
You should feel free to bring someone with you when your diagnosis and treatment options are being discussed.

Will the consultant understand my concerns and give me time to ask questions? Will a specialist nurse be there to help me?
What should happen:
The consultant discussing the diagnosis with you should be trained in communication skills and give you sufficient time to ask questions. You can also ask for a specialist nurse to be there to help you.

Who can I telephone when I think of questions later? Can I make another appointment to see someone in person? Can I seek a second opinion?
What should happen:
Someone should be available to discuss your diagnosis and its implications with you after the initial interview either by telephone or during another visit. You have the right to seek a second opinion.

Will someone have passed on the diagnosis and what is planned to my GP? How quickly will this happen?
What should happen:
GP’s should be told quickly about your diagnosis and proposed treatment.

TREATMENT AND CARE

How quickly will the treatment start?
What should happen:
Hospital staff should tell you how long you will need to wait for treatment.

What will the treatment be like and how long will it take? Will there be side effects and what can I do about them?
What should happen:
You should be told what to expect with regard to your treatment.

Is my surgeon a specialist in my form of cancer? Is this important for my type of cancer?
What should happen:
If you have the kind of cancer where evidence shows that it is important, your surgery should be performed by a specialist or sub-specialist. You should feel free to ask your consultant whether this applies to you.

Is the doctor prescribing my chemotherapy an oncologist? Will the nurses on hand during the chemotherapy have the right training?
What should happen:
Chemotherapy, which is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells or prevent or slow their growth, should be prescribed by a doctor who specialises in treating cancer (an oncologist). It’s administration should be supervised by a nurse with appropriate training.

Can I have the chemotherapy in my local hospital?
What should happen:
Chemotherapy should be provided in local cancer units for your convenience.

Can my surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy be speeded up by being performed outside normal office hours?
What should happen:
Your treatment should be carried out efficiently to avoid delays.

Will my treatment be discussed by a multidisciplinary team? Does this team include cancer nurses as well as doctors?
What should happen:
Your treatment plan should be discussed by a multidisciplinary team, which includes cancer nurses and all the main consultants.

Will all the hospitals I attend know about my diagnosis and treatment?
What should happen:
If you attend more than one hospital, your records should be full and accurate in each.

Who should I contact if I am worried about my diagnosis, treatment or prognosis? What help is available for my family? What patient support groups are there in my area?
What should happen:
Good supportive care should be available throughout your treatment. Those looking after you should tell you how to get help, including from sources outside the NHS.

Will I need special equipment or support when I go home? Will I get this? Does my GP know I am being discharged?
What should happen:
Detailed plans should be drawn up to meet your needs at home after you have been discharged from hospital. Your GP should be told when you have been discharged.

Who should I contact if I have questions or concerns, once my treatment has finished?
What should happen:
The people looking after you should tell you who is responsible for your follow up care and provide contact details.

What are the treatment guidelines and standards for my treatment and care? Can I see them?
What should happen:
Each cancer network, which is the network of organisations you may visit during your treatment, should have agreed treatment guidelines and standards.

PALLIATIVE CARE

Who will take responsibility for identifying any new care needs I may have, such as for pain or tiredness? Will someone also offer me and my family support?
What should happen:
Someone should take responsibility for making sure that your needs for palliative care are recognised. If you feel that you have any needs for care, you should ask someone, such as your GP or district nurse about this.

Will I be able to talk to a palliative care consultant or a specialist palliative care nurse?
What should happen:
You should have access to specialist staff for palliative care.

What do I do if I need help overnight or at a weekend?
What should happen:
Good arrangements should be in place for palliative care outside normal office hours and you should be told about these arrangements.

Who do I go to first if I need help or have questions?
What should happen:
Your ongoing care should be coordinated and you should be told by those looking after you who is in charge.

Who else can I talk to about how I am feeling? What support is available for my immediate family?
What should happen:
You and your family should have good practical and emotional support whenever you or they need it.

If I die, will I be able to die where I want?
What should happen:
You should be able to die where you and your relatives choose, with good support for terminal care.

If I die, who will offer my family support?
What should happen:
The people looking after you should take responsibility for ensuring bereavement care is offered to your family.

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