Questions for the doctor
- What's the goal of this treatment?
- How will the radiation therapy be given? Internal or external radiation?
- Will I also need other treatment, like chemotherapy or surgery?
- If so, in what order will the different treatments be given?
- How many radiation treatments will I get? Over what period of time?
- What happens if I have to miss a treatment?
- Where will I get treatment?
- When will radiation start? When will it end?
- How will I feel during radiation?
- How long will radiation take each day?
- Will I be able to carry on my normal activities?
- Will there be limits on what I can do, such as working or exercising?
- How long does it take after the simulation scan to start treatment?
- Do I need to be on a skin care regimen during treatment?
- Can I drive myself to treatments or do I need someone to bring me?
- What are the possible short-term and long-term side effects I should watch for? What side effects should I report?
- Who do I contact for side effects? Is there a different contact number after office hours and on weekends and holidays?
- Are there late side effects I need to know about?
- How long will it take me to recover from the side effects of treatment?
- Will this treatment affect my ability to have children?
- What are the chances treatment will work?
- How will we know if it's working?
- Are there any other treatment choices we should talk about?
- What can I do to get ready for treatment and to take care of myself during treatment?
- Are there any clinical trials that I should think about?
- Does my insurance cover the treatments? Do I have a copay?
- Can I be near children or pets while getting radiation?
- Are there other types of radiation therapy that may work for my cancer?
- Does this center offer the latest technology or methods for radiation treatment?
- Have you and your team treated my kind of cancer before?
- Should I get a second opinion? Do you have someone you can recommend?
- May I use complementary or alternative therapies during radiation?
- Can I take all my usual medicines during treatment?
- Should I change my diet during radiation therapy?
- Where can I learn more about radiation therapy?
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Date Last Reviewed: 08/31/2025
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