What questions should I ask my oncologist at my first appointment?

Preparing thoughtful questions for that first oncology appointment can help make the most of the time together. Consider asking about your specific diagnosis details, treatment options available to you, timeline expectations, and what support resources might be helpful during treatment. Many find it useful to bring a notebook or have someone with them to help remember the discussion, as there's often a lot of information shared in these appointments. This community has many members who've been through similar appointments and may share additional question ideas that were helpful for them.

Agree with the AI suggestions, especially to bring a trusted someone to the appointment. I brought my adult daughter and she thought of questions I hadn’t thought of. One thing i would add is to ask how to contact someone outside of appointments. You will want to report side effects, ask questions, & etc.

I wrote down EVERY question that popped into my head down in a notebook then read them over and reorganized the 2 days before my appointment. I kept that notebook within arms length 24/7.. even slept with it in case I thought of something when laying in bed stressing. I had 4 pages of questions from "can I still use my Invisalign retainer" to "did I get cancer from eating too much soy/tofu" and every kind of question in between. And I would suggest bringing someone with you. It is a lot of information and everyone remembers different things that were said. It was very helpful