“What Did the Doctor Say?” How to Prepare Patients for Medical Appointments

Visiting a medical specialist can be overwhelming, especially if it’s for a new or worsening cancer diagnosis. You don’t know what you don’t know, and you may fear the worst.

Many patients are not sure what questions to ask. The care team is familiar with medication names, test results, and treatment protocols that will be new to most patients. Patients may feel confused, scared or numb. The care team is focused on their disease and how to treat it, and the patient is focused on their life and how this will change or end it.

As nurses, we strive to provide clarity so that patients can be an active partner in their medical journey and leave their appointment with a gameplan and hope. We understand the path they will tread and want to help in every way possible. To make patients able to make the most informed decisions about care, we can help them take time to prepare for upcoming visits.

What to Tell Patients:

• Choose a family member or friend to accompany you to your appointment and be an extra set of eyes and ears. Consider recording the visit with your phone. If someone cannot be present, you can also have someone call your phone and put it on speaker during your visit.
• Bring a list of all medications and supplements you take along with any records from other medical facilities that your medical team may not have. Do not begin to take any new supplements before reviewing them with your oncology team.
• Create a notebook with diagnoses, symptoms, test dates, results, and any related notes to which you and your loved ones can refer. You can ask for copies of all those items to put into the notebook. This can help you have a sense of knowledge and control.
• Research your diagnosis using only trusted medical organizations such as the American Cancer Society, health networks such as the Mayo Clinic, and other sites your team recommends. The internet is a wonderful source of information when you search accurate sites. Always discuss any information you find with your medical team.
• Prepare questions and plan to write the answers in your notebook. Repeat back what you hear (“So you are saying…”) to make sure you understand. Don’t allow anyone to rush you. Some questions you may want to include:
  • What is my diagnosis in simple terms?
  • Do I need a second opinion?
  • Is this curable? How treatable is my disease?
  • What is the next step?
  • Will I need scans, biopsies or other testing?
  • What is the standard treatment for my diagnosis?
  • Are there alternative treatments to consider?
  • What happens if this is not treated?
  • What are the success rates for the treatment you recommend?
  • Are there lifestyle changes I should make during treatment?
  • Where and how often will treatment take place? How long does treatment take?
  • Can someone come with me to my treatment?
  • What kinds of support do you offer? Do you have support groups? Social workers?
  • Will my health insurer pay for the treatment I need?
  • Do you have any financial assistance if my insurance does not cover this?
  • What is recovery like?

These questions are a sample of the kinds you may have. No matter what they are, your care team is in partnership with you, and you should feel free to ask questions. By being prepared in advance as much as possible, you transform your role from passive patient to active partner in your journey.