My doctor always seems to be in a rush. How can I get him to answer all my questions?

Q: My doctor always seems to be in a rush. How can I get him/her to answer all my questions? 

A: As your treatment progresses, you may have different questions and concerns than you did when you were first diagnosed. If you see other members of your health care team more often than you see your doctor, you may want to bring some of your questions to them.

To prepare yourself for talking with your doctor, write down your questions beforehand and bring them with you. If you have a lot of questions, call the doctor’s office and ask if you can have extra time or a separate consultation appointment.

During the visit, ask for further explanation if you don’t understand, or are unclear about, something the doctor has said. This is your treatment, and there are no dumb questions. Write down the answers and use a tape recorder, if possible, so you can later review what the doctor said. If your doctor continues to hurry through your questions, you need to discuss the situation openly. Having good communication between the two of you is vital for your treatment and recovery.
--Bernice Crook, RN, OCN

Use the Caring4Cancer Symptom Tracker to make it easier to show your doctor when and how side effects have been occurring.