You have your own health history. Talk with your doctor about your risk factors and background with bladder cancer. By talking openly and often with your doctor, you can take an active role in your care.
General Tips for Gathering Information
To make it easier for you to talk to your doctor:
- Bring someone with you. It helps to have another person hear what is said and think of questions to ask. They may also be able to give more details.
- Write down your questions so do you do not forget them.
- Write down the answers you get and make sure you understand what you are hearing.
- Ask for help if you need it. Do not be afraid to ask questions or ask where you can find more information. You have a right to know.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
- Do I have any risk factors for bladder cancer?
- What can I change?
- What makes you think I might have bladder cancer?
- How can we find out if I have bladder cancer or not?
- What tests will I need?
- How accurate are the test results?
- Are the problems just in the bladder or in other places?
- What kinds of treatments will work best for me?
- Will I need more than one type of treatment?
- Will I need to have my bladder removed?
- How will I function after that surgery?
- How long will my treatments last?
- What are the possible side effects of the treatments?
- What's the chance the treatments will cure my bladder cancer?
- How will we know whether the treatments have worked or not?
- Will I have to limit my activities?
- What kinds of changes can I make to help make the treatment more effective?
- What kinds of changes might make me more comfortable?
- Do you have advice about support groups for myself and my family?
- How extensive is my cancer?
- Is it confined to the bladder or has it spread?
- What is the outlook for my type of bladder cancer?
- Do my other health problems change this outlook?
- When done with treatments, how often do I need to be checked to see if it comes back?
References
Getting the most out of your doctor appointment. Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: https://familydoctor.org/tips-for-talking-to-your-doctor. Accessed March 30, 2022.
Questions to ask your doctor about cancer. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/coping/questions. Accessed March 30, 2022.
What should you ask your health care team about bladder cancer? American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/bladder-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/talking-with-doctor.html. Accessed March 30, 2022.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Nicole Meregian, PA
- Update Date: 03/30/2022