Your time with your doctor is limited, so it is important to prepare your questions and next steps in your course of treatment ahead of time. Your doctor will have many questions for you, but you should come prepared with questions for your doctor. To help make the most of your visit, write down a list of questions and any issues or concerns you may have. You can use the questions below as a starting point for your own customized list or you can add your own. 

Consider bringing a friend or family member with you to your appointment to help listen to the answers. Four ears are generally better than two. You may also want to bring a tape recorder to the appointment and ask your doctor if he or she minds you taping his or her answers so that you don’t miss anything.

Questions about TURBT

• How many times have you performed this procedure?
  
  
• What are the possible side effects of this procedure?
  
  
• Will I need to stay in the hospital after this procedure? If so, for how long?
  
  
• What kind of follow-up care can I expect to receive?
  
  
• How will I feel after the operation?
  
  
• What help will I get if I have pain or discomfort?
  
  

Questions  after Diagnosis/TURBT

• Can you explain my pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?
  
  
• What is the stage of my cancer? What does this mean and how does the stage affect my choice of treatment?
  
  
• What is the grade of my cancer? What does this mean and how does the grade affect my choice of treatment?
  
  
• Is the recurrent disease any different from my original diagnosis and, if so, how?
  
  
• Do I need to have a repeat TURBT? Was there muscle in the biopsy?
  
  
• Was my entire tumor removed during the last TURBT?

• How likely is it that my cancer will spread or become invasive?
  
  
• Do I need to have any x-rays (CT scan, etc.)?
  
  
• What are my treatment options?
  
  
• Are there any clinical trials that might be appropriate for me?

• What treatment plan do you recommend? Why?
  
  
• What is the goal of this treatment?
  
  
• How should I expect to feel during the treatment(s)?
  
  
• What are the possible side effects of this treatment, both in the short term and the long term?
  
  
• How will this treatment affect my daily life? Will I be able to work, exercise, and perform my usual activities?
  
  
• If I’m worried about managing the costs related to my cancer care, who can help me with these concerns?
  
  
• Do I need treatment right away?
  
  
• Will my diet need to be changed or modified?
  
  
• Can you send a copy of your recommendations to my family doctor?
  
  
• What support services are available to me? To my family?
  
  

Questions about intravesical chemotherapy/immunotherapy

• What type of therapy will I be receiving?
  
  
• What drug will I get? How will it be given? What will it do?
  
  
• Why do I need this treatment?
  
  
• How can I prepare for this treatment?
  
  
• How long will I be on this treatment?
  
  
• What side effects can I expect from this treatment? What can be done to relieve the side effects?
  
  
• How many times have you performed this treatment? What is your success rate with cases similar to mine?

• What are the chances of my cancer coming back with this treatment?
  
  

Questions about cystectomy

• Why do I need an operation?
  
  
• What are the risks and benefits of surgery?
  
  
• Will my entire bladder be removed? Will other organs be removed? What kind of operation will it be?
  
  
• What other organs will be removed along with the bladder?
  
  
• What kind of urinary reconstruction options do I have?  Which would you recommend in my case and why?
  
  
• How many times have you performed this operation? What is your success rate with cases similar to mine?
  
  
• What are the possible side effects of my surgery?
  
  
• Will I need to wear a bag?
  
  
• Will I receive a pelvic lymph node dissection with the cystectomy?
  
  
• How long will I need to stay in the hospital after this surgery?
  
  
• Will this surgery affect my sex life? If so, for how long?
  
  
• Will this surgery affect my fertility (ability to bear children)?

• What kind of follow-up care can I expect to receive?

• How will I feel after the operation?
  
  
• What help will I get if I have pain?
  
  
• Can I speak with other bladder cancer survivors who have been through the surgery and/or are living with the urinary reconstruction options I am considering to see how it impacted their lives?
  
  
• Will I be able to go home after hosipital discharge? How much care do I need at home after discharge?
  
  
• Can you recommend someone for a second opinion?
  
  
• When can I return to work?
  
  

Questions after treatment

• What are the chances that the tumor will return?
  
  
• What follow-up tests will I need, and how often will I need them?
  
  
• How can I continue to reduce my chances of recurrence?
  
  
• What support services are available to me? To my family?

Downloadable Printable Checklist >