Questions worth asking
at your appointment

Appointments are short.
✅ Tick what you need, print it, and take it with you.

Back to home

🏥When you receive the diagnosis

Take notes or record the conversation (with permission). You don't have to take it all in at once.

Could you tell me the diagnosis and the stage?

→ Accurate information is the ground you make decisions on

What tests and treatments will I need from here?

→ Knowing the whole path helps you prepare yourself

What happens if I don't have treatment?

→ To understand how urgent treatment is

Where can I find information I can trust?

→ So you're not pulled around by what you read online

💊Before treatment begins

There is often more than one way forward. Knowing your options matters.

Are there other treatment options?

→ Surgery, radiotherapy and drug therapy may all be on the table

Why are you recommending this treatment?

→ Going in with understanding makes the load lighter

What side effects should I expect?

→ Knowing in advance keeps panic at bay

How long will treatment take, and will I need to stay in hospital?

→ You'll need this to arrange work and home life

Are there clinical trials I could join?

→ They can open the door to newer treatments

🔄During treatment

Is this symptom caused by the treatment?

→ Just knowing the cause is a relief

Is there anything that would ease the side effects?

→ There often is something that helps

Who do I contact in an emergency?

→ Peace of mind for nights and weekends

Is it safe to take other medicines or supplements?

→ Always check, to avoid interactions

🌱After treatment and follow-up

How often will I have check-ups?

→ Knowing the schedule softens the wait before each scan

What signs of recurrence should I watch for?

→ Vague dread turns into something specific you can watch

Are there lasting effects I should know about?

→ Stamina, memory and hormones, for example

Where can I get support for how I'm feeling?

→ The body may be done treating; the heart often isn't

⚡When recurrence or spread is found

Where has it come back, and how far has it spread?

→ Local or distant changes the whole plan

Is there a different treatment from last time?

→ New options or trials may have appeared since

What is the goal of treatment this time?

→ Cure or quality of life — it changes how you hold it

👶Pregnancy, birth and family planning

Hard to ask, perhaps — but these matter for the life you want.

Will this treatment affect my fertility?

→ Ask about the effect on fertility before you start

Can I freeze eggs or sperm?

→ The window is before treatment starts

How long after treatment before we could try for a baby?

→ Check how long the drugs stay in your system

🔍Second opinion

It is your right, and it helps you go in with confidence.

Could you write me a referral letter?

→ There's no need to hold back

Who are the specialists or centres for this condition?

→ The rarer the condition, the more a specialist's view counts

Is there time to seek a second opinion?

→ Weigh it against how urgent things are

💰Money, work and daily life

Roughly what will treatment cost?

→ Public schemes may cap what you pay out of pocket

Can I keep working through treatment?

→ Weigh up appointment times and side effects

Is there a support centre or a social worker here?

→ Specialists in benefits, care and getting back to work

📝 My own notes

📚 Sources you can trust

Ganjoho (National Cancer Center Japan, in Japanese)
Japan Intractable Diseases Information Center (designated rare diseases)
Find a cancer support centre (designated hospitals across Japan, free consultations)
Cancer telephone line: 0570-02-3410 (weekdays 10:00–15:00 JST, free, in Japanese)

⚠️ A word of caution

Be wary of "this one thing cures it" or "the truth doctors won't tell you". Never change your treatment without talking to your doctor first.

The worries you couldn't voice
at the appointment — say them here.

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and talk it through with a counselor?

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Questions worth askingat your appointment

The worries you couldn't voiceat the appointment — say them here.

Questions worth asking
at your appointment

The worries you couldn't voice
at the appointment — say them here.