First oncology visit guide

Questions to Ask an Oncologist at Your First Visit

Your first oncology appointment can bring a lot of new information at once. Use this practical checklist to understand your diagnosis, discuss possible next steps, and leave knowing what happens next.

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Quick checklist

The 10 questions to start with

You may not need every question on this page. Start with the questions that fit your situation, then add your own.

01What type of cancer do I have, and what does the pathology report tell us?
02What is the stage or extent of the cancer? Has it spread?
03Do I need any more tests before we make a treatment decision?
04What is the goal of treatment in my situation?
05What treatment options should we consider, and why do you recommend this one?
06Could biomarker or molecular testing affect my treatment or clinical-trial options?
07How soon do I need to decide or begin treatment?
08What side effects should I expect, and which ones require an urgent call?
09Should another specialist or another opinion be part of this decision?
10Are there clinical trials that are reasonable to consider now?

Prepare

Before the visit

If you can, bring or arrange access to your pathology reports, scan reports and imaging, recent lab results, treatment records, and a current list of medications and supplements. Include major medical conditions, allergies, prior surgeries, and relevant family history.

Write down your most important concerns before the visit. You may also want to bring someone you trust to listen, take notes, and help you remember follow-up questions. Ask the care team before recording any part of the conversation.

Questions about your diagnosis and testing

What specific type and subtype of cancer do I have?
What is the stage, grade, or extent of the cancer?
Has it spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the body?
Is the diagnosis confirmed, or are any findings still uncertain?
Do you recommend that the pathology or imaging be reviewed again?
What additional blood tests, imaging, biopsies, or other tests are needed?
What information will those tests add, and could the results change the plan?

A pathology report often contains details that help define the diagnosis and may influence which treatments are considered. Ask your oncologist to explain the findings in plain language and identify anything that is not yet known. NCI: Questions about your diagnosis

Questions about treatment options and goals

What is the goal of treatment: cure, reducing the chance of recurrence, controlling the cancer, relieving symptoms, or something else?
What are the reasonable treatment options for my type and stage of cancer?
Which option do you recommend, and what makes it the best fit for me?
What are the potential benefits and risks of each option?
Is treatment usually given in a particular sequence?
How soon do I need to decide or begin?
How will we know whether the treatment is working?
What would make us change the plan?

It is reasonable to ask why a treatment is being recommended and what alternatives exist. The answer may depend on the cancer’s type and stage, test results, other health conditions, previous treatments, and your priorities. NCI: Questions about cancer treatment

Questions about biomarkers and molecular testing

Has my tumor already been tested for biomarkers that matter for this cancer?
Could biomarker, molecular, or genomic testing affect my treatment options?
Is the available tissue sample sufficient, or would another sample be needed?
When should testing happen so the results are available before a decision?
Could the results point to a targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or clinical trial?
What are the limitations of the test, and what would a negative or uncertain result mean?

Biomarker testing can identify features of a cancer that may help guide treatment or trial options. Its usefulness and timing vary by cancer type, stage, and clinical situation, so ask what is appropriate in your case. NCI: Biomarker testing for cancer treatment

Questions about side effects and everyday life

What side effects are most common with this treatment?
Which symptoms should prompt an urgent call or emergency care?
What can we do to prevent or manage side effects?
Could treatment have long-term or lasting effects?
Could it affect fertility, sexual health, memory, or nerve function?
How might treatment affect work, driving, exercise, eating, or caring for family?
Who should I contact after hours, and how quickly should I expect a response?

Ask for clear instructions about whom to call and which symptoms should not wait. Do not rely on a general online checklist for urgent-care decisions; use the instructions from your own care team. NCI: Treatment and side-effect questions

Questions about specialists and your care team

Which type of oncologist should lead my care?
Do I need input from a surgeon, radiation oncologist, pathologist, genetic counselor, or another specialist?
How much experience does this team have with my specific cancer or situation?
Would another opinion help before I commit to a plan?
Is there a cancer center or specialist with expertise that could change the options available?
Who coordinates care if several specialists are involved?

Cancer care is often multidisciplinary. Ask who is responsible for the overall plan, who will explain test results, and who you should contact between visits.

Questions about clinical trials

Are there clinical trials that are reasonable to consider at this point?
How does a trial option compare with the standard treatments available to me?
What is the purpose of the trial, and what evidence supports the approach?
What tests, visits, travel, or costs would participation involve?
What are the possible risks and benefits?
Who would be responsible for my care during the trial?
What other treatment choices would remain available if I do not join—or if I leave—the trial?

Clinical trials are one possible care option, not automatically a last resort or the right choice for everyone. Eligibility and relevance depend on the specific study and the details of your case. NCI treatment questions · NCI clinical-trial checklist

Before you leave

Confirm the next step

What are the next one or two decisions we need to make?
What tests, records, or appointments are needed first?
When will results be available, and who will explain them?
What should I do if I think of more questions later?
Can you summarize the plan in writing or add it to my visit notes?

Repeat the plan back in your own words. This gives the care team a chance to correct misunderstandings before you leave.

Get help preparing for the conversation

A general checklist can help you get started. Sagely Health’s free report can help identify questions connected to your diagnosis, prior treatment, test results, and goals—including potentially relevant treatments, diagnostics, specialists, cancer centers, and clinical trials.