10 questions to ask your oncologist after a breast cancer diagnosis

Before you go in

Appointments go fast. You walk in with a dozen questions and walk out remembering half the answers. That is not your fault: it is a lot of information, delivered at a hard moment.

1. Pick your top three. Circle the three questions below that matter most today. Ask those first, before the time runs out.
2. Bring a second pair of ears. A partner, a friend, a sister. Their only job: write things down.
3. Ask for it in writing. "Could you write that down for me?" is a normal request. So is "Can you say that again more simply?"
4. Ask before you record. Many clinics are fine with you recording the conversation on your phone. Ask at the start.

Understanding where you are

1. What exactly is my diagnosis? Can you write down the type, the stage, and my receptor status? These few words shape every decision that follows. Having them on paper means you can look things up later, and repeat them accurately to any other doctor.

2. What do my test results mean for my options? Are any results still pending? Some decisions wait on results you may not know are coming. Knowing what is still pending tells you when the plan might change.

Your treatment

3. What are my treatment options, which one do you recommend for me, and why? "Why" is the most useful word in the room. It tells you what your team is weighing, and gives you something concrete to think about or discuss.

4. What is the goal of this treatment? The goal can be to cure, to control, or to keep you comfortable. Knowing which one helps you weigh side effects against benefits, and make choices that fit your life.

5. Which side effects should I expect, which ones should I report right away, and who do I call: day, night and weekend? Knowing in advance what is normal and what is urgent saves you from guessing at 2 a.m. Write the number down before you leave.

6. How will we know if the treatment is working, and when will we check? It gives you a timeline, and a moment to ask again.

Your life around treatment

7. How will this treatment affect my work, my family, my fertility, and my daily life? What support is available? Your life does not pause during treatment. Support often exists (nurses, counsellors, financial advice, fertility services), but you usually have to ask for it.

8. Is there a clinical trial I could be eligible for? Trials are not only a last resort. Asking early keeps the option open.

Being heard between appointments

9. If a symptom worries me between appointments, how should I note it down, and how do I get it looked at quickly? Symptoms rarely show up on the day of your appointment. A clear record (what, when, how strong, what helped) is far harder to dismiss than "I haven't felt great". See our free symptom diary.

10. Would a second opinion be useful in my case, and can you help me arrange it? A good team will not be offended. A second opinion can confirm the plan, or bring an option you had not heard of.

One question to end every appointment: "What is the most important thing I should remember from today?"