What should I ask at my first oncology appointment?

A first oncology visit usually covers three things: what your treatment options are, what the actual sessions will look like, and how treatment might affect your day-to-day life. The National Cancer Institute suggests asking about the treatment options for your type and stage of cancer, the benefits and risks of each, and what your doctor recommends and why.

It also helps to ask logistics questions: where you'll go for treatment, how it's given, how long each session takes, and how many sessions to expect. Asking whether a family member or friend should come with you can help you plan ahead.

For daily life, useful prompts include how you're likely to feel after each treatment, whether you'll be able to keep working, and whether treatment might affect your appetite. If you're weighing your options, it's also reasonable to ask whether a clinical trial might be worth considering.

You don't need to ask everything in one visit. Writing your top questions down beforehand — and bringing someone to help you remember the answers — makes a first appointment easier to get through.