GUIDE FOR CARE AND SUPPORT DURING SERIOUS ILLNESS

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Chapter 1: Communicating with your doctor: Questions and Answers

At Diagnosis: A 'Print and Take' Form of
Important Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• What serious illness do I have? Please also explain in non-medical or non-technical terms. Where can I get more information about this illness?
  
  

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• Are more tests needed? A second opinion?
  
  

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• What treatment options are there? What do you recommend? Why?
  
  

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• What risks and side effects are there to these treatments?
  
  

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• What would happen without any treatment?
  
  

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• What do you expect to happen to me in the next 3-6 months?
  
  

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• What medicines are you prescribing for me? What are their side effects?
  
  

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• What other supportive services can you recommend? Do you work with a home health agency? When would it be appropriate for a home health or hospice care referral?
  
  

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• How do I contact you? If you are not available, with whom do I speak? In case of an emergency, what should I do? How do you want to communicate with family members?
  
  

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• I understand my diagnosis, treatment, medications, and next steps are:
  
  

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Created by Compassionate Choices.

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Next page: Chapter 1: During treatment: Gaining the information, care, and support you need