Questions To Ask When someone is newly diagnosed it can be very overwhelming and we want to ask so many questions to our doctors but sometimes just don't know what ! Below are some questions you may wish to ask your doctors and hospital staff which will help you with your cancer diagnosis. When looking for a lymphedema therapist, you should ask the following questions: Where did you get your training? What approach do you use? Vodder, Foeldi, Casley-Smith etc. How many hours of training have you had? (120 to 160 hrs. or more is good) Are you an OT., PT., MT. ? Where did you get your degree? How long have you been doing CDT/MLD ? What certification do you have? What are the differences between Manual Lymphatic Drainage, CPT, CLT and CDP? How many times a week will I have treatment How long will my consultation be? Will I be expected to pay for treatment as it is received, or will the clinic bill my insurance company? Is a pre-authorization required from my insurance company? What is the cost of the program(s) and are the supplies included in the cost? Do you measure for and/or provide medical compression garments following treatment? What kind of results should I expect and will I be taught how to maintain the reduction through      self-massage and/or self-bandaging, as well as partner participation? Will I need a referral or prescription from my doctor for the treatment? Will there be assistance available in emergency situations on weekends and/or evenings? Is there a doctor, APRN, or nurse connected with the facility? How often will I be seen by them? Questions to ask about treatment: Radiation - What will radiation feel like during the treatment? What benefits do you expect from this therapy? What type of radiation therapy will I be getting? How long do the treatments take? How many will I need? How often? Are there any alternatives? What are they? Can I be put on a treatment program that won't interfere with my work? When can I call you to ask further questions? How safe is the procedure? How much will this cost? Do I need to be on a special diet or regimen during these treatments? Do I need to put something special on my skin if I get "burned" by the treatments? What special attention do I need to pay to the area of my body that is being treated? What side effects can I expect? What should I do if side effects occur? What side effects should I report to the doctor? Chemotherapy - What do you expect the drugs to do for me? Who will be giving me these treatments? What are the names of the drugs to be used? How is each one given? How long do the treatments take? How many will I need? How long will the whole series last? Where are the treatments given? What are the possible side effects? What can I do about them? Which side effects should I report to the doctor immediately? Will I be given nauseau medication? Are there alternative nauseau meds available? What happens if I miss a dose? Can I take other medicines during treatment? Will I need a special diet or other restrictions? Can I drink alcoholic beverages during treatment? How much will these treatments cost? What are the risks involved? What are the likely consequences if I don't have this treatment? Please explain in detail why chemotherapy is suggested for me. Questions to ask your surgeon and general questions: Why do you want to do the surgery? What type of breast cancer do I have? What kind of procedure are you recommending? How many of these or similar operations have you personally performed? What are the risks of the surgery? How should I expect to feel after surgery? How disfiguring will the operation be? What are the risks of the surgery? What is the risk of death or serious disability? What will happen if I don't have the surgery? How long will my recovery take? Will I have to have drains, catheters, intravenous lines, transfusions? Am I a candidate for any other type of procedure? What problems, if any, should I report to you? Will surgery effect my arm? If so, why? Will I be given excercise to do? How frequently should I see you for a checkup? When will I know the results of the final pathology? Is it possible for me to have a copy of pathology report? Whom do you suggest I see for a second opinion? Can this surgery be done on an outpatient basis? How long will I be in the hospital? Exactly what will you do -- in simple terms? WIll I be able to call you with any concerns I may have? How much will it cost? Is the surgery covered under my insurance? Should I have a full body bone scan to see if the cancer has spread to my bones? Should I have chest x-ray? Should I have liver ultrasound? Should I have any cat scans or MRI? How often will I be having check ups and for how many years? Questions to ask the anesthesiologist: What medication will I be given before going into the operating room? Who will give me the medication and the anesthesia? How will they be given to me? Will my allergies be a problem? What type of anesthetic will you give me? What are the side effects? What are the risks? How long will the operation take? How long will it be before I wake up? Will I go to a recovery room after the operation? What are your fees? Is a general anesthetic necessary for this operation? Will any of the over-the-counter medicines I'm taking be a problem? Back to Friends in Need