Ten Questions to Ask Your Doctor After a Diagnosis

by US Department of Health and Human Services

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These 10 basic questions can help you understand your disease or condition, how it might be treated, and what you need to know and do before making treatment decisions.

1. What is the technical name of my disease or condition, and what does it mean in plain English?

2. What is my prognosis (outlook for the future)?

3. How soon do I need to make a decision about treatment?

4. Will I need any additional tests, and if so what kind and when?

5. What are my treatment options?

6. What are the pros and cons of my treatment options?

7. Is there a clinical trial (research study) that is right for me?

8. Now that I have this diagnosis, what changes will I need to make in my daily life?

9. What organizations do you recommend for support and information?

10. What resources (booklets, Web sites, audiotapes, videos, DVDs, etc.) do you recommend for further information?

Seek Out Information

Now that you know your treatment options, you can learn which ones are backed up by the best scientific evidence. "Evidence-based" information - that is, information that is based on a careful review of the latest scientific findings in medical journals - can help you make decisions about the best possible treatments for you.

Evidence-based Information Comes From Research on People Like You

Evidence-based information about treatments generally comes from two major types of scientific studies:

• Clinical trials are research studies on human volunteers to test new drugs or other treatments. Participants are randomly assigned to different treatment groups. Some get the research treatment, and others get a standard treatment or may be given a placebo (a medicine that has no effect), or no treatment. The results are compared to learn whether the new treatment is safe and effective.

• Outcomes research looks at the impact of treatments and other health care on health outcomes (end results) for patients and populations. End results include effects that people care about, such as changes in their quality of life.

Take Advantage of the Evidence-based Information That Is Available

Health information is everywhere - in books, newspapers, and magazines, and on the Internet, television, and radio. However, not all information is good information. Your best bets for sources of evidence-based information include the Federal Government, national nonprofit organizations, medical specialty groups, medical schools, and university medical centers.

Decide on a Treatment Plan

At this point, you have learned about your disease or condition and how it can be treated or managed. Your information may have come from the following sources:

• Your doctor.
• Second opinions from one or more other doctors.
• Other people who are or were in the same situation as you.
• Information sources such as Web sites, health or medical libraries, and nonprofit groups.

Work With Your Doctor To Make Decisions

When you are ready to make treatment decisions, you and your doctor can discuss:

• Which treatments have been found to work well, or not work well, for your particular condition.
• The pros and cons of each treatment option.

Make sure that your doctor knows your preferences and feelings about the different treatments - for example, whether you prefer medicine over surgery.

Once you and your doctor decide on one or more treatments that are right for you, you can work together to develop a treatment plan. This plan will include everything that will be done to treat or manage your disease or condition - including what you need to do to make the plan work. Remember, being an active member of your health care team helps to reduce your chances of medical mistakes, and it helps you get high-quality care.

Take Another Deep Breath

You have taken important steps to cope with your diagnosis, make decisions, and get on with your life. Remember two things:

• Call on others for support as you need it.
• Make use of evidence-based information for any future health decisions.

About the Author

The Department of Health & Human Services is the United States government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. The department includes more than 300 programs, covering a wide spectrum of activities.