Questions to ask: metastatic breast cancer diagnosis

Knowing what to ask your treating team can help you to make the best decisions about your treatment and care based on your individual situation. Everyone's situation is different.

Below are some questions that others living with metastatic breast cancer have told us are helpful to ask.

Questions to ask your medical oncologist or breast care nurse

• What is metastatic breast cancer and what does it mean for me?
• What type of metastatic breast cancer do I have and where in my body has it been found?
• What will happen now? Do I need more tests? What information will the test results provide?
• What treatment will I have, how will it be given and what are the possible side effects?
• Will I have to pay for my treatment?
• Can I have treatment in a public hospital so I don’t have to pay or can I access any financial assistance programs?
• Is there specific information available for my needs?
• Can you help me connect with other people who have metastatic breast cancer?
• Is there a metastatic support group at this hospital?
• Is there a breast care nurse I can see who specialises in metastatic breast cancer?
• Are there treatments I can access via clinical trials?
• Do I need to have surgery to remove the cancer/tumours? If not, why isn't surgery recommended for me?
• I have a My Health Record. Are you able to upload my results and reports to my digital record?
• Who can I talk to about how I’m feeling?
• What support is available to me?
• Am I eligible for subsidised visits to allied health professionals under a shared care or mental health plan?
• Will I need to travel for treatment?
• Am I eligible for help with travel and accommodation costs?
• How can I find out about help with child care? Who is the best person to speak to?

Questions to ask about your treating team

• Who are the members of my treating team?
• How will information about my cancer and treatment be provided to my GP and any other doctors who treat me?
• Who will be involved in discussions about my treatment?
• Who can I contact if I have questions about my treatment?
• Who should I contact in an emergency?
• Will I be supported by a breast care nurse?

Questions for your health fund

• Will I have to pay for my treatment?
• What financial support is available to me?
• Which treatments are covered by my insurance?
• Do you have a list of providers with whom you have a ‘no-gap’ or ‘known gap’ agreement?
• What is the gap between the cost of treatment and the private medical insurance rebate?