Questions to ask: early 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 suggested questions that others have told us are helpful to ask.

Questions to ask your surgeon about your situation

• What type of breast cancer do I have?
• Where is my breast cancer? (Ask your doctor to draw it on a picture of a breast)
• What is going to happen next?
• Will I need to have a genetic test?
• Will I have to pay for my treatment?
• Who can tell me what my out of pocket costs are likely to be?
• Can I bring a friend/family member to my appointments?
• Can I record our discussion so I can listen back to it later?
• Can you write down what you have told me?
• Can I get a written summary of the treatments you recommend I have?
• Will I need to travel for treatment?
• Are there any clinical trials that might be appropriate for me?

Questions about your pathology report

• What type of breast cancer do I have?
• Is there more than one area of breast cancer?
• How fast is the breast cancer growing?
• What is the stage of the breast cancer and what does this mean?
• What is the grade of the breast cancer and what does this mean?
• Are there any breast cancer cells in the lymph nodes?
• What is a gene profiling test (genomic test) and is it suitable for me?
• Can I have a copy of my pathology report?

Questions to ask about your treating team

• Who are the members of my treating team?
• Who will be my main contact person?
• Who will be involved in discussions about my treatment?
• Who can I contact if I have questions about my treatment?
• Will I be supported by a breast care nurse?
• Who should I contact in an emergency?
• Will any of my consultations be done via telehealth?

Questions about surgery

• What type of surgery is best for me?
• What will surgery involve?
• Do you specialise in breast cancer surgery? If not, can you refer me to someone who specialises in breast cancer surgery?
• Where will the scars be and what will they look like?
• How long will I be in hospital?
• How long will I take to recover?
• What side effects could there be?
• Can I still drive after having surgery?
• Will I need surgery to the armpit? If I have surgery to the armpit will it be at the same time as my breast surgery?
• Will I need further surgery if you find cancer cells in my arm pit?
• How long will the operation take?
• How much will the surgery cost in the private system?
• How much in the public system? Do these figures include the anaesthetist’s fees?

Questions about prostheses and breast reconstruction

• Where can I get a breast prosthesis? How much will it cost?
• Do you specialise in breast reconstruction? If not, can you refer me to someone who does?
• If I have a breast reconstruction, can it be done in the same operation as my breast surgery?
• If I decide to have a breast reconstruction later, how long will I have to wait?
• If I decide not to have a breast reconstruction now, can I change my mind later?
• If I have a breast reconstruction, how will it affect the timing or types of other treatment available to me?
• What type of breast reconstruction do you recommend for me?
• How much will breast reconstruction cost?
• How will my breast look and feel after breast reconstruction?
• Can you show me photographs of different breast reconstructions?
• How safe are breast implants?
• Will having a reconstruction affect whether or not my cancer comes back?
• Will I be able to breastfeed?

Questions to ask about chemotherapy

• How will chemotherapy benefit me?
• Which chemotherapy drug(s) do you recommend for me? Why?
• If I have chemotherapy, when will it start?
• If I have chemotherapy, how will it be given and for how long?
• How much will the chemotherapy cost?
• Will the chemotherapy recommended for me affect my ability to have children?
• What are the gene profiling tests (genomic tests) that help decide whether chemotherapy will be of benefit and will having one help me?
• What do I need to consider when deciding whether or not to work while having chemotherapy?
• What contraception can I use while I am having treatment?
• If I’m taking complementary therapies, how will they affect the chemotherapy?
• What exercises do you recommend while I’m having chemotherapy?
• What sort of food can I eat while I have chemotherapy?
• What are the side effects of the drugs you are recommending?
• Are the side effects permanent or temporary?
• Who should I contact if I develop side effects that are worrying me?