Questions to Ask Your Doctor if Newly Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer

Upon receiving a prostate cancer diagnosis, an essential first step involves asking questions and discussing your diagnosis with your doctor to help you and your medical team make the most informed treatment decisions. Oklahoma CyberKnife encourages our patients to prepare a list of questions before their consultation.

Here are a few questions suggested by the Prostate Cancer Foundation that you may want to ask your doctor: 

• What is Gleason grading and my Gleason score? The Gleason system is used to help evaluate the prognosis of men with prostate cancer. Asking your doctor to explain this can help you better understand what it means in terms of a treatment approach and outlook.
• Can I avoid treatment at this time and be monitored under active surveillance? Active surveillance has emerged as a viable option for men who do not want to undergo immediate surgery or therapy. If your prostate cancer is slow growing, you may choose to monitor it and forgo immediate treatment.
• Has my cancer spread beyond the prostate? If your cancer has spread, or metastasized to other organs in the body, it’s important to ask your doctor to explain this type of cancer in full detail and how it affects your cure rate. Advanced prostate cancer commonly metastasizes to the bone.
• What are the treatment options for my stage of cancer? When given options or recommendations for your specific case, be sure to ask about the benefits of one treatment over another.
• What side effects can I expect from treatment? Many treatment options carry risks of side effects that may impact your quality of life. Ask your doctor if you can expect problems with incontinence, impotence or urinary or bowel dysfunction.
• How can I improve the success of my therapy? Ask your doctor about any dietary changes or available clinical trials that could support your primary treatment.

Although facing a prostate cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, asking the right questions can help you gain a better understanding of your disease and get on the right path toward a successful treatment and recovery. Our team is focused on designing a customized plan for your treatment. Request more information about Oklahoma CyberKnife and our treatment approach for prostate cancer here.

This is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your health care team. It is intended to help you and your family make informed decisions, together with your doctor.