You are told you have cancer: five questions you should ask your oncologist

(Christopher Booth/ Toronto Star) –– “The biopsy confirms you have cancer.” Upon hearing that last word, it is almost impossible to retain anything else. Patients may hear “we will refer you to an oncologist.”

In my 20 years looking after patients with cancer, I’ve learned that communication is a crucial factor in determining whether a patient gets excellent care.

Here are five questions that every patient with cancer should ask their oncologist. These questions matter for all of us; 2-in-5 Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer and 1-in-4 will die from the disease. (…)