PATIENT CONVERSATION GUIDE
MELANIE BREAST SPECIALIST
Preparing for Breast Cancer Treatment Questions to ask about treatment planning and follow-up A breast cancer diagnosis can bring many decisions and unfamiliar terms. A prepared list of questions can help you understand your options, discuss what matters to you, and know what to expect at each stage of care. This guide is a conversation aid—not a treatment recommendation. Every person's care plan is different. Use the questions that fit your situation, and ask your healthcare team to explain anything that is unclear.
Before the appointment You do not need to ask every question in one visit. Mark your priorities and take the list with you. If possible, bring a trusted person to help take notes, and ask whether you may receive written information after the consultation. • Bring reports from biopsies, scans and previous breast procedures, if available. • Write down your current medicines, vitamins, herbs and other supplements. • Share relevant medical history, family history, allergies and any previous cancer treatment. • Tell the team about work, caregiving, transport, financial or language needs that may affect your care. • Ask who to contact if questions come up after the appointment.
1. Understanding the diagnosis Knowing the type and extent of the cancer helps explain why certain treatments may be considered. Ask your clinician to explain the findings in plain language. • What type of breast cancer do I have, and what do the pathology results mean? • What is the stage, and what do you know about whether it has spread? • What do the tumour markers or receptor results mean for treatment choices, if these tests apply to me? • Do I need any more tests before a treatment plan can be confirmed? • Could you explain the main findings and next steps in writing?
2. Comparing treatment options Treatment may involve one or more approaches, such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy. The options depend on the cancer's features, stage, overall health and personal circumstances. • What is the goal of the recommended treatment? • What options are suitable for my diagnosis, and why do you recommend this plan? • What are the expected benefits, important risks and possible side effects of each option? • Would treatment usually begin with surgery or with medicine first in my situation? Why? • Is breast-conserving surgery an option, or would mastectomy be recommended? What factors guide that decision? • Would reconstruction or other options for managing changes in breast appearance be relevant to me? • Is a second opinion or a clinical trial worth discussing?
3. Planning the treatment timeline Understanding the sequence and practical demands of treatment can help you plan work, family support and transport. The schedule varies from person to person. • What happens next, and when do I need to make a decision? • When is treatment expected to start, and how long might each stage take? • Which specialists will be involved in my care, and who coordinates the overall plan? • Will treatment require hospital admission, repeated visits or time away from work? • What should I do to prepare physically and practically before treatment starts? • Are there fertility, pregnancy, menopause or sexual-health considerations I should discuss before treatment? • What costs may arise, and whom can I speak with about insurance, subsidies or financial support?
Educational resource • Please discuss individual care with your healthcare team
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PATIENT CONVERSATION GUIDE
MELANIE BREAST SPECIALIST
4. Side effects and getting help Side effects depend on the treatment and the individual. Ask which effects are common, which need urgent attention, and how the team can help manage them. • Which side effects are most likely with my proposed treatment? • Which symptoms should prompt a same-day call or urgent medical assessment? • What number should I call during office hours, after hours or on weekends? • What can help with pain, fatigue, nausea, appetite changes, sleep or emotional distress? • Could treatment affect my heart, bones, nerves, memory, fertility or other aspects of long-term health? • Are there medicines, supplements, foods or activities I should avoid during treatment? • Who can help with rehabilitation, nutrition, counselling or practical support if I need it?
5. Surgery and recovery questions If surgery is part of the plan, ask about the procedure, recovery and any additional treatment that may depend on the final pathology results. • What operation are you recommending, and what will it involve? • What are the main risks, and how might surgery affect sensation, movement or appearance? • Will lymph nodes be assessed or removed, and what could that mean for recovery? • How should I care for the wound, drains or dressings, if applicable? • When can I shower, drive, return to work, lift objects and resume exercise? • What signs of a possible complication should I watch for, and whom should I contact? • When will pathology results be available, and how might they affect the next steps?
6. Follow-up after treatment Follow-up is an important part of care after active treatment ends. The plan should reflect your diagnosis, treatments received, ongoing medicines and individual health needs. • Who will oversee my follow-up care, and how often should I attend appointments? • What examinations, imaging or other tests will I need, and on what schedule? • Will I need ongoing medicines, and for how long? What should I do if I miss a dose or experience side effects? • What symptoms or changes should I report between appointments? • Could any treatment effects appear months or years later? • Can I receive a written treatment summary and follow-up care plan to share with other healthcare professionals? • Where can I find emotional support, rehabilitation services or a patient support group?
7. Making the appointment work for you It is reasonable to ask for information to be repeated or explained in simpler terms. You can also ask which decisions are urgent and which allow more time for reflection. • What are the most important decisions I need to make now? • Could you explain the benefits and risks in a way I can compare? • What happens if I need more time to decide? • Can I receive a copy of my reports and the proposed treatment plan? • Who is my main contact if I have questions between visits?
My appointment notes My three most important questions: 1. ________________________________________________________________________________ 2. ________________________________________________________________________________ 3. ________________________________________________________________________________
Educational resource • Please discuss individual care with your healthcare team
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PATIENT CONVERSATION GUIDE
MELANIE BREAST SPECIALIST
Key information or next steps I want to remember: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________
A simple checklist before you leave ■ I understand the proposed next step and why it is recommended. ■ I know which test, appointment or treatment happens next and approximately when. ■ I know which symptoms require urgent attention and whom to contact. ■ I know how to ask follow-up questions and obtain my written plan. ■ I have discussed practical support, costs or personal concerns that could affect my care.
A note about urgent symptoms Follow the urgent-care instructions given by your treatment team. If you develop a severe or rapidly worsening symptom, or believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, seek urgent medical help rather than waiting for a routine appointment. Your team should tell you which treatment-specific symptoms need immediate attention.
Learn more For information about breast cancer care and available services, visit the breast cancer treatment page.
Trusted information sources • National Cancer Centre Singapore – Consultation: questions to ask and what to expect • US National Cancer Institute – Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Treatment • US National Cancer Institute – Follow-Up Medical Care • HealthHub Singapore – Breast Cancer
Important: This guide provides general educational information and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Treatment decisions should be made with your qualified healthcare team, taking your individual diagnosis and preferences into account.
Educational resource • Please discuss individual care with your healthcare team
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