Questions to ask your child's physician

No parent wants to see their child suffer. A diagnosis of cancer in a child is one of the most devastating events in a parent's life. One of the best coping mechanisms is to be informed. Cancer is extremely complex and difficult to understand. It is important to ask as many questions as necessary - to be completely clear about the diagnosis and what to expect and to understand why certain tests are being done. Parents are entitled to a clear explanation about anything related to their child's condition. Here are some important questions you may consider asking your child's physician:

• What type of cancer does my child have?
• What is it called and what does the name mean?
• What caused the cancer?
• How do I explain the disease to my child? How much do they need to know?
• What do we do about the disease? What is next?
• How do we know if a treatment is working? What about other treatments I have read about in magazines and on the Internet?
• Are there any problems that will occur from the treatment?
• What if the disease comes back again?
• What do I do if my child has a problem coping with the disease or the treatment for the disease? Where do I turn for help?
• What support groups are available?