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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffIf you have signs or symptoms that worry you, start by seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. If your doctor suspects you may have a problem with your prostate, you may be referred to a urinary tract specialist (urologist). If you're diagnosed with prostate cancer, you may be referred to a cancer specialist (oncologist) or a specialist who uses radiation therapy to treat cancer (radiation oncologist).
Because appointments can be brief, and because there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to be prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
- Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there's anything you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet.
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
- Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
- Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, that you're taking.
- Take a family member or friend along, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to absorb all the information provided during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor.
Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions will help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For prostate cancer, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- Do I have prostate cancer?
- How large is my prostate cancer?
- Has my prostate cancer spread beyond my prostate?
- What is my Gleason score?
- What is my PSA level?
- Will I need more tests?
- What are my treatment options?
- Is there one treatment option you think is best for me?
- Do I need cancer treatment right away, or is it possible to wait and see if the cancer grows?
- What are the potential side effects of each treatment?
- What is the chance that my prostate cancer will be cured with treatment?
- If you had a friend or family member in my situation, what would you recommend?
- Should I see a specialist? What will that cost, and will my insurance cover it?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What Web sites do you recommend?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions at any time that you don't understand something.
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- Prostate cancer. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/prostate.pdf. Accessed Jan. 6, 2010.
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- Loeb S, et al. Risk factors, prevention and early detection of prostate cancer. Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice. 2009;36:603.
- Prostate cancer early detection. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/prostate_detection.pdf. Accessed Jan. 6, 2010.
- Prostate cancer prevention (PDQ) health professional version. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/prostate/healthprofessional/allpages/print. Accessed Jan. 7, 2010.
- Urinary dysfunction. Prostate Cancer Foundation. http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org/side_effects/urinary_dysfunction. Accessed Jan. 11, 2010.
- Erectile dysfunction. Prostate Cancer Foundation. http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org/side_effects/erectile_dysfunction. Accessed Jan. 11, 2010.
- Surgical management of prostate cancer. American Urological Association Foundation. http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=04&topic=130. Accessed Jan. 11, 2010.
- McClure MW. Prostate cancer. In: Rakel D. Integrative Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/178018505-4/0/1494/0.html. Accessed Jan. 11, 2010.
- Distress management. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/distress.pdf. Accessed Jan. 11, 2010.
- Castle EP (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz. Jan. 23, 2010.
- Dawson NA. Overview of treatment for advanced prostate cancer. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 25, 2010.
- Cryoablation for prostate cancer. UrologyHealthy.org. http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=04&topic=42. Accessed Jan. 25, 2010.
- Ahmed HU, et al. Minimally-invasive technologies in uro-oncology: The role of cryotherapy, HIFU and photodynamic therapy in whole gland and focal therapy of localised prostate cancer. Surgical Oncology. 2009;18:2189.
- Found 332 studies with search of: Prostate cancer AND chemotherapy. ClincalTrials.gov. http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=prostate+cancer+AND+chemotherapy. Accessed Jan. 25, 2010.
- Questions and Answers: 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) may increase the risk of a more serious form of prostate cancer. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm258358.htm. Accessed June 20, 2011.
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