No one knows more about your body than you do. Not your partner, your parents, or even your doctor.

So when you talk with health care providers about your health, remember that you have valuable information they can use. You know about changes in your body and about any problems you are having. Share that information with your doctor. Open and honest communication between you and your doctor is one of the best ways to make sure you get the care you need. Just as you rely on your doctor, your doctor relies on you to be open and honest and to trust them. Good communication between yourself and your doctor is important to make sure that you’re getting the care that’s best for you.

• Take an active role in your cancer care. Taking an active role can help you get the best care for your doctors, nurses, and your medical team taking care of you.

• Be prepared. It is often helpful to gather information about your health concerns—from the library (books and medical journals), trusted websites or fact sheets like the ones offered by the American Cancer Society. The more you know, the more comfortable you will be talking to your doctor.

• Organize your questions ahead of time. You should be able to talk openly and honestly with your doctor about breast cancer to make sure all of your questions are answered.

• Be sure to write down any questions you may have. These questions will help your doctor understand and address your specific concerns. Also, be sure to bring some type of voice recorder to capture your conversation so you can refer back to it later.

• If you can, invite a family member or friend to come with you to your appointments. Ask them to remind you of questions you want to ask and if they can take notes for you so that you can listen and talk to your doctor.

• Be honest about your side effects or concerns. It is important to not hold back any information from your doctor.

• Tell your story. When your doctor comes in, ask if you can take a few minutes to briefly explain your situation and concerns. Be as specific as you can. Then give the doctor your list of questions and ask them.

• If you need more details after your doctor has answered a question, let them know. There’s nothing wrong with telling your doctor that you don’t understand. You can always ask them to repeat their answer using simpler language.

• Give feedback. If your doctor’s responses were helpful, say so. This kind of feedback will encourage your doctor to talk with you, listen to you and continue to help you.

• Doctors are just like anyone else; they want to do their job well. That means doing whatever they can to help you stay healthy or to get better. Remember, although doctors may know a great deal about breast cancer, they may not truly understand or be aware of all that you are going through. You can help your doctor help you by sharing your feelings and concerns.

Sources:

American Cancer Society, 2020. The Doctor-Patient Relationship.

Susan G. Komen, 2024. Talking with Your Doctor.