Speak Up at Your Next Prostate Cancer Appointment

Tony Minter, a retired Army medical specialist and a prostate cancer survivor, gives tips for talking with your doctor in a post on WebMD.

If you have advanced prostate cancer, there is hope. There are so many things that can be done to help with your quality of life. But you must participate in your care. If you have a good relationship with your doctor, you'll feel like you're in a safe space and free to talk about what you're dealing with.

I recommend doing research before your visit and having questions prepared in advance. If you don't understand something, you can say, "Can you explain that to me again, using fewer medical terms?" If you feel like your doctor is rushing you to decide on a treatment, you can say, "I need more time to think about what to do next. Is there a safe amount of time I can wait to start treatment?"

Here are more of my best tips for making the most of your conversation with your doctor – whether you have just been diagnosed, have questions about treatment options, or have questions about your lifestyle and ways to ease symptoms.