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Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Your Diagnosis

Headshot of PJ Cimino

Accurately Classifying Brain Tumors to Improve Care

Neuropathologist Dr. P.J. Cimino collaborates with NCI-CONNECT to improve rare tumor diagnoses.

Here are questions to ask about your brain or spine tumor to help you understand its characteristics, which doctors use to guide treatment and care decisions. 

  • What is the exact type and grade of my tumor? 
  • How accurate is my diagnosis? 
  • Did you (or will you) perform DNA, genetic, molecular, or methylation testing? How long will this take? If you cannot provide testing at your institute, can my tissue be sent to another institute for testing? 
  • What is the location of my tumor? 
  • What is the size of my tumor? 
  • Can my tumor spread to other areas of the central nervous system (CNS)? 
  • Can my tumor spread outside of the CNS? 
  • What is the success rate for treating this tumor? 
  • Will I need more tests before treatment begins? If so, which ones? 
  • Do you know what caused this tumor? 
  • Do I need to be concerned about my children’s risk for developing this tumor? 
  • Will I need a specialist (or multiple specialists) for my treatment? If so, whom would you recommend? 
  • Should I get a second opinion on my diagnosis? 

We encourage you to print these questions and bring them with you to your appointment. 

  • Updated:

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