At Your Appointment

Leukemia Appointment Guide

Ask the right questions at your next doctor’s appointment. Answer two questions below to personalize your appointment guide.

• Has a doctor diagnosed you or your loved one with leukemia?

  1. Yes, diagnosed
  2. No, undiagnosed
• What type of leukemia do you have?

  1. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
  2. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
  3. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
  4. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
  5. Not sure
• Will this appointment be an in-office visit or an online/telehealth appointment?

  1. In-office visit
  2. Online/telehealth appointment
Submit

Top Questions Your Doctor May Ask You About Leukemia If you’re having a telehealth appointment, it's helpful to keep these things in mind. Test your computer or smartphone to make sure you can log in without difficulties. Since the doctor can’t examine you in person, be very specific about your symptoms. Print this appointment guide or write down your questions so you remember what to ask, and consider having someone sit with you to listen in. Have your medicines with you so you can show the doctor the labels and doses, and if you are interested in a specific treatment, be sure to ask about it.

• Please describe the symptoms and issues you’re having that led you to schedule this online appointment. Start at the beginning of this current episode and tell me how and when things have changed and progressed.
• What other health conditions do you have? How are you treating and managing them?
• When was your last set of lab tests?
• Are you having any pain or other symptoms?
• How are you tolerating your leukemia treatments? Are you having side effects?
• What kind of emotional and social support do you have to help you cope with leukemia?
• Would you be willing to consider participating in a clinical trial?
• Describe your symptoms. Are you experiencing fatigue, weakness, unintended weight loss, night sweats, swollen lymph nodes, fevers, or easy bruising or bleeding?
• How long have you had these symptoms?
• Are your symptoms constant or do they come and go?
• Do you smoke or work with chemicals, such as benzene?
• Have you ever been diagnosed with any type of cancer?
• Do you have a family history of any type of cancer, including leukemia?

Top Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Leukemia Many people forget to ask important questions at their doctor's appointments. You may want to print or write these questions down before your appointment so you remember to get the answers you need.

• Do my symptoms mean I have leukemia?
• Could another medical condition be causing or contributing to my symptoms?
• How do you diagnose leukemia? What tests do I need?
• Are there different types of leukemia?
• How do you treat leukemia? Do you treat all types the same way?
• What type of leukemia do I have?
• Does my type of leukemia have stages or subtypes?
• How aggressive is my type of leukemia?
• What are the possible side effects of the treatment you are recommending? Are any of them long-term or permanent?
• What is my prognosis and what is that based on?
• What is the best treatment plan for my type of leukemia, including possible clinical trials? Why do you think so?
• What phase is my chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in, and how does that affect my treatment options and outlook?
• Are there any treatment advances in CML leukemia that could help me?
• How long does treatment for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) usually take? How will we know if it is working?
• Are there any treatment advances in ALL that could help me?
• What stage of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) do I have and how does that affect my treatment and outlook?
• Are there any treatment advances in CLL leukemia that could help me?
• How long will it take to treat my type of leukemia?
• What subtype of AML do I have and how does that affect my treatment and outlook?
• Are there any treatment advances in AML leukemia that could help me?

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