Beyond Diagnosis:
What to Ask Next

You’ve taken the first step. That alone is huge.

This guide is for the moment when the shock has eased just enough for new questions to surface. The ones about side effects. About money. About your body, your work, your relationships, and what life looks like on the other side of all of this.

These questions help you move from reacting to cancer to directing your care.

You don’t need to ask all of them at once. Pick what fits where you are right now. Skip what doesn’t. Come back when you’re ready.

This isn’t about having every answer. It’s about having the right ones, at the right time.

What side effects or risks should I expect, both short-term and long-term?

Colorectal cancer treatment can affect digestion, energy, body image, skin, and sexual health.

  • For each proposed treatment: what are common side effects, and when do they appear?

  • What side effects might be permanent?

  • How will you monitor and manage side effects?

  • Are there preventive steps I can take (diet, supplements, medications, lifestyle changes)?

Could clinical trials be an option for me?

Clinical trials can offer access to the latest treatments, sometimes before they’re widely available.

  • Are there trials I qualify for (locally, regionally, nationally)?

  • What would participation involve? Extra tests, visits, risks, travel?

  • What are the potential benefits, and what are the unknowns or risks?

  • Can I leave a trial if I change my mind?

Who is on my care team, and how will coordination work?

Cancer care is a team sport. Knowing who’s who can make things less confusing.

  • Oncologist, surgeon, radiologist, nurse navigator, genetic counselor, social worker — who does what?

  • How do they communicate with one another? How often?

  • If I have questions, who is my main point of contact?

  • Who do I contact for emergencies? On nights, weekends, and holidays?

  • Can I have a written summary of my treatment plan and next steps?

  • What support services (nutrition, counseling, peer groups) do you suggest I access?

How will this affect my daily life: work, relationships, mental health, sex, fertility?

Treatment touches every part of life, including the parts people don’t always talk about.

  • Can I drive after treatment?

  • Will I be able to work or study during treatment?

  • Will my treatments affect fertility or hormones?

  • How do you address sexuality, body image, or intimacy issues?

  • What mental health or psychosocial support is available?

  • Does my family need to be screened?

What are the costs? What kind of financial help is available?

Let’s be real: cancer care can be expensive.

  • What does my insurance or health plan cover?

  • Are there likely “extra” costs (labs, scans, parking, lodging)?

  • Is there financial aid that might help with costs?

  • Who can I speak to on your team about financial concerns?

Bonus Prompts to Dig Deeper

  • If this treatment doesn’t work, what’s next?

  • What signs or symptoms should I watch for that might indicate complications or progression?

  • What support services (nutrition, counseling, peer groups) do you suggest I access?

Prioritizing Mental Health

  • Who can I reach out to for mental health support?

  • What mental health resources do you or your clinic offer?

  • Does my insurance cover mental healthcare or counseling/therapy?

If you’ve made it this far, take a moment to notice something: you’re showing up for yourself in a really real way.

Asking these questions doesn’t make you difficult. It makes you informed. It makes you powerful. It makes you a partner in your own care, not just a passenger along for the ride.

You don’t have to carry every answer today. You don’t have to make every decision right now. You’re allowed to take this one step at a time and come back to these questions whenever you need them.

And when you need support that goes beyond a doctor’s office (AKA: community, connection, and people who get it) Cheeky Charity is here for you.