Prostate cancer and its treatment is a complex subject. If you do not understand certain aspects of your disease, treatment options, their side effects, and outcomes, be sure to ask your doctor questions about them. Before your visit, prepare yourself by writing down the things you do not understand. Here are some suggested questions you might want to ask:

1. What is prostate cancer?
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2. How common is prostate cancer in my age group?
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3. How is prostate cancer diagnosed? What kind of tests do I need to undergo?
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4. What is the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and what does it tell us?
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5. What is the stage of my prostate cancer? What is the Gleason score of my prostate cancer?
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6. Can the prostate cancer spread to other areas of my body?
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7. What are my treatment options?
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8. Is the hormonal therapy treatment option appropriate for me?
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9. What are the benefits and risks (side effects) of each of the treatment options?
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10. Which treatment options for the stage and type of my prostate cancer provide me as likelihood of living longer?
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11. What is watchful waiting?
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12. What if the prostate cancer progresses or comes back after I receive therapy of
curative intent?
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13. Are there any clinical trials that may be appropriate for me?
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14. Where can I get more information about my diagnosis?
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