Note: The following list of radiation questions is aimed at someone that is going to have a radiation treatments or is trying to decide between radiation and surveillance. He has already been diagnosed with a pure seminoma tumor, and has had enough tests done to determine that he is not a candidate for primary chemotherapy (advanced Stage II or Stage III).

Important: You should be having this discussion with a radiation oncologist, not a urologist.

WHY RADIATION?

• What Stage is my cancer?
• What is the significance of cancer found in the lymph nodes?
• Why is radiation recommended for me?
• Why is it necessary to radiate the lymph nodes?
• What is a port?
• Can you show me where these lymph nodes are and what part of my body would be radiated?
• Do I have any other choice of treatment? (Surveillance? Chemo?)
• If surveillance is an option (If you are Stage 1, it is an option), can I see a medical oncologist before making a decision about the radiation treatments?
• What are the benefits of having radiation?
• What are the risks and side-effects of the treatments?
• What do I have to gain or lose by not having the radiation now?
• Will I be cured?
• If I choose surveillance and the cancer comes back, will I be treated by radiation or by chemotherapy?
• What type of costs am I looking at?
• Have you treated someone for stage and type cancer before? If so, how many?
• What percentage of patients usually respond to this treatment?
• How quickly must I decide about my treatment?
• Will a reduction or delay in treatment reduce my chances of being cured?

RADIATION TREATMENT

• How soon should radiotherapy be started?
• In what form and how often will the treatment be given?
• What kind of radiation are you going to use?
• How does the doctor work out the radiotherapy dose?
• How long will each treatment take?
• How long will the entire course of therapy last?
• Where will I have to go for treatment?
• Who will administer my treatments?
• How often, during treatment, will I see a physician? a nurse?
• Can I drive to and from my appointments?
• Will I need someone to accompany me to the treatments?
• Can I stay alone after my treatments, or do I need to have someone stay with me?
• Can I continue to work, exercise, etc. during these treatments? Are there special precautions I should take while on radiotherapy or afterwards?
• What will it feel like to get treated?
• What type of results should I expect to see with the treatment?
• Will there be tests during my treatment to determine if it is working?
• Are there any medications I should not take while I'm going through treatment?
• What are the precautions or restrictions during treatment? After treatment? (For example, skin creams, lotion, underarm shaving, etc.)
• Are there any activities I should or should not do while I m going through treatment?

AFTER THE RADIATION TREATMENTS

• What happens when the treatment finishes?
• What does it take to say we're done? What is the criteria to stop treatment and go to the monitor phase?
• How can I tell if the treatment is working?
• How long will it be before I feel better and can get back to my normal routine?
• How often are checkups and tests required after treatment is completed and which specialist will manage my care?
• Would you be willing to consult with an expert if a problem arises?

RADIATION RELATED SIDE EFFECTS

• What are the side effects of this treatment?

• Nausea?
• Vomiting?
• Hair loss (will my hair grow back in the radiation port?)
• Low blood cell counts? (anemia: low red-blood-cell count, neutropenia: low count of one type of white-blood cell, low platelets, etc.)
• Diarrhea/constipation?
• Skin changes?
• Incontinence?
• Infertility?
• Pain?
• Sores along the digestive tract?
• Ulcers?
• Fatigue?
• When might these side effects occur?
• How long will the side effects last?
• What can I do to reduce the side effects?
• Will side effects get better/worse/same over the course of treatment?
• What kind of "schedule" can I expect during the radiation treatments (when will I begin having nausea, when will I stop having nausea.)?
• How can I get practical advice in dealing with side effects?
• Could these side effects be life-threatening?
• Which side effects should I report to the health care provider immediately?
• Will my treatment affect driving?
• Will the treatment affect my work/education?
• Will I still be able to look after my family, or will I need help?
• Does radiotherapy make you radioactive?
• Will radiotherapy make my hair fall out?
• How will it affect my sex life?
• If I can have sex during or after my treatment, will my partner be at risk in any way?
• What type of precautions do I need to take?
• Will radiotherapy make me infertile?
• Will I be able to father children after the treatment?
• How can I find out more about the sperm banking service?
• What are the long term side effects of radiotherapy?
• Will I be able to live a normal life when I get older?

RADIATION SUPPORT

• Who can I talk to about problems with sex and fertility?
• Where can we go to get emotional/mental/marital/medical support during treatment? Does the hospital/clinic offer such services?
• I'm worried about what my friends will say. How can I handle that?

RADIATION MISCELLANEOUS

• Can changing what I eat help me recover from my cancer and/or the radiotherapy?
• Is there anything I should avoid?
• Who can I talk to about what I should be eating?
• What are the telephone numbers I should have in order to reach you? the nurse? the hospital?
• When do I next see you?