Our 24/7 cancer helpline provides information and answers for people dealing with cancer. We can connect you with trained cancer information specialists who will answer questions about a cancer diagnosis and provide guidance and a compassionate ear.
Chat live online
Select the Live Chat button at the bottom of the page
Our highly trained specialists are available 24/7 via phone and on weekdays can assist through video calls and online chat. We connect patients, caregivers, and family members with essential services and resources at every step of their cancer journey. Ask us how you can get involved and support the fight against cancer. Some of the topics we can assist with include:
- Referrals to patient-related programs or resources
- Donations, website, or event-related assistance
- Tobacco-related topics
- Volunteer opportunities
- Cancer Information
For medical questions, we encourage you to review our information with your doctor.
Questions to Ask About Retinoblastoma
It’s important to have honest, open discussions with your child’s doctors. You should ask any question, no matter how small it might seem. Here are some examples.
If retinoblastoma has just been diagnosed
- How sure are you that my child has retinoblastoma?
- Is only one eye affected or are there tumors in both eyes?
- Do we know if this is the heritable (hereditary) form of retinoblastoma? How can we find out? If it is, what would this mean?
- Has the cancer spread outside the eye?
- What is the stage of the cancer, and what does that mean?
- Has my child’s vision been affected?
- Do we need any other tests before we can decide on treatment?
- How much experience do you have treating this type of cancer?
- Do we need to see any other types of doctors?
- Who else will be on the treatment team, and what do they do?
When deciding on a treatment plan
- What are our treatment options?
- Can my child’s sight be saved? If so, how much?
- What do you advise for treatment and why?
- Should we get a second opinion? How do we do that? Can you recommend a doctor or cancer center?
- Are there any clinical trials we should consider?
- How soon do we need to start treatment?
- How long will treatment last? What will it be like? Where will it be done?
- What should we do to be ready for treatment?
- What are the risks and side effects of the suggested treatments?
- Which side effects start shortly after treatment and which ones might develop later on?
- Will treatment affect the growth of the area around my child’s eye?
- Will treatment affect my child’s ability to grow and develop?
- Could treatment affect my child’s ability to have children later on?
During and after treatment
Once treatment begins, you’ll need to know what to expect and what to look for. Not all of these questions may apply, but getting answers to the ones that do may be helpful.
- How will we know if the treatment is working?
- Is there anything we can do to help manage side effects?
- What symptoms or side effects should we tell you about right away?
- How can we reach you or someone on your team on nights, weekends, or holidays?
- Who can we talk to if we have questions about costs, insurance coverage, or social support?
- What are the chances of the cancer coming back after treatment? What are our options if this happens?
- Is there any risk of this type of tumor occurring in our other children or relatives?
- Should we consider genetic counseling and testing?
- What type of follow-up will my child need after treatment?
- Does my child have a higher long-term risk of other cancers?
Along with these sample questions, be sure to write down some of your own. For instance, you might want more information about recovery times so you can plan your schedules. You may also want to ask about nearby or online support groups, where you may be able to get in touch with other families who have been through similar situations.
Also keep in mind that doctors aren't the only ones who can give you information. Other health care professionals, such as nurses and social workers, may be able to answer some of your questions. You can find out more about speaking with your health care team in The Doctor-Patient Relationship.
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Last Revised: December 3, 2018
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
American Cancer Society Emails
Sign up to stay up-to-date with news, valuable information, and ways to get involved with the American Cancer Society.