Medical Oncologist
Before you start
25 Questions to Ask Your Oncologist — Before Starting Targeted Therapy
Walking into a targeted therapy consultation with written questions changes the conversation. You leave knowing why this drug was chosen for you, what it is intended to do, and exactly what to watch for.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · MD · DM (Adyar, Chennai) · ECMO · MRCP SCE (UK) · Last reviewed August 2026
- Take the list into the room — Print it or save it on your phone — memory is unreliable when you are anxious.
- Know your biomarker — The first question on the list opens the conversation about why this particular drug was chosen for you.
- Plan for side effects in advance — Knowing what to watch for lets you act before a side effect becomes serious.
- Ask about what happens next — A good plan covers what your team will do if the first drug stops working.
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Before starting targeted therapy, prepare written questions covering your biomarker result, what the treatment aims to achieve, which side effects need a same-day call, and what happens if the drug stops working. Writing questions down before your appointment means you leave with answers — not gaps you remember on the way home.
How to use this list
Save or print it the day before
Do not rely on finding the page in the waiting room. If you are printing, bring two copies — one to write on, one for your family member.
Mark your priority questions
Not every question applies to every situation. Tick the ones that matter most to your decision and put those at the top.
Bring someone with you
Ask a family member or trusted friend to take notes while you listen. Trying to listen and write at the same time means you miss the answer.
Ask your priority questions early
Appointments can run short. Ask the questions that would change your decision first — scheduling and logistics can wait.
Follow up if anything is unclear
Anything you forgot to ask, or that felt confusing afterwards, is worth a short call to your oncology team's nurse coordinator the same day.
Does preparing questions actually change anything?
Oncologists expect questions and welcome them. A patient who understands why a treatment was chosen, and what to watch for, is better placed to report problems early — and early reporting matters.
The consultation is not an exam you can fail. You are not expected to know the answers. You are there to get information that helps you decide whether to proceed, and how to look after yourself once you do.
If an answer is unclear, say so in the room. 'Can you explain that differently?' or 'Can you write that down for me?' are reasonable things to ask of any oncologist.
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Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
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Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
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Your 25 questions
- Which specific mutation or biomarker makes me a candidate for this drug?
- How was that marker found — biopsy, blood test, or both?
- Is a repeat or confirmatory test needed before we start?
- Why is this drug recommended over chemotherapy for my cancer?
- What does this treatment aim to do — shrink the tumour, control its growth, or prevent spread?
- How will you know if it is working, and when is the first check?
- What scans or tests will I have during treatment, and how often?
- How often does this drug achieve a response in people with my cancer type and stage?
- What are the most common side effects I am likely to notice?
- Which side effects need a same-day call to your team?
- Which side effects mean I should go straight to emergency, not wait for a callback?
- Are there rare but serious side effects I should know about before I agree to start?
- How do the side effects of this drug differ from chemotherapy?
- Will I lose my hair?
- Are there foods, supplements, or other medicines I should avoid?
- Is this drug safe if I am pregnant, or if I want to have children after treatment?
- How is the drug taken — tablet at home, infusion in clinic, or injection?
- What should I do if I miss a dose or vomit shortly after taking it?
- How often will I need to come in for appointments?
- Can I keep working during treatment?
- How long will I stay on this drug if it is working?
- What happens if the drug stops working or the cancer develops resistance?
- Are there other targeted drugs or a clinical trial I could join if this one fails?
- Is this drug covered under my insurance, CGHS, or ESI scheme — and what is the approximate monthly cost if it is not?
- Who do I contact between appointments if I have a problem, and what is the fastest way to reach them?
Did you know?
ASCO's communication guidelines for oncology practice note that patients who come to appointments with prepared questions report better understanding of their diagnosis and feel more involved in decisions about their care.
Bringing a written list means you can focus on listening — rather than trying to hold your questions in your head while an answer is being given.
Source: ASCO Communication in Cancer Care Guidelines
Explore 119 more Targeted Therapy Basics, Testing & Your Cancer Type topics
Before You Start - Preparation & Baseline
- 25 Questions to Ask Your Oncologist Before Starting Targeted Therapy
- Before You Start Targeted Therapy: The Complete Preparation Checklist
- Dental Check-Up Before Cancer Treatment: Why It Matters
- Financial Planning Before Starting Long-Term Targeted Therapy
- How Long After Surgery Can You Start Targeted Therapy?
- How to Store Your Targeted Therapy Tablets Correctly
- Setting Up a Dosing Routine You Won't Forget
- Should Targeted Therapy Be Taken With Food or on an Empty Stomach?
- Vaccinations Before and During Cancer Treatment
- What to Expect in Your First Month on Targeted Therapy
- Which Baseline Tests Are Done Before Starting a TKI?
- Which of Your Existing Medicines Must Stop Before Targeted Therapy
- Why You Need an ECHO and ECG Before Certain Cancer Drugs
Biomarker & Molecular Testing
- Can Mutation Testing Be Done on an Old Biopsy Block or Slides?
- Cost of NGS and Mutation Testing in India: 2026 Price Guide
- Do I Need Genetic Testing Before Starting Targeted Therapy?
- Germline vs Somatic Testing: The Difference Nobody Explains Properly
- Getting a Second Opinion on Your Genomic Report
- How Long Do Mutation Test Results Take in India? Realistic Timelines
- How to Read Your Molecular Pathology Report, Line by Line
- IHC, FISH, PCR or NGS: Which Mutation Test Is Right for Your Cancer?
- Is Mutation Testing Worth It If I Can't Afford the Drug?
- Liquid Biopsy vs Tissue Biopsy: Which Test Do You Need?
- My Report Says a Mutation Is 'Actionable': What Does That Mean?
- No Mutation Found in My Report: What Are My Options Now?
- Should I Start Chemotherapy While Waiting for Mutation Results?
- Should You Repeat Molecular Testing After Your Cancer Progresses?
- Single-Gene Test or Full Panel? How to Choose Without Wasting Money
- What Are PD-L1, TMB and MSI, and Do They Affect Targeted Therapy?
- What Does 'Variant of Uncertain Significance' (VUS) Mean?
- What Happens If There Isn't Enough Tissue for Mutation Testing?
- What Is NGS (Next-Generation Sequencing) Testing in Cancer?
- What Is a Molecular Tumour Board and Why Should You Want One?
- Which Cancers Should Always Be Tested for Mutations? A Checklist
- ctDNA and MRD Testing: Tracking Cancer Through a Blood Test
Cancer-Type Specific Targeted Therapy
- CML Treatment with TKIs: Living a Normal Life Span
- Cancer of Unknown Primary: Can Molecular Testing Help?
- GIST Treatment: Why This Cancer Changed Targeted Therapy Forever
- Targeted Therapy for Bile Duct Cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma)
- Targeted Therapy for Bladder and Urothelial Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Brain Tumours and Glioma
- Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer: HER2, HR+ and Triple Negative
- Targeted Therapy for CLL and Lymphoma
- Targeted Therapy for Cervical and Endometrial Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Childhood Cancers
- Targeted Therapy for Colorectal Cancer: RAS, BRAF and HER2
- Targeted Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Kidney Cancer (RCC)
- Targeted Therapy for Liver Cancer (HCC)
- Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer: Every Mutation and Drug Explained
- Targeted Therapy for Melanoma: BRAF and MEK Inhibitors
- Targeted Therapy for Multiple Myeloma
- Targeted Therapy for Neuroendocrine Tumours
- Targeted Therapy for Ovarian Cancer: PARP Inhibitors and Beyond
- Targeted Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer: Limited but Real Options
- Targeted Therapy for Prostate Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Sarcoma
- Targeted Therapy for Stomach and Gastroesophageal Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Thyroid Cancer
- Targeted Therapy in AML: Beyond Standard Chemotherapy
- Tumour-Agnostic Drugs: When the Mutation Matters More Than the Organ
Foundations & How Targeted Therapy Works
- Adjuvant and Neoadjuvant Targeted Therapy: Treatment Before or After Surgery
- Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs): The Smart Bombs of Cancer Treatment
- Biosimilars and Generic Targeted Therapy Drugs: What They Are
- Can Targeted Therapy Be Combined with Chemotherapy or Radiation?
- Can Targeted Therapy Cure Cancer? An Honest Answer
- First-Line, Second-Line and Beyond: How Treatment Lines Work
- How Doctors Decide Between Chemo, Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy
- How Does Targeted Therapy Actually Work? Explained Without Jargon
- How Long Does Targeted Therapy Take to Start Working?
- Is Targeted Therapy Painful? What the Treatment Actually Feels Like
- Is Targeted Therapy a Type of Chemotherapy? Clearing Up the Confusion
- Oral Tablets vs IV Infusion Targeted Therapy: What's the Difference?
- Precision Oncology vs Personalised Medicine: Are They the Same Thing?
- Targeted Therapy Success Rates: What the Numbers Really Mean
- Targeted Therapy for Stage 4 Cancer: What You Can Realistically Expect
- Targeted Therapy vs Chemotherapy: 12 Differences That Actually Matter
- Targeted Therapy vs Immunotherapy: Which One Is Right for You?
- The 8 Main Types of Targeted Therapy Drugs (With Examples)
- What Do Cancer Drug Endings Like -nib, -mab and -tinib Mean?
- What Is Targeted Therapy for Cancer? A Complete Patient Guide
- Which Cancers Can Be Treated with Targeted Therapy? Full List
- Why Didn't My Doctor Recommend Targeted Therapy for Me?
Mutation & Target-Specific Pages
- ALK-Positive Lung Cancer: Drugs, Response and What Comes Next
- Antiangiogenic Drugs (VEGF Inhibitors): How Starving a Tumour Works
- BCR-ABL and the Philadelphia Chromosome in CML
- BRAF V600E Mutation: Targeted Therapy Across Multiple Cancers
- BRCA vs HRD Testing: Which One Determines PARP Inhibitor Eligibility?
- BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations in Cancer Treatment: PARP Inhibitors
- BTK Inhibitors in CLL and Lymphoma
- CD20, CD38 and Other Antibody Targets in Blood Cancers
- CDK4/6 Inhibitors in Hormone-Positive Breast Cancer
- Co-Mutations: When You Have Two Mutations at Once
- EGFR Exon 20 Insertion: Why It's Different and Harder to Treat
- EGFR Mutation in Lung Cancer: Complete Patient Guide
- ESR1 Mutation: Why Your Hormone Therapy Stopped Working
- FGFR Alterations in Bladder and Bile Duct Cancer
- FLT3 Mutation in AML: What It Means for Your Prognosis
- HER2 Mutation in Lung and Gastric Cancer
- HER2-Low Breast Cancer: A New Category That Changes Treatment
- HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: The Full Targeted Therapy Roadmap
- IDH1 and IDH2 Mutations in Glioma, AML and Bile Duct Cancer
- KIT and PDGFRA Mutations in GIST
- KRAS G12C Mutation: The Target That Was Undruggable for 40 Years
- KRAS Mutation but Not G12C: What Are My Options?
- MET Exon 14 Skipping and MET Amplification Explained
- MSI-High and Mismatch Repair Deficiency: Testing and Treatment
- NRG1, MET, RET and Other Rare Fusions: Where to Get Tested
- NTRK Fusion: One Drug for Many Different Cancers
- Osimertinib: What to Expect, Side Effects and How Long It Works
- PALB2, ATM and Other BRCA-Like Genes: Do They Get the Same Drugs?
- PIK3CA Mutation in Breast Cancer: Alpelisib and What to Expect
- PSMA and AR-Targeted Therapy in Prostate Cancer
- RET Fusion Cancer: Lung, Thyroid and Beyond
- ROS1-Positive Cancer: A Rare Mutation with Excellent Options
- TP53 Mutation: Why There's Still No Targeted Drug for It
- Understanding Variant Allele Frequency (VAF) in Your Report
- What If My Mutation Has No Approved Drug Yet?
- mTOR Inhibitors in Cancer: Everolimus and Temsirolimus
Next step
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What if my oncologist seems too busy to answer all my questions?
Prioritise the questions that would change your decision about whether to proceed — put those first. If time runs short, ask which nurse or coordinator you can call to get the remaining answers. Most oncology teams have a designated contact for exactly this. It is reasonable to say: 'I have a few more questions — who can I call today to get those answered?'
Should I ask about clinical trials before starting targeted therapy?
Yes — this is question 23 on the list for a reason. A clinical trial may give access to newer drug combinations not yet widely available, and some trials offer treatment at reduced or no cost. The best time to ask is before you start standard treatment, not after. Your oncologist will tell you whether a trial is open for your cancer type and whether you meet the eligibility criteria.
What if the answers I get feel unclear or rushed?
Ask for the answer to be repeated in simpler terms. You can say: 'I did not fully follow that — can you explain it a different way?' This is not an unusual request. If you leave feeling uncertain about something important, call the team's nurse coordinator the same day. Most teams can answer straightforward follow-up questions by phone without another appointment.
Should I ask about cost before agreeing to treatment?
Yes, and early — not at the pharmacy counter. Targeted therapy costs vary widely depending on the drug, the duration, and your coverage. Ask whether the drug is on the National List of Essential Medicines, whether your scheme covers it, and approximately what you would pay per month if it is not covered. Any figure you are given is indicative and may change; confirm with your insurer or scheme directly before you start.
Can I bring this list to my appointment at a CION centre?
Yes. Oncology consultations at CION centres follow the same structure as any specialist appointment. Bring the list, bring someone with you to take notes, and ask your questions in whatever order matters most to you. If you need follow-up answers after the appointment, your centre's coordinator is the right person to contact the same day.