I have many questions. Who can I talk to?

When you ask your doctor or parent to help you understand what is happening to you, it shows a lot of courage. 

• Write down the questions so that you won’t forget what you want to ask. 
• You can bring a parent, nurse or a friend to help you to ask your questions.
• Ask one question at a time.  This will give the doctor or the medical team time to answer all your questions in a way that you understand.
• If you don’t understand what they are telling you, it is okay to ask the same question more than once.
• You can tell the doctor anything about what is happening to you. Here are some examples of questions that you can ask. 

Questions about the illness

• “What is wrong with my body?”
• “What kind of sickness do I have?”
• “Why did this happen to me?” (It’s okay if the answer is not exact — doctors may explain it in a simple way.)
• “Which part of my body is sick?”

Questions about the treatment

• “What kind of medicine or treatment will I get?”
• “How will it help me get better?”
• “Will it hurt?”
• “How long will I have to stay in the hospital?”
• “Will I need surgery, or just medicine?”
• “What will the treatment feel like?”

Questions about side effects

• “Will I feel sick, tired, or sore?”
• “Will it make my hair fall out?”
• “Can I still eat, play, or go to school?”

Questions about what’s normal

• “Is it normal to feel scared, sad, or angry?”
• “Can I still play or do my hobbies?”
• “What can I do to feel better?”

Questions about support

• “Who can I talk to if I feel sad or scared?”
• “Can my friends or pets visit me?”
• “Will my parents or family always be with me?”

If you would like to read more, these resources might be useful:

KidsHealth Hauora Taikamariki. (n.d.). Common Questions Kids Ask About Cancer. 

National Cancer Institute. (2023). Stem Cell Transplant for Cancer. 

American Cancer Society. (2024). Stem Cell or Bone Marrow Transplant for Children with Cancer.