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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou're likely to start by first seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. However, in some cases when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred immediately to a skin specialist (dermatologist).
Here's some information to help you be well prepared for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
- Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there's anything you need to do in advance to prepare for tests you're likely to receive.
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment. For example, your doctor will want to know if you've noticed a change in your energy level. Also be prepared to tell your doctor when you first noticed a change in your skin, and how the lesion may have changed since then.
- Make a list of your key medical information, including other conditions for which you're being treated and the names of all medications that you're taking.
- Take a family member or friend along, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to soak up all the information provided to you during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor.
Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions ahead of time will help you make the most of your appointment. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For Merkel cell carcinoma, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What is likely causing my symptoms or condition?
- Other than the most likely cause, what are possible causes for my symptoms or condition?
- What kinds of diagnostic tests do I need? How are these tests performed?
- What are my treatment options?
- How will you check my response to treatment?
- How likely is my condition to recur? What treatment options would be available in that case?
- What follow-up tests will I need to monitor for recurrence?
- I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
- Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
- Should I see a specialist? What will that cost, and will my insurance cover seeing a specialist?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What Web sites do you recommend visiting?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment at any time that you don't understand something.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:
- When did you first notice your symptoms?
- How have your symptoms changed over time?
- Does anything seem to improve your symptoms?
- Have you spent a lot of time in the sun, or have you used tanning beds?
- Do you have a history of other skin conditions, such as skin cancer or psoriasis? What treatments have you received for those conditions?
- Have you been diagnosed with any immune system disorders? If so, what treatments have you received?
- Have you been diagnosed or treated for any other health conditions?
