Your oncologist is the doctor who will have diagnosed your mesothelioma condition after conducting the required tests like MRIs, CT scans, biopsies and such like. He is the person who will recommend your treatment depending upon the extent of mesothelioma in your system. However, before proceeding on any long term medical procedure, it is best to have some important factors clarified.

Firstly, ask your oncologist about whether your test report and slides( pathology) have been sent to another clinic for a second opinion. It is always good to have your test reports examined by other oncologist as well. After all, we all make mistakes and doctors are no exceptions. Hence a second opinion is always helpful.

Secondly clarify whether your oncologist has any financial agreement with a drugs company or not. For example ask him whether he is paid to prescribe these drugs for you or whether he consults for the company or not. If this is so, remember that it might affect the quality of the medication you are receiving.

Thirdly, find out about the experience regarding how many similar patients has he handled and how have the results of his prescribed treatment been. Ask around and look for positive recommendations and references as well.

Ask him whether the drugs that he has given you are FDA approved or not. There are many drugs that are not but this is not necessarily a reflection of their quality. But always remember to ask your doctor as to why is he definite about giving you those particular drugs among all the other ones that are FDA approved in the first place.

Finally ask him to tell you about whether any of his patients have had any side effects as a result of his treatment or not. And if they have, ask the doctor to explain his position and also why these effects might have taken place and more importantly whether you have the slightest chance of getting them or not. The best resolution is to talk to his previous patients and see what opinion they have about his methods and medical procedures.