James: I ended up getting cancer and had to go to the doctor to talk about treatment. My wife went with me and we came prepared with some questions: "What are the risks of the treatment, what are the benefits, what other options do I have, and what will my life be like during or after treatment? Also, what will my life be like if I decide not to have any treatment?"

My wife and I had to ask the doctor to repeat a few things we didn’t understand. And the doctor took the time to make sure we understood. By asking questions, we got a lot of information. And this information really helped my wife and me make the right decision.

John: I knew I was sick, but in my family we don’t let the sick person focus on that sort of thing—to keep our hopes up. I asked my oldest son to talk to the doctor for me and make all my medical decisions. But, I wanted to give him some advice that might help him. I told him that if the doctor wanted to give me treatments to make sure to ask about the risks and benefits, and what would happen if I didn’t take the treatments.

David: It was hard for me to have to talk to the doctors for my dad. I was scared. But my dad gave me some really good advice. He told me to make sure I ask the doctors about the risks and benefits of any medicines or treatment, and what other options there might be. It was most important to our family to know what my dad’s life would be like with treatment—and without treatment. This has all been stressful, but knowing what questions to ask for my dad has made it a lot easier.