How to advocate for yourself when speaking to healthcare professionals

Advocating for yourself means telling your healthcare team about:  

• any support you need
• worries you have  
• what is important in your life 
• your preferences.  

This helps your healthcare team understand what care is right for you. 

Make a list of questions

Before your appointment take some time to make a list of questions you want to ask or discuss. This can help you feel more confident and avoid forgetting something important. 

Bring someone with you

If possible, bring a close friend, partner or relative to your appointment. They can help you remember details, provide emotional support and ask questions. 

Keep a record

You can bring with you a notepad or use your phone to note information, medications or even the names of your healthcare team. This might make it easier to review later and ask follow up questions. 

Tell your team what matters most to you 

During your appointment talk about what matters to you most. Tell them if there is something you are worried about or want more information about. Your healthcare team may use a Holistic Needs Assessment or another tool to help with this conversation.

Ask for things to be explained clearly  

If there is something you don’t understand, it’s ok to ask for things to be repeated or explained in another way. You should be given the information you need in a way that you can access and understand. This includes any support you may need to understand the information. We have cancer information in different languages and formats. 

Repeat things back 

You can repeat things back to your team in your own words to make sure you’ve understood it correctly.   

Asking questions 

During your appointment you can ask the questions that are important to you. Ask short clear questions one at a time, for example: 

• What are my options? 
• What are the pros and cons of this treatment? 
• What happens next? 
• Who can I contact if I’m worried? 

We have more questions to ask your healthcare team about treatment. 

When being given complex information it’s common to feel unsure or unclear. These tips might help.

Say how you feel 

It’s ok to say that you don’t understand or if you feel unclear. This helps the healthcare professional know to explain more. For example, you could say “I am not sure I understand. Can I repeat it back to you?” 

Ask for more time 

Tell them if you feel rushed or overwhelmed. For example, you could say “This is a lot of information to hear at one time. I need a moment to think. Can you give me the main points again?”.   

Follow up

Before you leave the appointment, find out who you can contact if you have more questions later on. 

If you leave your appointment still feeling unclear, contact your healthcare professional or speak to our cancer information nurse specialists on the Macmillan Support Line.

Macmillan Support Line

Contact the Macmillan Support Line for free, confidential cancer support. Call us on 0808 808 00 00, email, or chat online. Open 7 days a week 8am to 8pm. 

Online Community

The Online Community is a safe space where people affected by cancer can share experiences, ask questions, and support each other. It’s free, friendly, and always open, with forums and blogs to help you feel connected. 

Local support

Find local cancer support near you. Search by postcode and find support in your area. 

Helpful resources

• Support with challenging conversations about your cancer care
• LGBTQ people and cancer treatment 
• Neurodiversity and cancer: getting information and support 
• What next after a cancer diagnosis guide 
• Putting the person in personalised care: what patients say about the HNA

This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan's Digital Content Editor team. Learn more about our Digital Content Editors and how we produce our cancer information. 

Accurate information helps you make informed choices. Look for trustworthy, reliable sources such as Macmillan Cancer Support, the NHS and your own healthcare team. 

We have more information on how to find reliable health information online and understanding cancer myths and misinformation.