Many men who have recently received a diagnosis of prostate cancer are overwhelmed with the treatment options available. “Based upon the spectrum of the disease, there’s also a spectrum of treatment options,” Herbert Lepor, MD, urologic oncologist at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center and Martin Spatz Chair of the Department of Urology, tells Healthline.

The more you know about your prostate cancer diagnosis, the better. Dr. Lepor has treated more than 5,000 people who have prostate cancer. At NYU Langone, he says, physicians provide patients “a very detailed day-by-day, week-by-week, month-by-month expectation and highlight when things may be more urgent.”

Dr. Lepor encourages people to open a dialogue with their physician about what to expect from treatment and about how their diagnosis may affect their life. These five questions can help guide the conversation:

• How will my life change during treatment?
• What types of treatment are available?
• What side effects can I expect during treatment, and how can I manage them?
• Should I make any lifestyle changes during treatment?
• Where can I find support?

Read more from Healthline.