A famous doctor has revealed the important questions you should ask at the clinic before seeking treatment.
Dr Yazeed Kesbeh, a resident at Kaiser Permanente in Southern California, told his 125,000 TikTok followers the seven key questions that he makes sure to inquire about before committing to a doctor.
The oncologist explained that the answers may help a patient suffering from a serious medical condition choose the right doctor for themselves.
Here are the seven questions that he recommends asking:
1. Can a blood test or imaging be done before invasive surgery?
Invasive surgery refers to a procedure that involves making an incision or breaking the skin to gain access to the body’s internal organs.
It is done with use of surgical instruments such as scalpels, catheters, or endoscopes.
Types of invasive surgery include a biopsy (taking tissue samples for diagnosis), implantation of devices such as pacemaker, stenting (inserting a tube to keep a blood vessel open) and hernia repair.
However, Dr Kesbeh recommends asking if it is possible to receive a blood test or get imaging done such as CT or MRI scans before having surgery and only proceeding with it if there is no other option.
Dr Yazeed Kesbeh, a fifth-year resident at Kaiser Permanente in Southern California , told his 125,000 followers the seven key questions that he makes sure to inquire about before committing to a doctor
2. If they had the condition, whom would they consult?
In an otherwise unheard piece of advice, Dr Keshbeh recommends asking the doctor whom they would go to if they were suffering from the same condition.
And if possible, to reach out their trusted expert, ask for a second opinion and then decide on how to proceed.
3. What is Plan B if the condition worsens or relapses after treatment?
After being told the best treatment plan for a specific medical condition, Dr Kesbeh further suggests asking what the doctor’s backup plan would be if the condition continues to worsen.
He also recommends understanding what the specialist intends to do if the condition relapses after treatment.
In severe medical condition cases, experts have long recommended asking for various opinions on treatment plans from multiple doctors and following the one most suitable.
4. How many patients with this condition are still alive after five years?
The seasoned expert says to specifically ask what the short and long term effects of the treatment being recommended are – especially if it is radical
A key question Dr Keshbeh urges asking is the survival rate of a specific condition – particularly for over the next five years.
Diseases like Lassa fever, chickenpox, hepatitis A and smallpox have a less than one percent mortality rate.
But conditions such as Alzheimer’s, chronic liver disease, respiratory diseases and heart diseases have the highest mortality rate in the world.
According to the 2024 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the US for 100 years.
Last year, 931,578 Americans died from cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes heart diseases.
5. How much experience do they have treating the condition?
According to the TikTok-famous doctor, it is essential to know whether your selected medical expert has had previous experience in dealing with your condition.
It is also necessary to know what their success rate is and if any of their past patients have made a complete recovery.
Apart from this, it may also helpful to reach out to a few of their past patients and understand their approach towards severe cases.
A key question Dr Keshbeh urges asking is the survival rate of a specific condiotion – particularly for over the next five years
6.What are the side effects of the treatment?
The seasoned expert says to specifically ask what the short and long term effects are of the treatment being recommended- especially if it is radical.
A radical treatment refers to a vigorous process approach aimed at completely curing a disease by removing the entire diseased organ or tissue, including potentially nearby lymph nodes.
This kind of treatment is usually advised to those who are suffering from cancer such as prostate, breast and cervical.
Common side effects of radical treatments include fatigue, urinary problems, bowel issues, sexual dysfunction and skin irritation in the treated area.
7. Can they case be presented at a multi-disciplinary conference?
A multidisciplinary medical conference is a gathering where healthcare professionals from different specialties come together to discuss patient cases, share knowledge, and collaborate on treatment plans.
Dr Keshbeh recommends asking whether your case can be discussed at one of these conferences to ensure that the best possible solution for your condition is found.
He explained: ‘For example, in the cancer world we have tumor boards where essentially different specialists come and put their minds together to come up with the best [treatment] plan for the patient.’
