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What questions would you recommend patients ask their doctor during their initial appointment?
Ralph Hills
March 16, 2026
For AML World Awareness Day 2026, Know AML was pleased to speak with Ralph Hills (https://know-aml.com/stories/ralph-s-story), a patient with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and Chair of the Know AML ambassador group, based in the US, and Anna Mamwell (https://know-aml.com/stories/anna-s-story), a patient with AML and Patient Ambassador for Know AML, based in the UK. We asked, What questions would you recommend patients ask their doctor during their initial appointment?
Ralph shares his advice for patients preparing for their first appointment following a new diagnosis of AML. Ralph highlights that patients may feel confused or scared at this stage and encourages patients to ask an adult family member to accompany them to their appointment for support. During the initial appointment, Ralph recommends asking questions to better understand how serious the disease is, what treatment options are available, and how the diagnosis and treatment might affect daily life for both patients and their loved ones. Ralph also notes that AML and its various treatments can be complex and that patients may want to request a second opinion on their available treatment options.
Anna encourages patients to ask any questions that come to mind and to not be afraid to ask their healthcare professional to repeat or explain things in simpler language if anything is unclear. Anna recommends bringing a notebook to the appointment to write down important information. She also suggests writing down any new questions that arise after the appointment, so they can be discussed at the next visit or by contacting the care team directly, for example by email.
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