Cancer patients are to be offered a list of essential questions they can ask their doctors and nurses to ensure they get the best treatment the NHS can offer.

Many patients have no idea of what to expect from cancer treatment and are at a loss to know what to ask the GP or consultant. They are likely to be anxious and sometimes feel intimidated by their doctors.

The questions, to be launched on Wednesday, have been compiled by the commission for health improvement - the government's NHS inspectorate - and the audit commission to improve standards, which they feel are not as consistently good as they should be. A 15-page booklet lists 50 questions and describes the standards of care that cancer centres should be offering.

A report from the two commissions last year found unacceptable variations in standards around the country. Too many patients were not being treated by a specialist in their particular cancer and too few were having their case assessed by multidisciplinary teams comprising all the doctors and nurses who might be involved in their care. The commissions want patients to insist they get the best possible care.

Sir Andrew Foster, controller of the audit commission, said: "Being diagnosed with cancer, and then dealing with it, is an anxious experience for patients and their families. Patients throughout England and Wales are not getting consistent care or information. The questions and hallmarks in this booklet give a clear indication of what good care should look like and will help patients communicate with all the different health professionals they see throughout their illness."

· Questions for Patients to Ask will be available free to cancer patients and their families from Wednesday from the charity CancerBACUP, phone 0808 800 1234. It can also be downloaded from the commission for health improvement website (www.chi.nhs.uk) and audit commission website (www.audit-commission.gov.uk).