Small Bowel Cancer

Talking often with the doctor is important to make informed decisions about your health care. These suggested questions are a starting point to help you learn more about your cancer care and treatment. You are also encouraged to ask additional questions that are important to you.

General questions

• What type of small bowel cancer do I have? 
• Can you explain my pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?

• What is the stage of the cancer? What does this mean?
• How many patients with this type of cancer do you treat a year?
• What are my treatment options?
• What clinical trials are open to me?
• What treatment plan do you recommend?
• When would you recommend I begin this treatment? How long will it be given?
• Is the treatment you recommend a standard treatment or part of a clinical trial?
• What are the goals of this treatment?
• Who will be a part of my health care team, and what does each member do? 
• Who will be coordinating my overall treatment and follow-up care?
• What are the potential side effects, both in the short term and in the long term?
• How will this treatment affect my daily life? Will I be able to work, exercise, and perform my usual activities?
• Could this treatment affect my sex life? If so, how and for how long?
• Could this treatment affect my ability to become pregnant or have children? If so, should I talk with a fertility specialist before cancer treatment begins?
• If I’m worried about managing the costs related to my cancer care, who can help me with these concerns?

Before surgery

• What do you know about my cancer at this point? What do you expect to know after surgery?
• What other tests will be done before surgery?
• Can you describe the surgery I will be having?
• Is this standard surgery for small bowel cancer?
• How much of my small intestine will you be removing? Will you also be removing lymph nodes?
• Is a biopsy part of the surgery?
• How many times have you performed this type of operation successfully?
• How soon after surgery will I have all test results?
• Who will give me information about how I should get ready for surgery and a hospital stay? How long will I be in the hospital? How long will recovery take?
• How will pain be controlled after surgery?
• Will I need to follow a special diet, with medicines and supplements to aid digestion, after surgery? For how long?

 After surgery

• What is my prognosis based on the results of surgery?
• Do you recommend additional treatment?
• How can I keep myself as healthy as possible during and after treatment?
• What follow-up tests will be needed, and how often will I need them?
• What support services are available to me? To my family?
• Does my diagnosis mean that my close relatives are at higher risk for small bowel cancer? Should they talk with their doctors about screening?
• Whom do I call for questions or problems?