Questions to Ask the Doctor

Regular communication with your doctor is important in making informed decisions about your health care. Consider asking the following questions of your doctor:

General

• Where exactly is the cancer located?
  
  
• What are my treatment options based on my diagnosis?
  
  
• What clinical trials are open to me?
  
  
• What treatment option do you recommend? Why?
  
  
• Does my diagnosis mean that my blood relatives are at higher risk for colorectal cancer? Should they talk with their doctors about screening?
  
  
• 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 other tests will be run before surgery?
  
  
• Can you describe the surgery I will be having?
  
  
• What are you planning to remove during surgery (the colon, rectum, lymph nodes)?
  
  
• Is a biopsy part of the surgery?
  
  
• How soon after surgery will I have all test results and a firm diagnosis?
  
  
• Do you think I may need a temporary or permanent colostomy?
  
  
• Is this the standard type of surgery for my condition?
  
  
• How many times have you performed this type of operation successfully?
  
  
• 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 will my pain be controlled after surgery?

For rectal cancer

• Should I have radiation therapy and chemotherapy before my rectal cancer surgery?

After surgery

• What is my diagnosis based on the results of surgery and biopsy reports, in TNM format?
  
  
• Can you explain my pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?
  
  
• What is my prognosis?
  
  
• What additional treatment do you recommend? Why?
  
  
• What is the goal of this treatment?
  
  
• Is it a standard treatment or part of a clinical trial?
  
  
• What are the risks and possible side effects of treatment, both in the short term and the long term?
  
  
• How will this treatment affect my daily life? Will I able to work, exercise, and perform my usual activities?
  
  
• How long will it be before I can go back to work after surgery? Can I work during chemotherapy?
  
  
• What follow-up tests will I need, and how often will I need them?
  
  
• What support services are available to me? To my family?

Question related to a colostomy (if needed)

• Will you refer me to a specially trained nurse to decide on the best place for my colostomy and help me learn to manage it after the surgery?