Questions to Ask the Doctor

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

General questions:

• What type of cancer do I have?
  
  
• What is the stage of the cancer? What does this mean?
  
  
• Can you explain my pathology (laboratory test results) report to me?
  
  
• Are other tests needed to confirm this diagnosis?
  
  
• How experienced is the gastroenterologist?
  
  
• What treatment options do I have?
  
  
• What clinical trials are open to me?
  
  
• What treatment do you recommend? Why?
  
  
• What are the goals of each treatment?
  
  
• What are the possible side effects of each treatment, both in the short term and the long term?
  
  
• How will this treatment affect my daily life? Will I be able to work, exercise, and perform my usual activities?
  
  
• If I’m worried about managing the costs related to my cancer care, who can help me with these concerns?
  
  
• What support services are available to me? To my family?

Questions to ask before surgery:

• What is the purpose of the surgery?
  
  
• What are the side effects of the surgery I’m having?
  
  
• Will I need to stay in the hospital for this surgery? If so, for how long?
  
  
• How long will recovery from the surgery take?

Questions to ask before radiation therapy:

• What type of radiation therapy is recommended?
  
  
• What is the purpose of the radiation therapy?
  
  
• How long will each treatment be? How often will I need these treatments?
  
  
• What side effects can I expect from this treatment?
  
  
• What can be done to help relieve the side effects?

For patients who need chemotherapy:

• What type of chemotherapy is recommended?
  
  
• What is the purpose of the chemotherapy?
  
  
• How long will each chemotherapy treatment be? How often will I need these treatments?
  
  
• What side effects can I expect from this treatment?
  
  
• What can be done to help relieve the side effects?

After treatment:

• What are the chances that the cancer will return?
  
  
• What follow-up tests do I need, and how often do I need them?