ON THIS PAGE: You will find some questions to ask your doctor or other members of the health care team, to help you better understand your diagnosis, treatment plan, and overall care. Use the menu to see other pages.

Talking often with the health care team 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. You may want to print this list and bring it to your next appointment. It may also be helpful to ask a family member or friend to come with you to appointments to help take notes.

Questions to ask after getting a diagnosis

• What type of small bowel cancer do I have?

• Can you explain my pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?

• What stage and grade is the cancer? What does this mean?

• How many patients with small bowel cancer do you treat a year?

• Does my diagnosis mean that my close relatives are at higher risk for small bowel cancer? Should they talk with their doctors about screening?

Questions to ask about choosing a treatment and managing side effects

• What are my treatment options?

• What types of research are being done for small bowel cancer in clinical trials? Do clinical trials offer additional treatment options for me?

• What treatment plan do you recommend? Why?

• Is the treatment you recommend a standard treatment or part of a clinical trial?

• What is the goal of each treatment? Is it to eliminate the cancer, help me feel better, or both?

• What are the potential side effects of each treatment, both in the short term and in the long term?

• When do you recommend I begin this treatment? How long will it be given?

• Who will be a part of my health care team, and what does each member do?

• Who will be leading my overall treatment?

• 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 of cancer care, who can help me?

• What support services are available to me? To my family?

• If I have questions or problems, who should I call?

Questions to ask about having surgery

• What do you know about the tumor 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 after surgery, with medicines and supplements to aid digestion? For how long?

• Who should I contact about any side effects I experience? And how soon?

• What are the possible long-term effects of having this surgery?

Questions to ask about having therapies using medication

• What type of treatment is recommended?

• What is the goal of this treatment?

• How long will it take to give this treatment?

• Will I receive this treatment at a hospital or clinic? Or will I take it at home?

• What side effects can I expect during treatment?

• Who should I contact about any side effects I experience? And how soon?

• What are the possible long-term or late effects of having this treatment?

• What can be done to prevent or relieve the side effects?

Questions to ask about having radiation therapy

• What type of treatment is recommended?

• What is the goal of this treatment?

• How long will it take to give this treatment?

• What side effects can I expect during treatment?

• Who should I contact about any side effects I experience? And how soon?

• What are the possible long-term or late effects of having this treatment?

• What can be done to prevent or relieve the side effects?

Questions to ask about planning follow-up care

• What is the chance that the cancer will come back? Should I watch for specific signs or symptoms?

• What long-term side effects or late effects are possible based on the cancer treatment I received?

• What follow-up tests will I need, and how often those tests be needed?

• How do I get a treatment summary and survivorship care plan to keep in my personal records?

• When should I return to my primary care doctor for regular medical care?

• Who will be leading my follow-up care?

• What survivorship support services are available to me? To my family?

The next section in this guide is Additional Resources. It offers some more resources on this website that may be helpful to you. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.