In the operating room.
Being diagnosed with colon cancer can be a very frightening and uncertain experience for patients. There are many aspects to consider, including staging and treatment options, which can seem overwhelming at first. Colon cancer patients should become as informed as possible about their disease, asking their doctors questions to help take some of the fear and confusion out of the process.
Diagnosis Questions
Ask your doctor about the staging--if the cancer has spread or is isolated to a small area, and also where the cancer is located. Ask what your chances are for for a recovery from this particular stage and type of cancer and your long-term prognosis. Also, you're within your rights as a patient to inquire about the doctor's experience and, if he's going to be the one operating, how many times he's successfully performed the procedure and whether he's board certified. Ask if you need to get a second opinion.
Surgery Questions
Inquire about your treatment options. Will your cancer require surgery and, if so, what will be removed: a small re-sectioning of the colon, removal of the colon itself or the rectum and any lymph nodes? How many specialists will be involved, who are the members of your team and how can you contact them with questions? Is a colostomy (an opening with an external bag for fecal matter) going to be required and is it temporary or permanent? Also inquire about the length of your hospital stay, how much pain you might experience and what complications might occur, such as infections or scarring. You can also check to see if blood transfusions will be required and whether or not your family members can donate blood before surgery. Find out how long after surgery your doctor will have results and a firm diagnosis.
Post-Surgical Treatment Questions
Inquire about the type of post-surgical treatments that will be required--radiation, chemotherapy or both, and why they're recommended. Ask how long the treatments will last and how often you have to get them. Are there any side effects and how can you minimize those? Check if there are any clinical trials you might want to be part of.
Follow-Up Questions
Ask about how often re-screening will be required to see if the colon cancer has returned and if there are any follow-up tests, as well as who the follow-up doctor(s) will be. Ask what recovery will involve and how long it will take for you to resume all of your normal activities, or if you'll need any special assistance. See if there are any ways you can help prevent the cancer from returning and if there are any support groups available. Ask if your relatives are at a higher risk for this disease and if they should be tested, as well.
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