Have you ever treated a pancreatic cancer patient before?
If this is a surgeon, how many surgeries have you performed on pancreatic cancer patients?
What has been the outcome of your previous patients?
Where were you trained? (medical school, residency)
Which surgeons did you study under?
During your relationship with your physician, at any point, you have the right to ask: What is the diagnosis?
What treatments are recommended?
Are there other treatment options available that you do not provide? (i.e. protocol treatments, herbal therapy, touch therapy, other alternative therapies)
What are the benefits of each treatment?
What are the side effects of each treatment?
What are the medications being prescribed?
What are they for?
What are their side effects?
Are there any clinical drug trials I can participate in?
How should I expect to feel during the treatment(s)?
What are the risks of the treatment(s)?
Will my diet need to be changed or modified?
Will I need to take enzymes, vitamins, etc?
Do not forget to ask about the things that are most important to you:
How will this affect my ability to work?
Can this treatment be done as an outpatient so that I can spend more time at home with family?
Will I have any physical limitations?
How will my current lifestyle be changed?
Can I travel during treatment?
Finally - and most importantly - ask these questions of YOURSELF:
Does my doctor appear interested in answering my questions?
Does my doctor look annoyed when I ask questions, like I'm doubting their expertise or I am holding them up?
Do I feel that my doctor cares about my medical outcome?
If you are uncomfortable with the results of some of these questions, you may want to re-evaluate your choice of physician or get a second opinion. Remember, your "gut instinct" is most important.
Dwight Reicks Memorial Ribbon