Questions to Ask Your Stomach Cancer Specialist

Meeting with a stomach cancer specialist for the first time is an overwhelming experience for many patients, so if you are feeling anxious, you are not alone. You are likely still reeling from your diagnosis, trying to wrap your head around the news that you have cancer. You may want to consider taking a loved one with you to your appointment to provide emotional support. It is also a good idea to bring with you a pen, notebook and a list of questions and topics you’d like to discuss with your stomach cancer specialist. That way, you won’t forget to ask them any important questions you have.

Starting a conversation

Still, many patients find that with so many thoughts in their heads, it is sometimes difficult to know where to begin. To get the conversation moving, here are some questions you can ask your stomach cancer specialist:

• What type and stage of stomach cancer do I have, and what do they mean?
• What treatments are most effective in treating the kind of stomach cancer I have?
• What are the potential side effects of these treatments?
• Am I eligible to participate in a clinical trial?
• Are there any support groups or other supportive care services available to me?

Those who have recently been diagnosed with stomach cancer are encouraged to consult with a stomach cancer specialist at Moffitt Cancer Center. Moffitt is a high-volume cancer center, which means the experts in our Gastrointestinal Oncology Program regularly treat patients with all types and stages of stomach cancer. What’s more, Moffitt patients don’t just benefit from the expertise of a single specialist, but rather a multispecialty team of experts who focus exclusively on treating gastrointestinal cancers. These specialists collaborate as a tumor board to ensure each patient’s treatment plan reflects the unique challenges of their cancer. If you are interested in meeting with a stomach cancer specialist at Moffitt, call 1-888-663-3488 or fill out a new patient registration form online. We welcome patients with or without referrals.