Patient asks her doctor questions about pancreatic cancer treatment

When talking to your doctor about pancreatic cancer treatment, it can be hard to know what questions to ask. Developing a treatment plan with your healthcare team can help ensure your treatment goals are considered and met.

As you start talking with your doctor about possible treatment options, here are some good questions to ask:

  1. What treatment(s) do you recommend? Why?
  2. Are there any clinical trials available to me locally?
  3. Do you provide molecular profiling to help determine additional treatment options?
  4. Do you provide genetic testing to help determine treatment options?
  5. What are the potential benefits and risks of each of my treatment options?
  6. What blood tests, scans or other tests will I need during my treatment? How often?
  7. What are the possible side effects of my treatment options? How likely are they to occur and can they be managed?
  8. How can I expect to feel during the treatment?

You are your own best advocate. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network strongly recommends that you discuss your treatment goals with your healthcare team and know all of your options at every stage of your disease.

These options may include standard treatments, clinical trials, treatments based on the biology of your tumor and/or genetics, supportive care or a combination of these. Asking questions will help ensure you and your healthcare team are on the same page as you decide on treatment.

For more free information to help you get organized and work with your doctor to create a treatment plan, order a free patient educational packet.