• Answer all your questions clearly and thoroughly.
• Ask about your thoughts regarding the recommended course of treatment.
• Offer alternatives, where appropriate, to the recommended course of treatment.
• Make clear the risks of planned treatment, as well as the expected benefits.
• Involve you and any people important to you in the decision making process.

1. Is there a firm diagnosis yet? If so, what is it?
2. What Stage of cancer do I have if it is yet known?
3. What is the goal of any recommended operation? Cure? Palliation? Relief of symptoms or solving immediately life threatening problems such as bleeding?
4. Are there any alternatives to the recommended plan? If so, what are they and what are the pros and cons?
5. What are the risks of any planned treatment and what are the risks of NOT undergoing the recommended treatment?
6. What should I expect for recovery time if an operation is recommended?
7. If no operation is recommended, why?

Information about Your Cancer:
Many patients and their families look for background information on their type of cancer. I recommend the National Cancer Institute's "What You Need to Know About Cancer" series as an excellent resource. The entire series is available on-line at the National Cancer Institute's web site. Documents related to my principal practice areas can be accessed directly from the list below:

General Information
What You Need to Know About Cancer – An Overview

Information by Cancer Type
What You Need to Know About Liver Cancer
What You Need to Know About Cancer of the Pancreas
What You Need to Know About Cancer of the Colon and Rectum
What You Need to Know About Thyroid Cancer
What You Need to Know About Melanoma
What You Need to Know About Skin Cancer
What You Need to Know About Moles and Dysplastic Nevi
What You Need to Know About Breast Cancer
What You Need to Know About Stomach Cancer
What You Need to Know About Cancer of the Esophagus