Questions to Ask About Stomach Cancer

Before your appointments, it can help to write down questions you want to ask your care team. This way, you will not forget anything during your visit. Remember, there are no wrong questions. Your care team wants to make sure you understand your diagnosis and feel confident about your care.

Questions about your stomach cancer diagnosis

• What type of stomach cancer do I have? Is it intestinal-type or diffuse-type adenocarcinoma, or another type?

• What stage is my stomach cancer? What does that mean for my treatment options and prognosis?

• Has my cancer spread to lymph nodes, nearby organs, or distant parts of the body?

• What biomarker tests have been done on my tumor? Is my tumor HER2-positive? Is it PD-L1 positive? Is it mismatch repair deficient or microsatellite instability-high?

• Have I been tested for H. pylori infection?

• Based on my family history or the type of stomach cancer I have, should I be referred for genetic counseling?

• Should I get a second opinion from a stomach cancer specialist or a major cancer center?

Questions to ask about stomach cancer treatment

• What are my treatment options? What do you recommend and why?

• What is the goal of treatment: to cure the cancer, control it, or relieve symptoms?

• Will my treatment involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or a combination?

• Am I a candidate for immunotherapy such as nivolumab or pembrolizumab, and if so, which drug is most appropriate based on my biomarker results?

• Am I a candidate for a HER2-targeted therapy such as trastuzumab?

• What are the possible side effects of each treatment, and how can they be managed?

• How will treatment affect my ability to eat and maintain my nutrition?

• How will treatment affect my daily life, including work?

• Are there clinical trials I should consider?

Questions about surgery

• Am I a candidate for surgery? What type of surgery do you recommend?

• Will I have a partial or total gastrectomy?

• How many lymph nodes will be removed, and how will that affect my staging and treatment?

• Is minimally invasive or laparoscopic surgery an option for me?

• How should I prepare for surgery?

• What will recovery look like, and how long will it take?

• What dietary changes will I need to make after surgery?

• Will I need B12 injections and other supplements for life after my surgery?

• What signs of complications should I watch for after surgery?

Questions about chemotherapy and radiation

• What chemotherapy drugs will I receive, and how will they be given?

• Will I receive chemotherapy before surgery, after surgery, or both?

• Will I need radiation therapy? What type, and when?

• What side effects should I expect from chemotherapy and radiation?

• How will side effects be managed?

Questions to ask about nutrition and eating

• Should I see a dietitian before my treatment begins?

• What eating changes should I expect during chemotherapy or radiation?

• What eating changes should I expect after surgery?

• What is dumping syndrome, and how do I manage it?

• What vitamins and supplements will I need to take for life after surgery?

• How will my nutritional status be monitored?

Questions to ask about follow-up care

• How will we know if treatment is working?

• What follow-up tests will I need after treatment ends, and how often?

• What symptoms should prompt me to call your office right away?

• What is the risk that my cancer will come back? What would we do if it did?

• What long-term side effects should I watch for?

Questions to ask about clinical trials

• Are there any clinical trials I might qualify for?

• What are the potential benefits and risks of the trial?

• Will my insurance cover the costs associated with participating in a trial?

Questions to ask about coping and support

• Can you refer me to an oncology social worker or counselor?

• Are there support groups for people with stomach cancer?

• Can you refer me to a dietitian with experience in stomach cancer and gastrectomy nutrition?

• Are there resources to help with the financial costs of treatment?

• How can my family members or caregivers get support?

• Are there palliative care or integrative medicine services available to me?