Questions For Your Doctors
What to ask your Diagnosing Doctor

The diagnosing doctor is that doctor who discovers the EC. Do not confuse the term we are using here with the medical specialty called diagnostician. It is not uncommon for the diagnosing doctor to be the EC-patient's primary care physician or a gastroenterologist, although in some cases it may be an oncologist. This is the doctor who gives the EC-patients the initial bad news that they have EC. It usually comes as a huge shock to the EC-patient since in most cases they went to the doctor for some more trivial condition - suspecting perhaps an ulcer, worrying about acid reflux or because they had swallowing problems. In some cases, they may be having a procedure like endoscopy for reasons that have nothing to do with cancer only to awaken to a grim faced doctor who says "I am concerned that you have cancer of the esophagus."

You will not be prepared at this time to ask these questions, but at the next meeting you should ask them. If you possibly can, bring someone who can act as a second pair of ears. Answers can get lost all too easily when all you can think about is "cancer, cancer, cancer." Write the answers down or perhaps use a portable recording device. Don't rely on your memory until you know for a fact that you can remember details in spite of the diagnosis.

1. How certain is the diagnosis?
2. Have you taken biopsies? When will the biopsies be complete? How will I get the results?
3. What other tests if any have already been run and what are their results?
4. When will the diagnosis of EC be confirmed? By whom?
5. Can you offer an opinion whether the EC is in an early stage or has it progressed to a late stage?
6. Can you refer me to a "lead" doctor or a team to treat my EC? If not, can you suggest how I should proceed from here?
7. What questions should I be asking that I haven't already asked?