Questions to ask the MDT

Hi Acestar and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.

I'm sorry to read that you have been diagnosed with bowel cancer and it's natural to want to prepare yourself ahead of your meeting. I can't help with any specific questions to ask, as I had a different type of cancer, but I noticed that your post hadn't had any replies yet.

You might find this information from Macmillan on questions to ask your healthcare team useful.

You might also like to join and post in the bowel cancer forum as you'll then connect directly with others who have the same type of cancer as you and you could ask what type of questions they asked, or wished they'd asked.

If you'd like to join that forum, join just click on the link I've created and, once you've joined the forum, you can start a new post in the same way as you did here and join in with existing conversations by clicking on 'reply'.

It would be great if you could put something about your diagnosis into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.

I cannot help with questions but I hope all goes well for you

Hi Acestar . Just noticed your post although I’m normally on the bowel forum if you’d like to join us. I’ve attached a link to a booklet that I was given at my first meeting which might be of interest?

https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/YourPathway_BowelCancerUK.pdf

Plesee let us know how your meeting goes?

Take care

Karen x

Thinking back I only asked one question initially, to a colorectal surgeon, "how long have I got". He replied "I don't do timescales". I now believe that was the right answer and from there I never really asked any more questions. There are too many variables. Usually, if someone tells me to do something I will tend to do the opposite (or query everything they say) but with rectal cancer I simply did as I was told - it worked! However, it was informative to read the various booklets issued as each stage of treatment progressed, where I think any queries a patient might have are answered in a straightforward manner. Avoid general internet searches but perhaps consider the NHS website as a reliable source of information.

Dulac