Preparing for Your Esophageal Cancer Appointment

If at all possible take another person, (family member, significant other, etc.), to help with taking notes and asking questions
Take a note pad, and if possible, ask to record your conversation for example on a smartphone recording app.
Build an “EC File” consisting of copies of other doctor’s reports, hospital treatment reports, and lab reports for reference as necessary.
List all current medications, prescriptions, non- prescription over the counter drugs, herbs, diet therapies, etc, that you are taking.
Keep no secrets from your doctor.
If you have any concerns always ask questions about tests so that you understand why they are being done.

Remember your EC file?
- Record what kind of cancer is it, where is it, how it was diagnosed, what tests have been done, and log all results.
- Record what doctors have you seen, what doctors you are scheduled to see, and what doctors you are thinking of seeing.
Ask each of your doctors to share notes with your gastroenterologist and primary care physician. They need to be kept informed of every aspect of your treatment.

Write a list of things you don’t understand about Esophageal Cancer and its treatment. Do your own research and bring your findings to your doctors. Add it to your EC file.
The Internet can be a great help, but only if you use it wisely. Go to trusted sources for information such as the US Government and the American Cancer Society. Other helpful websites include major esophageal treatment centers such as the Mayo Clinic, the MD Anderson Hospital, or Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The teaching hospital of any medical school in your nearby area should also not be overlooked.
You may often get useful advice from many websites (such as Facebook), but the answers you get are often just statements of the opinions and suggestions of a single individual and are not very likely to apply to you and your specific situation.

Print out our Questions Guide and bring it with you in your EC File to ask your doctor
Go to a trusted cancer specialist (e.g. surgeon, oncologist). After the doctor has reviewed your history and done a physical examination, if required, be completely ready to discuss questions and options.
Remember, a prognosis is just a well educated guess as to how long most people would live with your stage of the disease and with the same age and other health problems. It is an estimated number and should be treated as such. It will certainly change from time to time. It can be useful for general planning purposes, but be assured it is a long way from a hard fact.
Be sure you know what your diet, medication, and activities limits are to be until you see the doctor or another doctor again.
Be sure you know what your next steps are. When is your next appointment? If the doctor has to wait for test results to be sent to him, find out how and when you can be told of the results and what to do at that time. When you get test results ask what they mean for you; sometimes the experts forget to do this!