Questions to ask
You might like to take a list of questions to your hospital appointment, to help you understand your options. We have suggested some possible questions here.
Before surgery
- What's the aim of the surgery?
- What type of surgery am I having?
- What method of surgery will be used? Is it open surgery, keyhole surgery, or robotic assisted surgery?
- What are the benefits and risks of this surgery?
- How can I prepare for surgery?
- Where will I have the operation?
- Who will treat me? How much experience do they have of this type of surgery?
- How successful is this surgery usually?
- Do you offer an enhanced recovery programme? What does this involve?
- How long will I be in hospital before and after the operation?
- What should I bring to the hospital?
- Will I need extra help at home after?
- What are the possible side effects?
- Will I need a stoma? How long for? What type of stoma will I need?
- How will a stoma affect my day-to-day life?
- What other options are there if I don’t want to have surgery?
- Are there other hospitals that offer different types of surgery?
After surgery
- When will I find out what stage the cancer is? (What size it is and whether it has spread)
- What should I eat and drink after surgery?
- What follow-up appointments will I have and what will they be for?
- Will I need any further treatment? If yes, when will this start?
- Will you send details of my treatment (called a treatment summary) to my GP? Can I have a copy?
- What support is available after surgery?
Back to 'Treatment' Go to 'Types of surgery'
Updated February 2026
Next review February 2029
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