Questions for your Physician
If you have been diagnosed with a pancreatic cyst, it is essential that you find out as much as possible about it, if and how it may lead to pancreatic cancer, and what you should do to have the cyst evaluated as soon as possible.
The following list of questions to ask your doctor may help you better understand your condition, how to get an accurate diagnosis, information about the endoscopic examination as well as treatment options.
- What are pancreatic cysts?
- Is my pancreatic cyst suspicious? Why or why not?
- What types of pancreatic cysts are there?
- Why are pancreatic cysts important?
- How are pancreatic cysts detected?
- How do I know if my pancreatic cyst is cancerous (malignant) or benign?
- How will I know if I should have my pancreatic cyst evaluated?
- If I have no symptoms, does that mean that I do not have a pancreatic cyst?
- If I do have symptoms, does that mean my pancreatic cyst is cancerous?
- If my pancreatic cyst is non-cancerous, should it be monitored?
- If my pancreatic cyst is found to be cancerous, how will it be treated?
- What examination procedure is used?
- What should I expect during the procedure?
- Are biopsies necessary and, if so, how are they performed?
- How effective are the tests and biopsies?
- How can the tests be enhanced with advanced imaging technology?
- When will I get my results?
- Which treatment is most effective?
- How will it be monitored?
- What is the potential for non-cancerous cysts turning into cancer?
- What is the potential for pre-cancerous cysts turning into cancer?
- What are the outcomes for the treatment for pancreatic cancer?