Questions to ask: Pancreatic cancer

Diagnosis

• Is my cancer adenocarcinoma, or another type like a neuroendocrine tumor?
• Is my tumor resectable, borderline resectable, locally advanced, or metastatic?
• Has a team of surgeons and oncologists reviewed my scans together?
• Have I had a pancreas-protocol CT or MRI?
• What is my CA 19-9 level, and will you use it to track treatment?
• Have I been referred for germline (inherited) gene testing?
• Has my tumor been sent for broad gene testing, including KRAS, BRCA, and MSI?
• Is the goal of treatment to cure the cancer or to control it?
• Should I get a second opinion at a high-volume pancreas center?
• Should my children, brothers, or sisters talk to a genetic counselor?
• Can I meet with the palliative care team now?

Before

• What treatment do you suggest, and why?
• Will I have chemotherapy before surgery, after surgery, or both?
• How many Whipple surgeries does this hospital and surgeon do each year?
• What will recovery from surgery look like, and how long will I be in the hospital?
• Do I need a stent for jaundice first, and what type?
• Do my gene results change which chemotherapy you suggest?
• What are the most common side effects of this treatment?
• Are there clinical trials I could join?
• Should I start pancreatic enzymes, and how do I take them?
• Do I need a blood thinner to prevent clots?
• Can I meet with a dietitian before treatment starts?
• What costs should I expect, and who can help with insurance or travel?

During

• How will we know if the treatment is working?
• Which side effects should I call about right away?
• What should I do if my skin or eyes turn yellow again?
• Is my pain plan working, and would a nerve block help?
• Am I taking enough enzymes with my meals and snacks?
• Should I check my blood sugar at home?
• Can my dose or schedule be changed if side effects are too hard?
• Is a treatment break or lighter maintenance treatment an option for me?
• What are my options if this treatment stops working?
• How can my caregiver help, and what should they watch for?
• Who do I call at night or on weekends?

After

• How often will I need checkups, scans, and CA 19-9 tests?
• What signs could mean the cancer has come back?
• Will I need enzymes or diabetes medicine for the rest of my life?
• What should I eat to regain weight and strength?
• What long-term side effects should I watch for, like nerve damage?
• Who will be my main doctor now?
• What should my family do with my gene test results?
• Where can my family and I find support groups?

Last updated: 2026-10-27. Medically reviewed by Veli Bakalov, MD, medical oncologist (October 2026). General education from Step by Step, the patient portal of HemeOncBuddy.