Preparing for an appointment

Start by making an appointment with your doctor if you have any signs or symptoms that worry you. He or she may recommend tests and procedures to investigate your signs and symptoms. If you doctor determines that you have cholangiocarcinoma, he or she may refer you to a doctor who specializes in diseases of the digestive tract (gastroenterologist) or to a doctor who specializes in treating cancer (oncologist).

What you can do

• Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions, such as restricting your diet.
• List your symptoms, including any that seem unrelated to the reason you scheduled the appointment.
• List key personal information, including recent changes or stressors.
• List all of your medications, vitamins and supplements, including doses.
• Ask a relative or friend to accompany you, to help you remember what the doctor says.
• List questions to ask your doctor.
• Bring copies of your medical records to your appointment, if you're seeing a new doctor for the first time. If you've had scans done at another facility, ask that files containing those images be placed on a CD and bring that to your appointment.

Some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• Do I have bile duct cancer? What type?
• What is the stage of my cancer?
• What does my pathology report say? Can I have a copy of the pathology report?
• Will I need more tests?
• What are my treatment options?
• What are the potential side effects of each treatment option?
• Is there one treatment you think is best for me?
• How will my treatment affect my daily life?
• How much time can I take to make my decision about bile duct cancer treatment?
• What is your experience with bile duct cancer diagnosis and treatment? How many surgical procedures for this type of cancer are done each year at this medical center?
• Should I see a bile duct cancer specialist? What will that cost, and will my insurance cover it?
• Do you have any brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What websites do you recommend?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask additional questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as:

• When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
• How severe are your symptoms? Are they occasional or continuous?
• Does anything improve or worsen your symptoms?