Going for a 2nd opinion - a little help please.

Longbordz, I am happy to hear your sister is going to some place bigger and be working with a gynecologic oncologist who specializes in "below the belt' cancer.  Big things demand big guns.  I belive the American Cancer Society also has questions somewhere but a quick search didn't give me what I wanted.  Below is what I found awhile ago after I read a book on cancer, of course AFTER I had been diagnosed, but good for any cancer.  

DIAGNOSIS

Precisely what type of cancer do I have?

Where exactly is it located?

What diagnostic tests have you performed?  

What further tests are necessary?

What information will these tests tell us?

Where do I need to go to have these tests?

When will I get the results?  

How will the results be communicated to me?

Will you explain, in patient-friendly language, the pathology report to me?

If I seek a second opinion, will I have to repeat any tests or procedures?

STAGING

What is the stage of my cancer?  

In patient-freindly language, what does this mean?

Has cancer spread to my lymph nodes or anywhere else?

How is staging used to determine my cancer treatments?

TREATMENT

What are my treatment options?

Which treatments, or combination of treatments, do you recommend?  Why?

What is the goal of the treatments plan you are recommending?

Who will be part of my treatment team?  What does each member do?

How much experience do you and the treatment team have treating this type of cancer?

Will I need to be hospitalized for treatment or is this treatment done in an outpatient setting?

What is the expected timeline for my treatment plan?How will this treatment affect my daily life?  

Will I be able to work, exercise, and perform my usual activities?

What are the short-term side effects of this cancer treatment?

What long-term side effects may be associated with this cancer treatment?

Whom should I call with questions or concerns during non-business hours?

Is nutritional advice given on what to eat to help in recovery from surgery or treatment?

She is putting her life in their hands and it is HER LIFE!  She might want to conisder starting a note book with everything that is asked or said.  If possible for someone to go with her and have them to sit there and write everything down - that is their job and she gets to see if this is the doctor she wants.  It is all overwhelming.

Longbordz,

I am glad you are taking your sister to a larger hospital for a second opinion.  

Another question to ask, if the doctor also recommends IP/IV chemo: A recent study indicates that the IP/IV chemo is no more effective than IV chemo alone. It was a disappointing result, as for years gyn/oncs felt that the IP addition improved outcomes.  But this recent study indcates otherwise. Adding IP to regular chemo can be a pretty rough treatment and requires a hospital stay.  So, this is something to consider in making that decision. 

With regard to fasting, mentioned by LDD123, don't be discouraged if her doctor nixes the idea.  Dr. Longo's research strongly supports fasting around chemo and shows it is not damaging to the patient.  Oncologist will intuitively feel it is not a good idea because cancer patients often develop a condition called cachexia, which is a metabolic wasting condition.  They tend to recommend eating to maintain weight, but I know a number of women who are using this approach with good results.  Fasting increases the effectiveness of the chemo drugs and reduces the side effects of the treatment.  There are specific guidelines about what to eat before and after the fast and how long to fast, so looking up Dr. Longo's protocol would be beneficial if she decides to use this approach.  Most conventional doctors don't recognize fasting as a treatment option because it is not an FDA approved treatment.  You may also want to look at a thread I posted a few weeks ago about a trial for ovarian cancer patients, incorporating a ketogenic diet.

Good luck