Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Questions to ask your surgeon before agreeing | CION Cancer Clinics
Before agreeing to cancer surgery, ask what the operation will remove and why, what the main risks are for you, what recovery will involve, and what the alternatives are, including not operating. Write your questions down and take one family member to note the answers. This page gives you a practical list, what a clear answer sounds like, and how to get the most from the appointment. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Muralidhar MuddusettyConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery, AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- What should you ask your surgeon before cancer surgery?
- Which questions cover the essentials?
- How do you get the most from the appointment?
- What does a clear answer sound like?
- What should you ask about alternatives, including not operating?
- What do the words the surgeon uses mean?
- What stops people asking their surgeon questions?
- Common questions about talking to your surgeon
The short answer
What should you ask your surgeon before cancer surgery?
Ask what the operation will remove and why, what the main risks are for you, what recovery will look like, and what the other options are, including not operating. Write the questions down before the appointment and take someone with you to note the answers.
Why the questions matter
Most families remember only part of what a surgeon says, especially when the news is hard. A short written list keeps the conversation on what you need to know. It also gives the surgeon a clear picture of what worries you most, which is not always what they expect.
You are not being difficult
Surgeons expect questions before a major operation. Agreeing to surgery means understanding it. If an answer uses words you do not know, it is fine to say so and ask again in plain language, or in Telugu or Hindi if that is easier.
What this page cannot do
It cannot tell you whether you should have the operation. That decision belongs to you and your treating team. It can help you make sure the conversation covers what matters.
Ask whether you can record the conversation on your phone, or ask for the plan in writing.Your list
Which questions cover the essentials?
Four groups. Pick the questions that matter to you and cross out the rest.
The operation
Understand what is being done before how.
- What exactly will you remove?
- Open, keyhole or robotic, and why?
- Who will actually do the operation?
The risks
Ask about your risks, not the general ones.
- What are the common problems afterwards?
- What serious problems should we know about?
- Does my health change those risks?
The recovery
This is what shapes plans at home.
- How long in hospital, and in intensive care?
- Will there be drains, tubes or a stoma?
- When can I eat, walk and work again?
After the operation
Surgery is often one part of the plan.
- When will the pathology report be ready?
- Might I need chemotherapy or radiation after?
- Who do I call if something worries me at home?
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistOn the day
How do you get the most from the appointment?
Before you go
Write your questions in order of importance. Put the one you most need answered at the top, in case time runs short.
Take one person
Bring the family member who helps you decide. One of you listens while the other writes.
Say it back
Repeat the plan in your own words. "So you will remove this, and I will be in hospital about this long." It shows up any mix-ups.
Ask what next
Before you leave, ask who to contact with questions that come up later, and how.
Hearing the answer
What does a clear answer sound like?
Your question
A useful answer covers
Why do I need this operation?
What it aims to do for your cancer, and what the other options were
What could go wrong?
The common problems, the serious ones, and how each would be handled
What if you find more than expected?
Whether the operation might be extended, and what you are agreeing to
How will I be afterwards?
Changes to eating, passing urine or stool, speech or movement, and whether they last
Leave a number, we will call you
One field. No form to fill in, and no charge for the call.
The other options
What should you ask about alternatives, including not operating?
Every operation is a choice between options, even when surgery is clearly the main one. Asking about alternatives is not a sign you want to refuse. It helps you see why surgery was chosen.
Other treatments
Ask whether radiation, chemotherapy or other medicines could be used instead of surgery, or before it. For some cancers these are real alternatives. For others they are not, and the surgeon can tell you why.
A smaller or larger operation
Ask whether a smaller operation was considered, and what it would give up. Ask too whether a larger one might be needed later if this one does not remove everything.
Waiting or not operating
Ask what would happen if you waited, or chose not to have surgery. A clear, calm answer helps you understand what is at stake. Ask how long it is safe to take to decide.
Who the operation may not suit
Ask whether anything about your health, age or other illnesses makes this operation a poorer fit for you than for most people.
In the consultation
What do the words the surgeon uses mean?
- Resection
- Removing part or all of an organ or tumour.
- Margin
- The rim of normal tissue around what is removed. A clear margin means no cancer was seen at the edge.
- Lymph node dissection
- Removing the small glands near the tumour, to check whether cancer has spread to them.
- Adjuvant treatment
- Treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation given after surgery, to lower the chance of the cancer coming back.
- Stoma
- An opening on the tummy where stool or urine leaves the body into a bag. It may be temporary or permanent.
Commonly believed
What stops people asking their surgeon questions?
"Asking questions will annoy the doctor."
Questions are part of consent. Surgeons would much rather answer them before the operation than face confusion or regret after. If time runs short, ask when you can continue the conversation.
"We should not ask about risks. It is bad luck."
Knowing the risks does not make them more likely. It helps your family recognise a problem early and know whom to call, which can matter a great deal in the days after surgery.
"The doctor knows more than us, so we just agree."
The surgeon knows the operation. You know your life, your work and what matters to you. A good plan needs both, and only you can bring your part.
"If we ask about cost, they will think we cannot pay."
Asking about cost is sensible and expected. Ask for a written estimate, and check whether Aarogyasri, CGHS, ECHS, EHS or your cashless insurance applies before admission.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about talking to your surgeon
How many questions is it fine to ask?
As many as you need to understand the operation. If the list is long, put the most important questions first. If the appointment runs out of time, ask for a second meeting or a call with a member of the team. Understanding the plan is part of agreeing to it.
Can I record what the surgeon says?
Ask first. Many surgeons are happy for you to record the explanation on your phone so family members who could not come can hear it. If they prefer not to, ask for the key points in writing, or write them down together at the end of the appointment.
Should I ask how often the surgeon does this operation?
Yes. It is a fair question, and a confident surgeon will answer it plainly. Experience with a specific operation matters. You can also ask who else is in the team, including the anaesthetist, and who looks after you on the ward after surgery.
What if I forget to ask something important?
That is common. Before you leave, ask whom to contact with questions later, and how. Many teams have a nurse or coordinator for this. You can also raise new questions at the pre-operation check or when you sign the consent form.
Can I ask what happens if I say no?
Yes. Understanding what would happen without surgery is part of making an informed choice. The surgeon can explain the likely course and what other treatment might still be offered. Asking does not commit you to refusing, and the team will not stop caring for you.
Should the patient or the family ask the questions?
Both, ideally. The patient's own questions come first, because it is their body and their decision. Family members often think of practical questions about care at home and cost. Agree beforehand who asks what, so nothing is missed.
What should I ask about pain after surgery?
Ask how pain will be controlled in the first days, whether a spinal or nerve block is planned, and what medicines you will go home with. Ask whom to call if pain is not settling. Pain that is well controlled helps you walk, breathe deeply and recover sooner.
Is it right to ask for the plan in writing?
Yes. A written plan should name the operation, the approach, the expected stay and any treatment planned afterwards. It helps family members who were not there, and it is useful if you seek a second opinion or apply for scheme or insurance approval.
Meet the Specialists
17+ senior cancer specialists. One panel for your case.
Trained at AIIMS, Tata Memorial, and leading international centres. Combined 150+ years of experience. Every complex case is reviewed by 3+ of them — together.
Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
Surgical Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
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Sources
- National Cancer Institute — Surgery to Treat Cancer
- Cancer Research UK — Surgery for cancer
- American Cancer Society — Making treatment decisions
- Macmillan Cancer Support — Surgery
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
Understanding Your Surgical Consent FormWhat you are agreeing to when you signGetting a Written Surgical PlanWhat a written plan should containGetting a Second Opinion Before Cancer SurgeryIf the answers leave you unsureCaretaker and Family Guide to SurgeryFor the family member supporting the patient
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