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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou may start by seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner if you have signs and symptoms of carcinoid syndrome. Based on what your doctor finds, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in treating cancer (oncologist), disorders of the endocrine system (endocrinologist) or a surgeon.
Because appointments can be brief, and because there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to be well prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready, and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
- Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there's anything you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet or your use of certain vitamins or medications.
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
- Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
- Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, that you're taking.
- Take a family member or friend along. Sometimes it can be difficult to absorb all the information provided during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor.
Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For carcinoid syndrome, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What is likely causing my symptoms or condition?
- Other than the most likely cause, what are other possible causes for my symptoms or condition?
- What kinds of tests do I need?
- Is my condition likely temporary or chronic?
- What is the best course of action?
- What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
- I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
- Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
- Should I see a specialist? What will that cost, and will my insurance cover it?
- Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What websites do you recommend visiting?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment at any time that you don't understand something.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may allow you to go over points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:
- When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
- Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?
- How severe are your symptoms?
- What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
- A review of carcinoid cancer. Carcinoid Cancer Foundation. http://www.carcinoid.org/pcf/docs/review.html#SYN. Accessed April 10, 2010.
- How are gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors diagnosed? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3X_How_is_gastrointestinal_carcinoid_tumors_diagnosed_14.asp?sitearea=. Accessed April 10, 2010.
- Carcinoid tumor. American Society of Clinical Oncology. http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/Carcinoid+Tumor?sectionTitle=Symptoms. Accessed April 10, 2010.
- Sitaraman SV, et al. Clinical features of the carcinoid syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 12, 2010.
- Sitaraman SV, et al. Treatment of carcinoid tumors and the carcinoid syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 12, 2010.
- Connolly HM. Carcinoid heart disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 12, 2010.
- Ghevariya V, et al. Carcinoid tumors of the intestinal tract. Southern Medical Journal. 2009;102:1032.
- Bhattacharyya S, et al. Carcinoid heart disease. Circulation. 2007;116:2860.
- Moynihan TJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 19, 2010.
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