Men and woman discussing soft tissue sarcomasWhat to ask your doctor about surgery for soft tissue sarcoma

Some questions you might ask your doctor

  • Do I need to have an operation?
  • Which type of operation should I have and why?
  • What are the risks and benefits of having this operation?
  • Who will be doing the operation?
  • How many operations like this have they done?
  • Will the operation cure the cancer?
  • What size is the margin of normal tissue that you remove around the cancer?
  • What are the long term effects of this operation?
  • Will I need any more surgery in the future?
  • When I wake up, will I be in intensive care?
  • Will I have pain after this operation?
  • How long will I have a drip after surgery?
  • What are the possible complications of this type of operation?
  • Will I need any other treatment as well as surgery?
  • Is there any treatment I can have instead of surgery?
  • What will happen if I don’t have the operation?
  • How long will it take me to get better?
  • How can I help myself get over the operation?
  • Who will help me learn to manage with my false limb?
  • Where is the nearest limb centre to where I live?
  • What will happen if the cancer comes back - can I have more surgery or chemotherapy?