Your First Consultation: What Questions to Ask a General / Colorectal Surgeon
Why Your Consultation Matters
Your first surgical consultation sets the tone for your entire treatment journey. Whether you’re facing a colon condition, hernia, or another digestive issue, asking the right questions helps you understand your options and take an active role in your care.
At Suncoast Surgical Associates, consultations are designed around shared decision-making — meaning your surgeon explains every step, listens to your preferences, and helps you choose a plan tailored to your goals.
Scientific evidence shows that shared decision-making improves communication, increases patient satisfaction, and leads to better treatment outcomes (Kehl et al., 2015).
1. Ask About Your Diagnosis and Severity
Understanding your diagnosis is the foundation of good decision-making. Key questions include:
What exactly is my diagnosis?
How severe is it?
Are there underlying causes I should know about?
Research shows that patients who understand their diagnosis feel more in control and experience less anxiety before surgery (Hirpara et al., 2016).
2. Explore Treatment Options — Surgical and Non-Surgical
Ask:
Are there alternatives to surgery?
What are the pros and cons of each option?
What do you recommend for my case, and why?
Shared decision-making frameworks in colorectal surgery empower patients to make choices aligned with their health priorities and values (Leon-Carlyle et al., 2009).
3. Discuss Surgeon Experience and Procedure Details
Surgeon expertise and procedural approach influence recovery and outcomes. Consider asking:
How often do you perform this type of surgery?
Do you use laparoscopic or robotic techniques?
What are the expected recovery times?
At Suncoast Surgical Associates, our team includes fellowship-trained surgeons skilled in advanced minimally invasive and robotic procedures, allowing for faster recovery and reduced post-operative pain.
4. Clarify Risks, Recovery, and Lifestyle Impact
A thorough surgeon will walk you through the expected course after surgery. Ask:
What are the most common risks or complications?
How long will recovery take?
Will my diet, exercise, or lifestyle need to change?
Pre-operative education and clear communication are proven to reduce patient anxiety and improve surgical recovery (Walming et al., 2021).
Your first consultation isn’t just about getting answers — it’s about building a partnership with your surgeon. At Suncoast Surgical Associates, you’ll find an experienced team that prioritizes open communication, patient education, and evidence-based decision-making to help you make confident, informed choices about your surgical care.
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Works Cited
Hirpara, D., Cleghorn, M., Sockalingam, S., & Quereshy, F. (2016). Understanding the complexities of shared decision-making in cancer: A qualitative study of the perspectives of patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Canadian Journal of Surgery, 59(3), 197–204. Link
Kehl, K., Landrum, M., Arora, N., Ganz, P., van Ryn, M., Mack, J., & Keating, N. (2015). Association of actual and preferred decision roles with patient-reported quality of care: Shared decision making in cancer care. JAMA Oncology, 1(1), 50–58. Link
Leon-Carlyle, M., Spiegle, G., Schmocker, S., Gagliardi, A., Urbach, D., & Kennedy, E. D. (2009). Using patient and physician perspectives to develop a shared decision-making framework for colorectal cancer. Implementation Science, 4,81. Link
Walming, S., Angenete, E., Bock, D., Block, M., de la Croix, H., Wedin, A., & Haglind, E. (2021). Preoperative group consultation prior to surgery for colorectal cancer—An explorative study of a new patient education method.Journal of Cancer Education, 37(4), 1304–1311. Link