Coping with fear

It’s normal to feel afraid. Learning about your cancer and about the treatment options you have can make you feel less afraid. This also helps you work with your healthcare team and make the best choices for your treatment. You can also ask to speak with a counselor.

Working with your healthcare team 

Your healthcare team will likely include: 

• Medical oncologist. This healthcare provider specializes in treating cancer. Medical oncologists help coordinate cancer care and generally use medicines (like chemotherapy or targeted therapy) to treat cancer.

• Hepatologist or gastroenterologist. This healthcare provider specializes in treating diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and liver, including the bile ducts.

• Gastrointestinal surgeon or surgical oncologist. This healthcare provider treats diseases of the GI tract with surgery.

• Radiation oncologist. This healthcare provider specializes in treating cancer with radiation.

These providers will answer any questions you may have. They’ll help you through each of the steps you’ll take before, during, and after treatment. Your team will let you know what tests you need and the results of those tests. They’ll guide you in making treatment decisions and help prepare you and your loved ones for what’s ahead.

Learning about treatment options

To decide the best course of treatment for you, your healthcare team needs to know as much as they can about your cancer. This may involve getting blood and imaging tests and working with more than one healthcare provider. And you may decide that you want to get a second opinion to help you choose a treatment.

Getting support 

Coping with cancer can be very stressful. Talk with your healthcare team about seeing a counselor. They can refer you to someone who can help. You may also want to visit a support group in person or online to talk with other people coping with cancer. Ask your healthcare team about local support groups.