Once you understand your condition, it’s time to nail down a plan. This includes scheduling your therapy, which typically occurs within the week; in rare cases, you could begin treatment on the same day you meet your oncologist. They will also use this time to cover what the next few months of management will look like.
Full Answer
What can I expect on my first visit to my oncologist?
During your first visit, your oncologist will explain more about your breast cancer, such as the type and where exactly the cancer may be. The two of you will review your treatment options, and which ones may be best for you.
How long does it take to start cancer treatment?
This includes scheduling your therapy, which typically occurs within the week; in rare cases, you could begin treatment on the same day you meet your oncologist. They will also use this time to cover what the next few months of management will look like.
What happens at an introductory appointment with an oncologist?
In most cases, your introductory appointment will usually include a short physical exam conducted by your oncologist. Open communication with your oncologist is essential to cancer care. Once all of your information is collected, your oncologist will want to make sure you understand your cancer.
Where do you go to see an oncologist after a cancer diagnosis?
The patient may have this care locally or at a hospital facility. The oncologist will work with the patient’s team. If you have a cancer diagnosis, it is important for you to visit the oncologist soon. Knowing more about the initial consultation will help you better prepare.
How soon should cancer treatment begin?
Cancer treatment should start very soon after diagnosis, but for most cancers, it won't hurt to wait a few weeks to begin treatment. This gives the person with cancer time to talk about all their treatment options with the cancer care team, family, and friends, and then decide what's best for them.
What does an oncologist do on first visit?
At the first appointment, the oncologist will talk about treatment options. The doctor will explain which ones are available, how effective they are and what the side effects may be. Then the oncologist will recommend a course and talk about when the treatments should take place.
Do you see an oncologist before cancer diagnosis?
You will likely be referred to an oncologist if your doctor suspects that you have the disease. Your primary care physician may carry out tests to determine if you might have cancer. If there are any signs of cancer, your doctor may recommend visiting an oncologist as soon as possible.
Does seeing an oncologist mean I have cancer?
No, seeing an oncologist doesn't mean you have cancer. You're seeing an oncologist because you have symptoms that might be cancer. Your visit to an oncologist is an opportunity for you to talk to a specialist about your symptoms. Your oncologist might order tests to learn more about your symptoms.
How do I prepare for my first oncologist appointment?
When you go for your first appointment(s) with your specialist, they will want to have information about:Your medical history.Records about your cancer diagnosis including lab work, and biopsies.Radiology scans you have already had done (X-rays, CT, MRI, Pet Scans).More items...•
Do oncologists lie about prognosis?
Oncologists often do not give honest prognostic and treatment-effect information to patients with advanced disease, trying not to “take away hope.” The authors, however, find that hope is maintained when patients with advanced cancer are given truthful prognostic and treatment information, even when the news is bad.
Can an oncologist diagnose cancer without a biopsy?
The procedure can also reveal important information about the type of a disease you have and how you should treat it. You can find certain types of cancer without a biopsy. There are a few different ways to do this, depending on the type of cancer you have and how much it has grown.
How does a doctor tell you that you have cancer?
The doctor also may order lab tests, imaging tests (scans), or other tests or procedures. You may also need a biopsy, which is often the only way to tell for sure if you have cancer. This page covers tests that are often used to help diagnose cancer. Depending on the symptoms you have, you may have other tests, too.
What are three ways cancer can be treated?
Cancer treatment options include:Surgery. The goal of surgery is to remove the cancer or as much of the cancer as possible.Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells.Radiation therapy. ... Bone marrow transplant. ... Immunotherapy. ... Hormone therapy. ... Targeted drug therapy. ... Cryoablation.More items...•
What type of cancer do oncologist treat?
Hematologist-oncologists treat blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Neuro-oncologists treat cancers of the brain, spine, and nervous system. Pediatric oncologists treat cancer in children and teens.
What do oncologists do when they get cancer?
Oncologists are doctors who diagnose and treat cancer. They often act as the main healthcare provider for someone with cancer—designing treatment plans, offering supportive care, and sometimes coordinating treatment with other specialists.
Can you be referred to an oncologist and not have cancer?
Patients with blood disorders are treated by hematologists and many oncologists are also board-certified to practice hematology. So even though you don't have cancer, you may be treated by a physician who specializes in both cancer and blood disorders.
What is the role of an oncologist in a patient's care?
The oncologist is concerned about the patient’s welfare and wants the person to feel comfortable. The doctor will go over the patient’s concerns and answer any questions the patient may have about the impending treatment and procedures. The two will have a conversation about the patient’s goals and needs. They will also discuss any anxiety and fears the person may have. It may also be helpful for the oncologist to know the patient’s hobbies, interests, work and family.
What is the best doctor for cancer?
You will meet with an oncologist — a doctor focused on the study, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The oncologist will help you overcome the effects of the condition and live a normal life. It is helpful to be ready for your initial meeting and what will occur in the coming weeks of your treatment.
What is the first step in a patient's first consultation?
When a patient comes in for the first consultation, the oncologist will conduct a thorough examination. The oncologist will ask questions and review the patient’s health history. This will include an assessment of the scans and tests the person may have had beforehand. The oncologist can then formulate a treatment strategy that makes the most sense to the patient.
What is the job of an oncologist?
The oncologist will work closely with nurses, radiologists, surgeons and other doctors. Ultimately, the oncologist wants to provide patients with the right resources and treatments to conquer the illness and enjoy a successful recovery. The oncologist will follow up regularly with the patient leading up to the surgeries and other procedures.
Why does skin cancer develop?
This article provides answers to common questions that people often have about the disease.Like many cancers, skin cancer develops due to irrepressible multiplication of damaged cells. Skin cell damage is often caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV)….
What is the term for the treatment of cancer?
The term oncology refers to a branch in medicine that focuses primarily on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Cancer is a disease that leads to the development of abnormal cells that multiply uncontrollably and destroy healthy tissues. Cancers typically have the ability to spread to other parts of an inflicted person's body.It is…
Is cancer in your body?
It is not easy getting the news that cancer is in your body. The disease can cause pain and inhibit your ability to perform routine tasks. Fortunately, there are effective ways of treating and even killing many forms of this disease. You will meet with an oncologist — a doctor focused on the study, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
What to consider before cancer treatment?
During the often-narrow window of opportunity before cancer treatment begins, you should have a chance to consider fertility preservation options . Embryo or sperm banking, for example, or shielding pelvic and genital regions during radiation therapy, are among techniques for the reproductive specialist to address.
What are the treatment options for cancer?
Cancer treatment choices may include surgery, traditional chemotherapy, targeted medications, radiation or immunotherapy as standalone or combination treatments. Clinical pathways and physician guidelines include treatment recommendations for most types of cancer based on disease stage and other factors.
What tests are done to check for prostate cancer?
With active surveillance, men may undergo periodic blood tests to measure prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, along with other tests such as digital rectal exams, imaging scans or prostate biopsies to make sure cancer is staying well under control.
What to bring to a primary care appointment?
To get organized, it helps to be told what to bring – such as insurance cards, test results and reports or contact information for your primary care physician and other doctors you've seen. The American Society of Clinical Oncology offers a comprehensive list of preparatory questions to ask about your appointment.
Can a standard treatment plan exist?
However, each patient's diagnosis is unique, so a standard treatment option may not exist. Making decisions with your physician and having a treatment plan in place can help restore your sense of control. Whether you also want to do an independent, online information search is entirely up to you.
Can you get help with transportation to medical appointments?
You could need help with transportation to medical appointments or caregiver support as you cope with side effects. It’s helpful to consider these issues in advance, rather than in the midst of your treatment course, so you can make arrangements ahead of time.
Can you have a one time consultation with a cancer specialist?
If you don’t have local access to a specialty cancer center or academic medical center, you may still be able to benefit from that level of expertise through a one-time consultation. Your doctor may even have a suggestion of where to refer you for another opinion.
What happens after an oncologist's initial consultation?
After the initial consultation, the oncologist will develop a plan for the patient. That can include scheduling the right type of therapy. The treatment will usually begin that same week. In some cases, it could happen on the same day as the consultation.
What to expect at first visit with oncologist?
What to Expect at Your First Visit With an Oncologist After Cancer Diagnosis. A diagnosis of cancer can seem overwhelming. However, by preparing for your visit to your oncologist, you can make the process easier. You can expect to have a consultation which will include a physical exam. Keep reading to learn more about the process.
What does an oncologist look for in a cancer patient?
Many times, the patient will also have a physical exam. The oncologist will look at the cancer ous area. The extent of the exam will depend on the type of cancer. This will help to give the doctor a better idea of the disease.
Why do oncologists fill gaps?
Any gaps will be filled in during this time. Another reason for this is that it helps the oncologist get to know the patient. The doctor will then learn more about the patient’s goals, concerns and hopes. This will help the doctor to create a better treatment plan for the patient.
What happens when you meet with an oncologist?
When it is time for the patient to meet with the oncologist, the patient will tell the doctor their story. That way, the doctor can confirm the information that was collected by the patient coordinator. Any gaps will be filled in during this time.
What is skin cancer?
In oncology, skin cancer is known as one of the most common types of cancer in the U.S. This article provides answers to common questions that people often have about the disease.Like many cancers, skin cancer develops due to irrepressible multiplication of damaged cells. Skin cell damage is often caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV)…
Why does skin cancer develop?
This article provides answers to common questions that people often have about the disease.Like many cancers, skin cancer develops due to irrepressible multiplication of damaged cells. Skin cell damage is often caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV)….
What to expect at a first breast cancer visit?
What to Expect. During your first visit, your oncologist will explain more about your breast cancer, such as the type and where exactly the cancer may be. The two of you will review your treatment options, and which ones may be best for you. Your doctor may discuss the outlook for your disease. Your prognosis, or chances ...
What to bring to an oncologist appointment?
It also may help to bring these things to your appointment: Your medical history. A timeline of your surgeries and other major medical events will help your oncologist better understand your overall health. Include information about your breast cancer diagnosis, such as initial symptoms, treatments you’ve tried, and which doctors you’ve consulted. ...
What to do if you have breast cancer?
If your doctor recently diagnosed you with breast cancer, you’ll have an appointment to meet your oncologist. These doctors are cancer specialists who will help direct your treatment plan and supportive care.
How to determine if you have cancer?
Your doctor may discuss the outlook for your disease. Your prognosis, or chances of survival, will depend on a mix of factors that may include: 1 Your cancer stage (how big the tumor is and how far it’s spread) and grade (how fast the cancer cells grow) 2 Your overall health 3 Your age 4 How well you respond to treatment
What are the factors that determine the prognosis of cancer?
Your prognosis, or chances of survival, will depend on a mix of factors that may include: Your cancer stage (how big the tumor is and how far it’s spread) and grade (how fast the cancer cells grow) Your overall health. Your age. How well you respond to treatment. Everyone is different.
Can an oncologist share information with you?
Your oncologist may share a lot of information with you . And some of the medical terms may be unfamiliar. It helps to write it down, either on paper or on your electronic device. A loved one. A friend or a family member can serve as a second pair of ears.
Can you bring over the counter medications to an oncologist?
It’s best to bring the actual drugs (prescription or over the counter medications and supplements) you take instead of a list. That allows your oncologist to check your doses and tailor your cancer treatment to help avoid drug interactions. A notepad. Your oncologist may share a lot of information with you.
Can cancer patients wait to start treatment?
These findings reveal that patients with newly diagnosed cancer are having to wait longer to begin treatment, a delay that is associated with a substantially increased risk of death. The researchers used prospective data from the National Cancer Database and examined the number of days between diagnosis and the first treatment for persons ...
Do patients with cancer wait longer to get treatment?
Patients with newly diagnosed cancer are having to wait longer to begin treatment, study data indicates. Greater efforts are needed to prevent treatment delays for patients with cancer, according to research presented at the 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual meeting.
What type of cancer needs to be treated right away?
You have a type of cancer that needs to be treated right away, like some leukemias, lymphomas, and certain other cancers that tend to be aggressive (grow and spread very fast). You have a tumor that's pressing on an organ or other vital part of the body, and treatment is needed to relieve the pressure.
Do you need to make adjustments before starting treatment?
You want more time to get a second opinion. It's important to know each person's case is different.
Can you wait to get lab results back?
You are waiting to get lab results back that will help decide what treatment option is best. You have already had surgery to remove a tumor, and you need time to recover before starting more treatment. You need to make adjustments at home, work, or for child care before starting treatment.
Does cancer need to be started right away?
Does cancer treatment always need to be started right away? Sometimes, it's important to start treatment as quickly as possible, but that's not always the case. Planning cancer treatment can be complex and might take some time, depending on the type and stage of your cancer.
What will your oncologist do?
Before you meet with your oncologist, he or she will review your health history and test results, then compile your information into a single, comprehensive file.
Types of oncologists
Depending on the type of cancer therapy you ultimately select, you may work with other oncologists during the course of your treatment, such as:
Consult with an oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Center
At Moffitt Cancer Center, your cancer diagnosis is our top priority. Whether you need a preliminary evaluation, a second opinion or an answer to a general question, you can rapidly connect with an experienced oncologist at Moffitt by calling 1-888-663-3488 or completing our new patient registration form online.