Please come to the admitting desk in the lobby at the main entrance. Your registration will be completed in the nearby Admitting Department and a volunteer or admitting clerk will then escort you to your appointment.
You will meet physicians and oncology nurses in the Ambulatory Care Unit on the second floor. The first person you will meet is the nurse who will explain to you how your time will be spent during your first visit to the centre. You will also be assisted by volunteers who are there to help and support you, and answer any questions you may have.
Your medical history will be discussed and a physical examination will be carried out. When the examination is finished an oncologist (a cancer specialist) will review this information along with your reports and records. The oncologist will then sit down with you and your family members to talk about treatment choices and the plan for your ongoing care.
The oncologist may arrange for blood tests, X-rays, and/or scans. You may have to wait for the results of these tests before the best treatment can be designed for you.
Treatment may include one or more of the following:
- chemotherapy
- hormonal therapy
- radiation therapy
-
surgery
Treatment does not usually start on the day of your first visit.
At the end of the visit you will be given your next appointment to return to the centre. Sometimes, no further appointment is required and you may be referred to your family physician.
You will be provided with an appointment card before you leave. This will include your primary oncologists' phone number, as well as the number to call to change appointments. It will also be the place where any upcoming appointments are recorded. You should carry this card with you whenever you return to the cancer centre. If you phone in, you will be asked for your chart number. Having this number available may shorten your time on the phone.