If you are coming to The Kent Oncology Centre as a patient for the first time, you may have lots of questions about what to expect and we want to ensure you feel as comfortable as possible during your care with us.
We have put together the following information including what to bring with you, what to expect when you arrive to help prepare you for your visit.
If you can’t keep an appointment, please phone us as soon as possible. Please also let us know if you also have hospital transport booked.
Please let reception (or another member of staff) know if you change your name, address, telephone number, family doctor or contact person.
It is important you feel you have been given enough information before you agree to a particular treatment or procedure.
You might be asked to give your spoken consent, and in certain circumstances, you will also be asked to sign a consent form and you will receive a copy of it.
The health professional will explain the risks and benefits of the treatment or examination, any available alternative procedures and the risks and benefits if you choose to do nothing for the time being.
You may also be given some written information about the procedures that are being considered for you. It is important you understand the information you have been given – ask questions if you don’t understand or if you want more information.
When giving consent to surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, you will usually be asked to sign a consent form. The main benefits and risks associated with the treatment will be written on the consent form before you sign it.
Your treatment plan may involve one or more treatments, for example, surgery and/or chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. You will be asked to sign consent forms for each treatment.
Before each treatment starts, you will be asked to confirm that you agree to treatment.
Once you have made a decision about treatment, you can change your mind at any time, even after you have signed a consent form.
Can anyone else give their consent to my treatment?
You are the only person who can give consent; no one else can do this for you. Special arrangements however are made on behalf of adults who lack the capacity to make their own decisions. Parents and legal guardians also able to give consent on behalf of young people up to the age of 18.
Cycle: One full ‘round’ of treatment (including the time until your next cycle begins, e.g. 21 or 28 days).
Regimen: the name of your treatment plan and what it includes, i.e. which medicines you will be taking and when.
Line of treatment: the number of regimens you have been treated with.
Prophylaxis: medicines such as antibiotics (such as co-trimoxazole) to help stop you getting an infection during treatment.
Chemo brain: chemotherapy can make you feel confused or ‘spaced out’. This should resolve after treatment.
Creatinine clearance: calculation of your kidney function based on a chemical in your blood. This will be regularly checked to make sure the dose of any medicine is right for you.
Neutropenia: when your level of neutrophils (one type of white blood cells) is low, making it harder for your body to fight infection. This can happen as a result of some treatments and can mean you may need to have a short break from treatment.