Your cancer treatment plan
Your team will work with you to get the best results from your cancer treatment. It is important that you are involved in your treatment decisions. You have the right to say what your wishes are.
On this page
Your care and your wishes
Discussing your wishes can help prevent uncertainty if anything unexpected happens.
Consent form
At your first appointment, the consultant or an appropriately trained member of their team will meet you in person, for example, a Cancer Specialist Nurse (CNS) or Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP). They will discuss with you the plan of treatment they recommend, the reasons for the treatment and the expected outcomes.
- Oncology patients - you and your consultant will sign a consent form for your treatment.
- Haematology patients – you and your CNS will sign the consent form for your treatment.
- Oncology and haematology patients - signing your consent form means that you have understood what the treatment involves and you agree to go ahead.
You will be given a copy of your consent form to keep, this will be valid for the duration of the treatment stated in the form. You can withdraw your consent at any time.
Please make sure that you are satisfied that you can make a fully informed choice and your questions have been answered before signing the consent form.
The consent forms are produced by Cancer Research UK. Please pay particular attention to page 2 of your consent form. Page 2 lists the common side effects, occasional side effects and other risks specific to your treatment.
A new consent form will need to be completed if your recommended plan of treatment changes.
Who to involve in your care
The team will continuously update your GP with a plan for your cancer treatment. Your plan of treatment will not be discussed with anybody else, including your family or friends, without your permission.
Please inform your team if another person(s) is involved in your care. We can only involve them in discussions and decisions about you if you give your verbal consent to do so.
More information here: carers
Before your SACT begins
Oncology: Pre-SACT telephone call
Please note that this does not apply to you if you are having tablets only. In this case, the pharmacy team will spend time with you when you first collect your medication.
You will receive a telephone call from a SACT-trained nurse who will discuss the following points in more detail:
- How your treatment will be given
- How long you will be having treatment for
- How long you will be in Avening Ward
- Possible specific side effects which you may experience
- Explanation of the supportive treatments you may need
- If you are eligible for treatment on the MCCU
- If you are eligible for scalp cooling treatment and what this involves
- What will happen on the day of treatment
- What else to expect/consider during your treatment
- Reassurance
- Answers to your questions
Please allow up to 30 minutes for this call.
At the time of the call, please have a list of your current medications available.
You should also have a list of any questions you would like to ask.
If you would like to include someone else in this call, you will need to use a phone with a speaker.
You may find it helpful for you or someone with you to take notes during this telephone appointment.
The SACT-trained nurse will make an appointment for you to meet the team in the FOCUS Information and Support Centre.
Haematology: Pre-SACT talk
You will have a face-to-face appointment with a Haematology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) or a consultant. You will complete your consent form at this time.