What Should I Bring to My First Oncology Appointment?

Bring your records, a written list of questions, your insurance and ID, and a trusted person to listen with you. NCI suggests asking whether you may record the visit. Ask who your main contact is and what happens next.

Gather records. Bring your pathology report, imaging, either on a disc or through a patient portal, and a full list of your medications and doses, including supplements. Also bring a list of your allergies and your other doctors. If a record is missing, tell the office.

Write your questions down. Under stress, questions evaporate the moment you sit down. The National Cancer Institute suggests asking your most important questions first, in case time runs short. Writing them ahead means you will not leave wishing you had asked.

Sort logistics. Bring your insurance card, a photo ID, a referral or authorization if your plan requires one, and directions or parking information so you are not rushed before you even arrive.

Take someone with you if you can. The National Cancer Institute advises this: a companion can listen, take notes, and ask the questions you forget in the moment.

Ask up front whether you can record the conversation. NCI lists recording as one way to keep track of what is said. A recording lets you focus on listening, instead of scribbling notes, and you can play it back later or share it with family who could not attend.

A short checklist, based on the advice above plus common sense, can make the morning easier. Ask the clinic if it wants anything else:

• Your records and written question list.
• Insurance card and photo ID.
• A notebook, or your phone, for notes.
• A phone charger, since visits can run long.
• A list of your current medications and supplements, with doses.
• A snack and water, in case of a long wait.

What happens depends on your situation. A first visit may bring a lot of new information and unfamiliar terms. Notes, a companion, and a written question list can help.

If something is unclear, say so. Ask the doctor to explain it again in different words. Or repeat back what you understood, in your own words, so you can check it is right. NCI says that all your questions are important and deserve an answer, and that you need not worry about asking again. Also tell the team how you prefer to get updates, and which family members or friends they can talk with about your care.

Your team may include different kinds of doctors and support staff. Ask who is on your team and what each person does.

Ask what type and stage of cancer is suspected or confirmed, as far as your team knows so far. Ask about your treatment options and what your doctor recommends, and why. Ask who your main point of contact is, and how to reach the team between visits. Ask what happens next, and roughly when. And ask what symptoms should prompt you to call before your next scheduled visit, rather than wait.

You may leave with a plan already forming, or with more tests scheduled first before one can be made. Either way, before you go, make sure you know three things: your main point of contact, how to reach the team, and what would count as a reason to call sooner.

• National Cancer Institute — Talking With Your Health Care Team.