What to do in preparation for your consultation
In order to make your consultation with your physician as informative and thorough as possible, the following information will be required:
- Health insurance identification cards
- If you belong to an HMO, please bring the authorization form if available or the confirmation number
- Please come at least half an hour before your scheduled appointment to fill out a medical self-reporting history and physical form, a Health Questionnaire Form, Patient Assessment Form or a Referring Physician Form
- It is very important that any medical records that are not from UCI facilities such as imaging films/CDs (i.e., MRI/PET or CT), operative reports and pathology slides/reports be available for your physician consult. Please make arrangements to bring these in for your consultation or have them mailed/faxed ahead of time (ATTN: Scheduling Staff)
- Bring a list of all your medications and list any allergies to medications
- If you have a pace-maker, please bring in your pace-maker identification card
- If you speak a foreign language and need a translator, please let us know at least 24 hours in advance, so that we can request an interpreter
- Prepare a list of questions that you wish to ask the doctor. If you do this in advance, you will be less likely to forget something
Below is a list of questions our patients typically ask:
- What is the purpose of radiation treatment for my type of cancer?
- How will the radiation therapy be given?
- What do the treatments feel like?
- For how many weeks/numbers of treatments will I receive radiation?
- What are the chances the radiation therapy will work?
- What are the side effects for my type of cancer treatment?
- How are the side effects handled?
- Will I be able to continue my normal daily living activities?
- Will I need weekly blood tests?
- What do I do about skin reactions?
- Can I participate in a clinical trial? What are the benefits and risks?
- Will I need a special diet for radiation?
- What is the chance that the cancer will come back if I don't have radiation therapy?
- Can I still work?
- Will radiation therapy affect my ability to have children?
- Will my insurance cover this treatment?
- If I have questions after today, who can I call to respond?
What to expect at the end of your consultation
- You will receive a general packet of information regarding radiation.
- You will receive an "After Visit Summary" which summarizes all future plans.
- After your consultation, our front desk with schedule your next appointment and/or referrals.
