Newly diagnosed with cancer
Finding support prior to receiving a diagnosis | How cancer is diagnosed | After diagnosis | Information for new patients | Support for family and friends
When you, a friend, partner or family member is diagnosed with cancer, it can be a worrying time. This page gives information about how a diagnosis is reached, how this will be communicated, and provides guidance on the support that is available to people during this time.
Finding support prior to receiving a diagnosis
We understand that many people facing a diagnosis of cancer want to start searching for information and it can be tempting to search the internet to seek answers. This can sometimes lead to misleading or inaccurate information. Once your diagnosis is confirmed, you will be better equipped to access appropriate information from a variety of sources that relate to your particular diagnosis and proposed treatment options. We would encourage you to talk to us first so we can help answer any questions you may have, and guide you to appropriate resources.
Tel: 01473 715748, and follow this link to our other contact information
Prior to diagnosis, these internet sites may be helpful for you,
How cancer is diagnosed
Most people are diagnosed with cancer after developing symptoms and seeing their GP, some as a result of screening in one of the national screening programmes and others by chance as a result of having an investigation such as a blood test or x-ray. If there is a suspicion of cancer, your GP will refer you to the hospital on a two week wait referral form (two week wait referral) this means any diagnostic tests needed, should be commenced at the hospital within 14 days.
Once your diagnostic tests are complete, a group of health professionals (Multi-Disciplinary Team – MDT) will meet to discuss these and decide the most appropriate treatment options for you. The members of the MDT are all experts in caring for patients with a particular type of cancer. For some cancers, treatment may be offered at a different hospital (specialist centre) i.e. Norwich, Cambridge, Chelmsford. Once you have completed your treatment there, you will return to Ipswich for follow-up appointments and any further treatment. Even when you are being treated at a specialist centre, you are still able to access all the resources and support available at Ipswich Hospital.
After diagnosis
Once your diagnosis is confirmed you will be invited to an appointment to discuss your results and treatment options, where you will meet your consultant and key worker. The keyworker may be a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) or Allied Healthcare Professional (AHP) such as a radiographer who can support you during your treatment and follow up. Once you know the name of your consultant or key worker and have questions please don’t hesitate to contact them.
The investigation and diagnostic process can take days or weeks, depending on how many tests are required to establish a firm diagnosis. Patients tell us this can be a worrying time and that they are sometimes unsure who to contact if they have questions, worries or concerns about what is happening. During this period, we encourage you to contact the Ipswich Cancer Wellbeing and Information Centre whose staff will be able to support you and will aim to answer any questions or concerns that you may have.
Tel: 01473 715748, and follow this link to our other contact information
Online information for new patients
A set of online material has been produced comprising a number of short videos recorded at Ipswich and Colchester Hospitals. To access this material please follow the link below:
Cancer Support - Information for New Patients
The information is broken down into a number of sections you can navigate using the menu on the left hand side of that page, or you can link directly into a topic using one of the links below:
If you require any further information, please contact us.
Support for family and friends
If you are supporting someone who may have cancer it can be a worrying time for you too. Your needs are just as important as those of the patient and there is lots of information and support available.
We have information on this website for carers and about support for families.
These websites give advice to family and friends about supporting someone with cancer: