Newly diagnosed patients
Finding support prior to receiving a diagnosis | How cancer is diagnosed | After diagnosis | 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: 01206 745347, 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 28 day wait referral form.
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.
Across the UK, there are 2 main NHS standards about starting cancer treatment.
The 62-day standard – cancer treatment should start within 62 days of when your referral for suspected cancer is received.
The 31-day standard – cancer treatment should start within 31 days of the decision to treat. This period starts from when you are diagnosed, and a decision is made with your team to start cancer treatment.
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 Colchester 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 Colchester 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 Cancer Wellbeing Centre at Colchester Hospital whose staff will be able to support you and will aim to answer any questions or concerns that you may have.
Tel: 01206 745347, and follow this link to our other contact information
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 a section on this website for carers.
Here are some websites you could visit that give advice to family and friends as to how to support someone with cancer.