Clinical oncology consultation
An appointment with a clinical oncologist to discuss a cancer diagnosis and the treatment options, which can include radiotherapy and drug treatments, and to agree a plan.
✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review
In short
- A clinical oncologist treats cancer with radiotherapy and drug treatments, and the consultation is to explain options and agree a plan with you.
- Treatment aims differ: curing the cancer (curative intent) or controlling it and easing symptoms (palliative intent); a good consultation is honest about which applies.
- Decisions are usually MDT-led, and sometimes a definite plan needs more scans or results first.
- You can take time and ask for a second opinion; the consultation does not commit you to treatment, and private care should still link to NHS services.
A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.
At a glance
A general guide. Your specialist will give you advice for your situation.
A clear explanation of your diagnosis and what is known so far
An urgent new symptom (such as severe breathlessness, heavy bleeding or suspected infection on chemotherapy) needs emergency care, not a routine clinic...
Your history is taken, your diagnosis explained, and options discussed. You may have examination, blood tests or scans the same day.
A clear clinic letter you can keep and share with your GP.
Your history is taken, your diagnosis explained, and options discussed. You may have examination, blood tests or...
You should leave knowing the plan or next step, who your key worker is, and how to contact the team with questions.
You receive a clinic letter, and any further scans or MDT discussion happen. A plan may be confirmed at this stage.
If treatment is agreed, you move to planning and consent. If you are deciding or seeking a second opinion, you can...
What is a clinical oncology consultation?
A clinical oncology consultation is an appointment with a clinical oncologist: a cancer specialist who treats cancer with radiotherapy and with drug treatments such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy and some targeted treatments. (In the UK, a medical oncologist focuses on drug treatments, while a clinical oncologist also uses radiotherapy.)
The purpose is to explain your diagnosis as it stands, go through the treatment options, and help you decide what is right for you. The oncologist will usually have discussed your case, or will discuss it, with a multidisciplinary team (MDT): a group of specialists including surgeons, radiologists, pathologists and nurses who together advise on cancer care.
An important honest point is the aim of treatment. Some treatment is given with the intention of curing the cancer (curative intent); some is given to control the cancer or relieve symptoms when cure is not the goal (palliative intent). A good consultation is clear about which applies to you, and why, without over-promising.
This appointment is about information and shared decisions. It is reasonable to take time, ask questions and seek a second opinion. A consultation does not commit you to any particular treatment.
Types, options & approaches
There may be different ways to do this. The right approach depends on the clinical question and your circumstances.
Options at a glance
These are the main approaches described in this guide. The right option depends on the diagnosis, your goals and what your clinician thinks is safe.
First (new patient) consultation
A longer appointment to take your history, explain your diagnosis and the stage if known, and outline the options. A plan may be agreed, or further tests may be arranged...
Treatment planning consultation
A focused discussion once the options are clear, going through the recommended treatment, its aim, what it involves and its side effects, and consent.
Review or on-treatment appointment
Checking how you are during or after treatment, managing side effects, and reviewing whether the plan is working or needs to change.
Second opinion
A consultation to review a diagnosis or proposed plan from another team. A responsible second opinion will usually want your scans, pathology and letters and will coordinate...
Preparing for your appointment
- Bring or arrange access to your diagnosis details, scan results and pathology (biopsy) reports if you have them.
- Write down your current medicines, allergies and other health conditions.
- Note your main questions and what matters most to you about treatment and quality of life.
- Consider bringing someone with you to listen and take notes.
- Think about whether you want to know detailed information about outlook, so you can tell the oncologist your preference.
- If this is a private or second-opinion appointment, ask for your NHS records and images to be available.
- Allow extra time; first appointments can run long and you may have scans or blood tests the same day.
What happens
The oncologist asks about your symptoms, medical history, other conditions and medicines, and examines you if needed. They explain your diagnosis, and the stage of the cancer if this is known, in plain terms.
They then talk through the treatment options, including what each one aims to achieve, what it involves, the likely side effects and the main alternatives, including the option of no active cancer treatment or supportive care. Your case may be discussed at an MDT meeting either before or after this appointment.
Where possible you agree a plan together. Sometimes more information is needed first, such as further scans or test results, or you may simply want time to decide. You should be given written information or a clinic letter, and the name and contact details of a key worker, often a clinical nurse specialist, who can answer questions afterwards.
Is this appointment right for me?
A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.
May not be suitable if…
- An urgent new symptom (such as severe breathlessness, heavy bleeding or suspected infection on chemotherapy) needs emergency care, not a routine clinic appointment.
- A consultation cannot replace the tests, scans or pathology needed to make a firm plan if these are missing.
- A private one-off opinion that cannot access your records or images may be of limited value without coordination.
- If you do not want active cancer treatment, this should be respected and supported rather than overridden.
Delay or rearrange if…
- You are acutely unwell and need urgent assessment first.
- Key results (scans, biopsy) are not yet available, so a firm plan cannot be made.
- You are too distressed to take in information and would benefit from support and a companion first.
- You want time, or a second opinion, before agreeing to treatment, where it is safe to wait.
Alternatives to discuss
- Continuing care entirely within the NHS pathway.
- A second opinion from another oncologist or centre.
- Discussion with a clinical nurse specialist or GP to prepare before seeing the oncologist.
- Supportive and palliative care input where controlling symptoms and quality of life are the priority.
Before you decide
Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.
What matters most to me?
Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.
What are all my options?
Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.
What would make me pause?
Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.
What happens if I do nothing today?
For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.
Benefits
- A clear explanation of your diagnosis and what is known so far
- An honest account of treatment options and their aims (curative or palliative)
- Access to specialist, MDT-informed advice
- A shared plan and the chance to ask questions
- A named contact (often a clinical nurse specialist) for ongoing support
- The opportunity for a second opinion if you want one
Risks & complications
- Receiving difficult or distressing news
- Uncertainty, because a definite plan sometimes needs more tests first
- A lot of information to take in at once
- Anxiety while waiting for further scans or MDT discussion
- Conflicting advice between teams, which a second opinion can help resolve
- Feeling pressed for time to make a decision
- Finding the proposed plan differs from what you expected
- A diagnosis or stage being revised once further results are available
The main risk is emotional rather than physical, and the difficulty of taking in complex information at a hard time. Ask the oncologist to be clear about the aim of treatment, to put the key points in writing, and to give you a named contact, so you can revisit the discussion when you are ready.
Published figures to discuss
A consultation does not have meaningful 'success' or complication rates; its value is in clear, honest information and shared decisions. Outcome figures for cancer treatments vary enormously by cancer type, stage, treatment and the individual, and should come from your oncologist for your specific situation rather than from general numbers. We have deliberately not stated survival or response percentages here.
| Figure | Reported range | How to interpret it | Source / confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment recommendation changing after MDT review or staging | Common in cancer care | Imaging, pathology, performance status and patient priorities can all change the balance between surgery, radiotherapy, systemic therapy and supportive care. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
| Radiotherapy side effects | Usually site-specific; fatigue and local skin or mucosal effects are common | Ask for the likely acute and late effects for the exact target and dose. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
| Over-treatment when benefit is small | A real risk in frailty, poor performance status or very advanced disease | Good oncology consent includes the option of symptom-focused care and the absolute benefit expected. | Royal College of Radiologists — Clinical oncologyrcr.ac.ukSource-linked context |
| Under-treatment because of fear of side effects | Also possible | The discussion should quantify both cancer-control benefit and treatment harm in plain language. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.
What happens afterwards
There is no physical recovery from a consultation. What matters afterwards is understanding the plan, having your questions answered, and knowing who to contact and what the next steps are.
- Feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information
- Thinking of questions only after you get home
- Needing to talk the plan through with family or your key worker
- Waiting for further results before everything is settled
Aftercare
- Read your clinic letter and check it matches your understanding; query anything that does not.
- Write down questions as they occur to you and contact your key worker.
- Make sure you know the aim of any proposed treatment and the main alternatives.
- Tell your GP and keep them informed, especially if this was a private appointment.
- Use any specialist nurse, counselling or support services offered.
- Take reasonable time over decisions where it is safe to do so, and ask if any decision is urgent.
- Diagnosis, scan and pathology details gathered
- List of medicines, allergies and conditions ready
- Main questions and priorities written down
- Someone to come with you if possible
- Way to access NHS records/images for a private or second-opinion visit
- Key worker's name and contact details noted at the appointment
⚠ Get urgent help if…
- New severe symptoms such as breathlessness, chest pain, heavy bleeding, severe pain or a high temperature need urgent medical care, not a wait for your next appointment.
- Signs of infection are an emergency if you are on or recently had chemotherapy; contact your team's emergency line immediately.
- Severe distress, hopelessness or thoughts of self-harm after bad news should prompt urgent support from your GP or a crisis service.
- If you do not understand the aim of your treatment, ask before agreeing to it.
- If a provider promises a cure or guarantees results, treat that as a warning sign and seek a second opinion.
Who to contact: your clinician, clinic or test provider first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.
General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your specialist gives you.
Results & realistic expectations
A good consultation leaves you understanding your diagnosis as far as it is known, the realistic aim of any treatment, the main options and their trade-offs, and the next step. It will not always give certainty, because cancer care often depends on further tests, response to treatment and MDT input.
No consultation can guarantee an outcome. Honest information about whether treatment is intended to cure or to control and relieve symptoms is more useful, and more trustworthy, than reassurance that sounds too good to be true.
A treatment plan is not fixed. It may change as you respond to treatment, as new scan results come in, or as your priorities change. Regular review is part of cancer care, and it is reasonable to revisit decisions, including the balance between treatment and quality of life, over time.
Related tests, treatments or support
A clinical oncology consultation usually sits alongside input from surgery, imaging, pathology, palliative care and specialist nursing. Treatments are often combined or sequenced, for example surgery followed by radiotherapy or drug treatment, and the MDT helps coordinate this.
Follow-up & long-term care
After the consultation you should receive a clinic letter and know the next step, whether that is further tests, MDT discussion, treatment planning or a review. A key worker, often a clinical nurse specialist, is usually your point of contact. Ask how quickly you can be seen if your symptoms change.
Repeat, follow-on and what comes next
- A plan may change as you respond to treatment or as new results come in.
- A diagnosis or stage can be revised once further tests are complete.
- It is reasonable to revisit decisions, including stopping or changing treatment, over time.
- A second opinion may confirm or adjust the proposed plan.
Ask what happens if the result is unclear or needs repeating, and what is included if further tests or follow-up are needed.
What good aftercare looks like
- A clear clinic letter you can keep and share with your GP.
- A named key worker, often a clinical nurse specialist, with contact details.
- A defined next step and timescale, and an emergency contact for new symptoms.
- Coordination between any private care and your NHS team.
- Access to support services, including psychological and palliative care where relevant.
What affects the cost
Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:
- The length and complexity of the appointment, and whether it is a new or follow-up visit
- Whether scans, blood tests or other investigations are done at the same visit
- Reviewing outside scans and pathology, especially for a second opinion
- The seniority of the consultant and any MDT input
- Clinic letters, reports or onward referrals
- Follow-up appointments and ongoing review
- What the consultation fee includes and whether follow-up is separate
- Whether reviewing your existing scans and pathology is included
- The cost of any tests or scans done at the visit
- Whether a clinic letter and GP communication are included
- How a second opinion is coordinated with your existing team
- What happens, and what it costs, if further investigations are needed before a plan
On the NHS? Cancer treatment and oncology consultations are provided on the NHS; people sometimes pay privately for a faster appointment, choice of specialist or a second opinion, and responsible private care coordinates with NHS services.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including reports, follow-up and what happens if the result is inconclusive — before you decide.
Consent traps and marketing red flags
These are not small details. They are often where patients lose choice, time to reflect, or realistic expectations.
Consent traps
- Not being clear about whether treatment is intended to cure or to control symptoms.
- Glossing over the option of no active cancer treatment or supportive care.
- Not explaining the main side effects and alternatives before agreeing to treatment.
- Pressuring a decision when more information or time would be reasonable.
- Failing to give written information or a named contact.
Marketing red flags
- Promising or implying a cure, or 'guaranteed' results.
- Offering treatments not supported by evidence or your MDT, especially expensive self-pay options.
- Discouraging a second opinion or refusing to coordinate with your NHS team.
- Selling newer machines or branded treatments as automatically better for everyone.
- Downplaying side effects or the realistic aim of treatment to encourage you to proceed.
Choosing a specialist safely
- Check the specialist is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
- Make sure they work at a CQC-registered service, and look for membership of the relevant Royal College or professional body.
- You're entitled to time to consider and to have your questions answered before you agree — the specialist who looks after you should explain it, not a salesperson.
- Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
- You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including any follow-up — before you decide.
Questions to ask your medical professional
Take this to your consultation. A good specialist will welcome every one of these.
- What is the aim of the treatment you are recommending: to cure, or to control and relieve symptoms?
- Has my case been discussed by the MDT, and what did they advise?
- What are my main options, including the option of no active cancer treatment?
- What are the likely benefits and side effects of each option for someone in my situation?
- How quickly do I need to decide, and can I have a second opinion?
- Who is my key worker, and how do I contact the team if my symptoms change?
- Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
- Will you be the specialist who carries out my appointment, and who looks after me afterwards?
- What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
- What does a realistic result look like — and what can this appointment not achieve?
- What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
- Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
- What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a clinical oncologist and a medical oncologist?
Will I be told whether my treatment can cure the cancer?
Can I see an oncologist privately and still use the NHS?
Can I get a second opinion?
Will I have to decide on treatment at the first appointment?
What is an MDT?
Find a verified specialist for clinical oncology consultation
Every consultant is GMC-checked and independently reviewed. Search by postcode and distance, or switch to a map. Ordered by rating, relevance and recency — never by who pays.
No verified consultants list this procedure yet — browse the full directory.
How we made this page
Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →
Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.
Sources & standards: Macmillan Cancer Support — Questions to ask your healthcare team Cancer Research UK — Radiotherapy (overview) Royal College of Radiologists — Clinical oncology NHS — Radiotherapy overview (clinical oncology treatments) Macmillan Cancer Support — The multidisciplinary team (MDT)
Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.
Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.
Related guides: External beam radiotherapy · Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) · Image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) · Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR / SBRT) · Genetic cancer risk assessment