Seeing a medical oncologist (Medical oncology consultation)
An appointment with a medical oncologist to discuss cancer drug treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy or hormone therapy, and to plan care.
✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review
In short
- It is an appointment to discuss cancer medicines and plan care — not the treatment itself.
- Decisions are usually team-based (MDT), and the oncologist explains the options and the realistic aim of treatment.
- Be clear whether treatment is intended to try to cure the cancer or to control it and relieve symptoms — ask directly.
- Most cancer care in the UK is NHS-funded; paying privately may speed up access or give a second opinion, but does not buy a cure.
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 the treatment options are.
If you are acutely unwell — for example with severe pain, breathlessness or signs of serious infection — you need urgent or emergency care, not a routine...
You discuss your diagnosis, the options and the aim of treatment, and ask questions.
A clear written summary of what was discussed and the agreed plan.
You discuss your diagnosis, the options and the aim of treatment, and ask questions.
You usually receive a summary of what was discussed, either verbally, in a clinic letter, or both.
In most situations you have time to consider the options, talk to family and seek a second opinion if you wish.
The team arranges baseline tests, consent and scheduling, and explains how treatment and monitoring will work.
What is a medical oncology consultation?
A medical oncologist is a doctor who treats cancer using medicines — including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted (biological) therapy and hormone therapy. A medical oncology consultation is an appointment to discuss whether drug treatment could help, what it involves, and what the realistic aims are.
Cancer treatment decisions are normally made by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) — a group of specialists including surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and specialist nurses — who review your diagnosis and scans together. The oncologist then discusses the options with you.
An important part of the conversation is the aim of treatment. Some treatment is given with the intention of trying to cure a cancer (curative intent); other treatment aims to control the cancer, relieve symptoms and help you live longer or more comfortably (palliative intent). Your oncologist should be honest about which applies to you.
This is a consultation, not a treatment. No one should pressure you into starting drug treatment; you should leave with information to help you decide, and time to ask questions.
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 detailed discussion of your diagnosis, scans and test results, your general health and wishes, and the treatment options and their aims.
Treatment planning discussion
Going through a specific plan in detail — what drugs, how they are given, the schedule, likely side effects and monitoring — before you consent.
Second opinion
Reviewing a diagnosis or plan made elsewhere, to confirm it or offer an alternative view. A good second opinion is honest, even when it agrees with the first.
Follow-up and review
Checking how treatment is working, managing side effects, reviewing scans and deciding whether to continue, change or stop treatment.
Preparing for your appointment
- Bring your diagnosis details, scan and biopsy results, and any letters from other doctors.
- Write a list of all your medicines, supplements and allergies.
- Note your main symptoms, how you have been feeling, and any other health conditions.
- Think about your priorities — what matters most to you about treatment and quality of life.
- Write down your questions, including the aim of treatment and what it involves.
- Consider bringing someone with you to listen and take notes.
- It is fine to ask whether you can record the conversation or get a written summary.
What happens
The oncologist reviews your diagnosis, scans and test results, often after these have been discussed at an MDT meeting. They ask about your symptoms, general health, other conditions and what matters to you.
They then explain the options. This includes whether drug treatment is recommended, the aim of treatment (to try to cure, or to control the cancer and relieve symptoms), what the treatment involves, the likely benefits and side effects, and the alternatives — including the choice not to have drug treatment.
You should have the chance to ask questions and, in most situations, time to think before deciding. If you go ahead, the team explains consent, scheduling and monitoring. You usually receive a clinic letter summarising what was discussed, and you are given a way to contact the team.
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…
- If you are acutely unwell — for example with severe pain, breathlessness or signs of serious infection — you need urgent or emergency care, not a routine clinic appointment.
- A consultation does not treat the cancer; it informs decisions about treatment.
- Drug treatment is not right for everyone, and the oncologist may recommend other approaches or supportive care.
- A private consultation is not a way to obtain unproven or non-evidence-based treatments safely.
Delay or rearrange if…
- Important results (scans, biopsy, MDT outcome) are not yet available and would change the discussion.
- You feel too unwell to take part in a detailed discussion and need symptom control first.
- You need more time or support before making a major decision.
- There is a safeguarding or capacity concern that needs addressing first.
Alternatives to discuss
- Care entirely within the NHS pathway, which provides the same evidence-based treatments.
- A second opinion from another oncologist.
- Supportive or palliative care if the focus is comfort and quality of life.
- Choosing not to have drug treatment, with support either way.
- Discussing a clinical trial where one is suitable.
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 the treatment options are.
- An honest discussion of the aim of treatment and what it can and cannot achieve.
- Information about benefits, side effects, alternatives and the option not to treat.
- A plan tailored to you, your health and your priorities.
- A named team and contact route for questions and side effects.
Risks & complications
- It can be a lot of information to take in, and emotionally difficult.
- Uncertainty — outcomes and how well treatment will work cannot be predicted exactly.
- Needing further tests or scans before a final plan can be made.
- Decisions may need to wait for MDT review or more results.
- Differing opinions between specialists, which can be unsettling but can also be helpful.
- Finding that drug treatment is not recommended or not suitable for you.
- Realising the aim is to control rather than cure the cancer, which can be hard to hear.
- A plan that changes significantly once further results are available.
The biggest issue at a consultation is managing uncertainty honestly. No oncologist can guarantee an outcome. Ask plainly what the aim of treatment is, how likely it is to help, what the side effects are, and what happens if you choose not to have it or to wait.
Published figures to discuss
A consultation itself carries no procedural risk, so complication percentages do not apply. The key uncertainties are about treatment outcomes, which vary widely by cancer type, stage and the individual person. Reputable sources avoid quoting single survival or response figures because they can mislead; your oncologist should explain what is realistic for your specific situation.
| Figure | Reported range | How to interpret it | Source / confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment intent misunderstood | Common consent issue | A consultation should clearly state whether treatment is curative, adjuvant, disease-controlling or symptom-focused. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
| MDT or pathology information incomplete | Common before final plan | Histology, stage, biomarkers, performance status and patient goals are all needed for a robust plan. | NHS — Tests and treatment for cancernhs.ukSource-linked context |
| Emergency toxicity not safety-netted | Avoidable | Fever on chemotherapy, severe diarrhoea/rash/breathlessness on immunotherapy and uncontrolled symptoms need clear urgent pathways. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
| Options framed without patient priorities | Common | Benefit, side effects, time in hospital, travel, work, family and quality of life should be discussed. | 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. Afterwards, the focus is understanding the plan, getting your questions answered, and deciding what is right for you.
- Feeling overwhelmed or emotional after the appointment.
- Thinking of questions only after you get home — write them down to ask next time.
- Needing more than one conversation before you feel ready to decide.
- Waiting for further tests or an MDT discussion before the plan is finalised.
Aftercare
- Read your clinic letter and note anything you do not understand to ask about.
- Keep your list of medicines and allergies up to date and share it with the team.
- Use your named contact (often a clinical nurse specialist) for questions between visits.
- Take time to consider the options and involve people you trust.
- Ask about a second opinion if you want one — a good team will support this.
- Make sure you know how your private and NHS care will work together, if both are involved.
- All diagnosis, scan and biopsy results gathered
- Up-to-date list of medicines, supplements and allergies
- List of other health conditions
- Written questions, including the aim of treatment
- Someone to come with you, if you would like support
- A way to record or get a written summary of the discussion
- Contact details for the team saved
⚠ Get urgent help if…
- New or worsening symptoms while you are waiting to be seen or to start treatment.
- Severe pain, breathlessness, or feeling very unwell — seek urgent medical help.
- Signs of infection such as a high temperature, especially if you have already started treatment.
- Unmanageable side effects if treatment has begun — contact your team straight away.
- Feeling unable to cope emotionally — tell your team, who can arrange support.
- Confusion, drowsiness or collapse — this is an emergency.
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 outcome from the consultation is that you understand your diagnosis, the realistic aim of any treatment, the options including doing nothing, and what happens next. It does not, by itself, change the cancer.
No consultation can promise that treatment will work or cure the cancer. What it can do is give you honest, balanced information so you can make a decision that fits your situation and what matters to you.
A treatment plan is not fixed for ever. It is reviewed as treatment progresses, as scans and tests show how the cancer is responding, and as your health and priorities change. Plans are commonly adjusted over time.
Related tests, treatments or support
Drug treatment is often one part of a wider plan that may include surgery, radiotherapy and supportive (palliative) care. A medical oncologist works alongside other specialists, and you may also see a clinical oncologist (who gives radiotherapy) and a specialist nurse.
Follow-up & long-term care
Follow-up depends on your situation. It may be a further appointment to decide on treatment, regular reviews during treatment, or scans to check how the cancer is responding. Your team should tell you how and when results will reach you and who to contact in between.
Repeat, follow-on and what comes next
- Treatment plans are reviewed and often changed as scans show how the cancer responds.
- A first plan may be revised once further test results or an MDT discussion are complete.
- It is normal to need more than one appointment before a decision feels right.
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 written summary of what was discussed and the agreed plan.
- A named contact, often a clinical nurse specialist, for questions and side effects.
- An honest explanation of the aim of treatment and what to expect.
- Smooth coordination with the NHS and the wider cancer team, including a clear emergency plan.
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:
- Length of the appointment and whether it is a first or follow-up consultation.
- Whether scans, blood tests or biopsies need reviewing or repeating.
- Whether a written report, second opinion or detailed treatment plan is provided.
- Number of follow-up appointments needed.
- Coordination with an MDT and with NHS services.
- Any additional letters, forms or communication with other doctors.
- The consultation fee for the first appointment and for follow-ups.
- Whether reviewing existing scans and results is included.
- The cost of any new tests requested, and where they would be done.
- Whether a written summary or report is provided.
- What happens, and what it costs, if further appointments or tests are needed.
- How private care will be coordinated with NHS treatment and funding.
On the NHS? Most cancer care in the UK is provided and funded by the NHS to national standards; a private oncology consultation may be used for a quicker first appointment, more choice of timing, or a second opinion, but does not change the underlying treatments available or guarantee outcomes.
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 told clearly whether treatment is intended to cure or to control the cancer.
- Feeling pressured to start treatment without time to consider alternatives.
- Not having the option of no treatment or supportive care explained.
- Unclear arrangements for how private and NHS care, and their costs, fit together.
Marketing red flags
- Promises of a cure or guaranteed survival, especially for a large fee.
- Overseas or private clinics offering unproven 'miracle' treatments not backed by evidence.
- Discouraging you from NHS care or from getting a second opinion.
- Pressure to decide or pay quickly without proper information.
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 treatment for me — to try to cure the cancer, or to control it?
- How likely is this treatment to help, and how will we know if it is working?
- What are the main side effects, and how will they be managed and monitored?
- What are my alternatives, including not having drug treatment?
- Was my case discussed by a multidisciplinary team, and what did they recommend?
- If I have private treatment, how will it work alongside my NHS care?
- Are there any clinical trials I could consider, and what would taking part involve?
- 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 medical oncologist and a clinical oncologist?
Will the oncologist tell me if treatment is meant to cure the cancer?
Can paying privately get me a cure I could not get on the NHS?
Can I get a second opinion?
What if I do not want drug treatment?
Should I be wary of clinics offering 'miracle' cancer cures?
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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 — Your multidisciplinary team (MDT) NHS — Tests and treatment for cancer GMC — Decision making and consent
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: Immunotherapy for cancer · Targeted (biological) cancer therapy · Hormone therapy for cancer · Cancer treatment tablets (oral anticancer therapy) · Getting a second opinion about cancer