When you come to Bath Clinic for the first time, you will most likely already have a cancer diagnosis. Your first consultation will be focused on exploring potential treatment options, and your oncologist (along with an oncology nurse) will advise you on expected outcomes from each option.
We always recommend bringing somebody with you to this appointment, like a family member of close friend. When you are discussing cancer treatments, it can be difficult to take everything in at first and having somebody there with you is often a real help.
Everything will always be explained as clearly and simply as possible, but if you have any questions or don’t understand something, it is important to let us know so that we can put that right.
Once everything has been explained to you, we will ask you to sign consent forms regarding your treatment, and you will then be given some time to go away and think about treatment options. This is usually for at least 48 hours.
It is important that you have this time and space to think honestly and realistically about what you want from your treatment, what your goals are for recovery, and whether the recommended treatment is right for you. While we can offer advice about the best treatment options, the decision is always yours and you need the opportunity to come to a decision without any pressure.
Once you have decided to proceed with treatment, you will be booked in for your first session. Your lead Oncology nurse will recap your diagnosis, confirm your consent and talk through the details about your chosen treatment plan once more with you.
The next steps depend on the treatment regime you are on. You may have oral medication, or treatment delivered intravenously (directly into the vein). Treatment is always in a private room for your convenience.
As you progress through your treatment, we will closely monitor and review everything so that we can ensure you are undergoing the most effective treatment. We can tailor and adjust your treatment programme as required.
We have an excellent on-site Physiotherapy team with extensive experience in helping people who are undergoing cancer treatment. They can help with pain, swelling, muscle weakness or stiffness that occurs as a result of your treatment, or to improve your mobility after a period of inactivity.
We work very closely with pain specialists to help manage any symptoms effectively throughout your treatment.
It is so important to get the right nutrients into your body during cancer treatment, but we know that this can often be difficult, particularly when treatment affects your appetite or causes you to feel nauseous. Dieticians are readily available to help you with nutrition advice and support if your appetite changes during your treatment.
Rather than having to wait for a referral, we can book appointments for you directly so that your rehabilitation can proceed promptly with minimal hassle for you.