How to Prepare for Your First Oncology Appointment: A Checklist

There is nothing ordinary about your first oncology appointment.

Even if you are composed on the outside, something inside you shifts when you walk into that building. The word oncology carries weight. And in those early days, clarity feels fragile.

Preparation does not eliminate fear.
But it replaces confusion with direction.

Here is how to walk in steady.

1. Bring Your Complete Medical Records

Do not assume everything is already available in the system.

Bring copies of:

• Biopsy and pathology reports
• Imaging reports (mammogram, ultrasound, CT, MRI, PET)
• Lab results
• Operative reports (if surgery has already occurred)
• Medication list including supplements

If possible, bring actual discs of imaging studies, not just printed summaries.

Details matter. Tumor markers matter. Margins matter. Receptor status matters. Small lines in pathology reports can change treatment plans entirely.

2. Write Down Your Questions Before You Go

Your brain will not function normally in that room. That is not weakness — that is trauma physiology.

Bring written questions such as:

• What stage is this, and how do you know?
• What type and subtype of cancer is this?
• What are my receptor results (ER, PR, HER2, etc.)?
• What are my treatment options?
• What is the goal of treatment, curative or control?
• What are the risks and benefits of each option?
• What does reconstruction timing look like if surgery is needed?

Leave space on the page to write answers.

3. Bring Someone With You

Even if you feel strong.

A second set of ears matters.
They will hear what you miss.
They will remember what you forget.

If no one can attend in person, FaceTime someone quietly during the visit.

4. Ask for a Written Treatment Summary

Before you leave, ask:

“Can I have a written summary of today’s plan?”

This should include:

• Diagnosis and stage
• Recommended treatment plan
• Order of treatment (surgery, chemo, radiation, endocrine therapy)
• Timeline
• Follow-up appointments

Walking out with clarity prevents late-night spirals fueled by uncertainty.

5. Understand the Next Three Steps

Do not leave only knowing the next appointment.

Ask:

“What are the next three steps after today?”

Cancer care is a sequence. Understanding the sequence restores a sense of control.

6. Ask About Genetic Testing

Especially if you have:

• A strong family history
• Early age diagnosis
• Triple-negative disease
• Bilateral disease

Genetic results may influence surgical decisions and reconstruction planning.

7. Organize a Medical Binder

This will become your command center.

Include:

• All reports
• Appointment notes
• Business cards
• Insurance information
• Symptom tracking
• Questions for future visits

Organization reduces chaos.

8. Take Notes on Reconstruction Early

If surgery is being discussed:

• Ask about immediate vs delayed reconstruction
• Ask about implant vs autologous options
• Ask about radiation impact on reconstruction
• Ask about lymphedema risk

Reconstruction is not cosmetic.
It is structural, emotional, and functional recovery.

And it deserves thoughtful planning.

9. Give Yourself Permission to Feel

You may cry.
You may feel numb.
You may feel strangely calm.

All of it is normal.

This appointment is not just medical. It is existential.

10. Consider Professional Support Before You Go

Sometimes the most powerful preparation happens before you step into the building.

Reviewing your pathology.
Understanding your terminology.
Crafting focused questions.
Knowing what decisions may arise.

The difference between feeling lost and feeling informed is often preparation.

You do not have to do this alone.

If you have an upcoming oncology appointment and want help reviewing your records or organizing your questions, I am here.

Not just as a nurse.
But as someone who understands exactly how that chair feels.

Warm regards,
Tina Saab, RN, BSN
Concierge Elite Nursing