Documents to Bring
The documents for a first consultation are the reports that establish the diagnosis and the extent of the disease, together with the record of any previous treatment. A complete file lets the consultation focus on the plan and avoids repeating tests. The table below explains why each document matters; report PDFs can be sent in advance, while slides, blocks and image files follow by courier, secure link or in person.
| Document | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Passport or identity document | Needed for registration at the hospital and for the patient record. |
| Pathology report | Gives the tumour type, grade and biomarker results; the foundation of the plan. Bring the complete report. |
| Pathology slides and blocks | May be needed for review of the diagnosis or for additional tests; released by the laboratory on request, or as a digital scan. |
| Imaging reports and images (DICOM) | The report gives the interpretation; the images show the tumour's position and allow comparison with earlier scans. Both are needed. |
| Blood tests | Blood count, kidney and liver tests from the last month show whether treatment can be given safely. |
| Medication and allergy list | Drug interactions and allergies affect the choice of treatment. |
| Other medical conditions | Heart, kidney, liver disease and diabetes change the dose or choice of some drugs. |
| Previous treatment summary | Drugs received, doses, cycle dates and side effects determine the next line of treatment. |
| Genetic or genomic test report | If done, it directly affects the options; bring the PDF and the raw data file where available. |
Documents in English are read in the original. Documents in another language are accepted with a short English summary of the diagnosis, stage and treatment; a certified translation or an apostille is not needed for the medical review. Hospital patient portals in most countries allow reports and results to be downloaded as PDF files; imaging centres supply DICOM files on disc or through a link. How the documents are reviewed before the consultation is described on the cancer treatment pathway page.
Medication and Allergy List
The medication list includes every medicine taken regularly or occasionally, with dose and frequency; a photograph of the packaging or a printout from a pharmacy or patient portal is sufficient. Anticoagulants, diabetes and blood pressure medicines, painkillers and stomach medicines can interact with cancer drugs. A medicine that cannot be recalled at the consultation leaves the plan built on incomplete information.
Herbal products, vitamins and supplements belong on the list too; some change the blood level of chemotherapy and targeted drugs. Allergies to medicines, foods and contrast agents, and any earlier drug reaction, are noted with the date and the symptoms. Bring the list in English if you can; the doctor enters it in the record at the consultation.
Questions to Ask
Writing down your questions in advance makes the consultation more productive and stops important topics being forgotten. The NCI and NCCN patient resources suggest the headings below; add your own according to your situation. Note the answers, or ask your companion to.
- Diagnosis
- What type and grade of cancer is it? What do the biomarker results in the pathology report mean?
- Stage
- What stage is the disease? Are further tests needed to complete staging?
- Goal of treatment
- Is the aim to remove the disease completely or to control it?
- Options
- What are the treatment options? What do the guidelines recommend at this stage? Is surgery or radiotherapy needed?
- Side effects
- Which side effects are expected? Which must be reported at once? How will daily life and work be affected?
- Duration and schedule
- How long will treatment last, how many cycles are planned and when will response be assessed?
- Molecular testing
- Is tumour genetic testing or hereditary testing needed? How would the result change treatment?
- Location of care
- Which parts of treatment can be given at home with my own oncologist, and which need to be in Izmir?
- Contact
- Who do I contact in an emergency? Which channel is used for routine questions, and in which hours?
Questions about the process, follow-up after treatment and the right to ask for a second opinion in oncology can all be raised freely at the consultation. Other frequently asked topics are collected on the frequently asked questions page.
What Happens on the Day
The day consists of registration, a short wait, the consultation and, where needed, planning of same-day tests. The consultation takes place at the medical oncology outpatient clinic in Konak, Izmir; the address and directions are on the contact page. There is no need to fast, and medicines are taken as usual. For a video consultation, the same documents are sent in advance and a link and a time in Türkiye time (UTC+3) are agreed.
- Registration: arrive 10 to 15 minutes before the appointment; registration is done with your passport or identity document, then you go to the waiting area of the clinic.
- Consultation: the doctor has already reviewed the documents sent in advance; the history is taken, an examination is carried out and the documents are reviewed together. A first consultation usually lasts 30 to 45 minutes.
- Plan: missing tests are listed and given in writing. If the file is complete, the goal of treatment and the options are discussed; the case is presented at the tumour board where needed.
- Next step: test dates and a second consultation are arranged; who to contact, and in which situation, is given in writing.
Important: In your WhatsApp message, give your name, age, diagnosis, treating hospital, country and whether your documents are ready, and attach the reports as PDF or photographs. The line is read during working hours (Türkiye time, UTC+3) and is not for emergencies. Health data you share is used only for the assessment; details are in the privacy policy.
Bringing a Companion
A relative or friend may attend the consultation; taking notes, following the list of questions and keeping the documents in order are the most useful contributions. A great deal of information is given, and a second listener makes it easier to recall afterwards. The patient decides how much is shared with the companion, and that choice is recorded in the file.
Audio recording of the consultation is possible only with the doctor's knowledge and agreement. An interpreter may attend if the patient prefers; consultations are held in English, and the need for an interpreter is mentioned when the appointment is arranged so that it is planned for. If you tell us in advance about dietary, religious or companion needs during a stay in Izmir, they are taken into account in planning. The process as a whole and further notes for relatives are in the patient guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the pathology report essential?
If cancer has been diagnosed, the pathology report is the core document of the first consultation: it gives the tumour type, grade and biomarker results, and the treatment plan is built on it. Patients who have not yet had a biopsy, and only have a suspicious finding on imaging, can still make contact; the first consultation then plans how and where the biopsy is done. Send the complete report rather than the conclusion page alone, in English or with an English summary.
Do you need the imaging files or the reports?
Both. The report gives the radiologist's interpretation; the images themselves let the doctor see the position and size of the tumour and compare it with earlier scans. Images are obtained from the imaging centre as DICOM files, on disc, on a USB stick or through a download link; a screenshot or a photograph of a screen is not sufficient. Reports can be sent in advance by WhatsApp or e-mail, and the image files by secure link or on arrival.
Should I fast before the appointment?
No. The first consultation consists of an examination and a review of documents, so there is no need to fast. Take your usual medicines and bring the packaging or a list. If a blood test is planned for the same day, you will be told when the appointment is arranged whether fasting is needed; most oncology blood tests do not require it. Patients with diabetes should keep to their usual medicines and meals and mention this at the consultation.
How long is the appointment?
A first consultation usually lasts 30 to 45 minutes. When documents have been sent in advance, the review is done beforehand and the time is spent on the plan and your questions. If tests are missing, the consultation is shorter and a second meeting is arranged once the results are in. Follow-up consultations are shorter. Video consultations follow the same pattern. Some waiting is possible on busy clinic days, and arriving 10 to 15 minutes early is enough for registration.
Can my companion come in?
Yes. A relative or friend may sit in on the consultation if the patient wishes; a second listener who takes notes helps with remembering what was said, because a great deal of information is given. The patient decides how much is shared with the companion, and that choice is noted in the file. Audio recording is possible only with the doctor's knowledge and agreement. If more than one person will attend, or an interpreter is needed, say so when arranging the appointment.
How do I collect previous treatment records?
Ask the hospital where you were treated for a discharge summary and the treatment protocol; together they list the drugs given, the doses, the cycle dates and any side effects. Most hospitals and patient portals can supply reports and test results as PDF files, and the imaging centre can supply DICOM files. If no summary exists, write your own list of treatments with dates and drug names; a list in your own hand fills the gap until the official documents arrive.
Related Pages
Patient Guide
Open the Page
Treatment Pathway
Open the Page
Second Opinion
Open the Page
Frequently Asked Questions
Open the Page
International Patients
Open the Page
Contact
Open the PageSources and Guidelines
- National Cancer Institute. Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Cancer. Link
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Guidelines for Patients. Link
- European Society for Medical Oncology. ESMO Patient Guides. Link
- Cancer Research UK. Talking to your doctor: preparing for your appointment. Link
- Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health. Regulation on Patient Rights. Link