What to Bring to All of Your Appointments
- Your Health Card (show your Health Card at every appointment).
- Your appointment sheet (if you have one).
- Your family doctor’s name and phone number (confirmed at each appointment).
- Your address and phone number (confirmed at each appointment).
- The name and phone number of at least 2 contact people if we cannot reach you about an appointment change.
- Your list of questions, if you have been keeping a list.
- Reading glasses, notebook and pen to take notes.
- Portable oxygen if you need it.
- Your medications or an up-to-date list, including:
- all prescription medications.
- all over-the-counter medications, vitamins and herbal remedies.
- all topical creams and inhalers.
- any medications you may need during the day, such as, for pain, diabetes or smoking cessation.
- Feel free to bring snacks. Light refreshments are provided by the volunteers.
You can download a printable checklist of these items here.
Tips for Your Appointments
Here are some helpful and important tips for patients to remember before each and every appointment:
- Make a list of questions you want to ask during your appointment.
- Arrive 15 minutes early in order to have time to:
- find a parking spot.
- check-in 15 minutes ahead of your scheduled appointment time.
- complete the Your Symptoms Matter assessment before seeing your doctor.
- Bring a pen and some paper to take notes.
- Bring a family member or friend to each appointment for support or to help you discuss your care with the cancer care team.
Your First Appointment
Please check in for your first appointment at the Regional Cancer Centre’s Main Reception Desk, located on Level 2 of our Hospital:
- Enter the Hospital through its West Entrance.
- After you have passed through the hospital screening kiosk, you will find the entrance to the Regional Cancer Centre.
- Go through the Regional Cancer Centre doors to find our Main Reception Desk. This is where you will “check-in”, for your in-person appointment.
- The clerk who registers your arrival will also direct you to the correct location to wait for your appointment.
- You must complete the “Your Symptoms Matter” screening tool before your cancer care appointment.
Your Symptoms Matter
Completing YOUR SYMPTONS MATTER (YSM) screening is important. It allows you to tell your healthcare team what symptoms are a problem for you. This helps you and your healthcare team to:
- Talk about symptoms that matter to you.
- See how your symptom scores change over time.
- Decide how to manage your symptoms.
How do I complete Your Symptoms Matter while at the Regional Cancer Centre?
If you are attending an in-person appointment and wish to complete YSM screening at the Regional Cancer Centre before this appointment:
- Please arrive 10 minutes early.
- Use the computers located in the patient waiting areas or ask the reception staff for an iPad or Tablet to use.
- Enter the 10 numbers on your Ontario Health Card (no letters, no spaces) and press ‘start’. You will then be directed to the YSM questions.
- After completing YSM, your scores will go to your healthcare team to review before your appointment.
How do I complete Your Symptoms Matter online?
You can complete YSM on a desktop computer, laptop, tablet or mobile phone.
- Within 24 hours before your appointment, go to https://isaac.cancercare.on.ca/
- Enter the 10 numbers on your Ontario Health Card (no letters, no spaces) and press ‘start’.
- After completing YSM, your scores will go to your healthcare team to review before your appointment.
Hold your phone camera up to this scan code to get direct access to completing YSM at home or on your personal device while in the Cancer Centre.
Meeting with Your Care Team
At this first appointment you will meet with a nurse and cancer doctor. Together with you, they plan your treatment and co-ordinate any tests and services you may need. The doctor and nurse will ask questions about your present and past health. This is the time to talk about your health and any concerns.
While the referring doctor or surgeon has sent your medical information to the Regional Cancer Centre, the cancer doctor may need more information, tests, or blood work to plan your treatment. You may also need to see other team members for more discussion and review of treatment options.
There is a lot of information to remember. We recommend you bring a family member or friend to all appointments to listen and take notes.
Key points:
- You will be given written information.
- You may need to make decisions to help your health care team plan your treatment.
- You may need to sign consent forms. If you find the forms too confusing, please let us know – we can help.
- If you do not need treatment at this time, you may be asked to come back for a follow-up appointment.
- If you have any questions in advance of your first appointment, please phone us at (807)684-7200 or toll free at 1-877-696-7223.
Future Appointments
Future appointments will be scheduled with your doctor in one of three ways:
- in-person
- by phone
- by a video call
Please review your appointment letter as this explains your appointment date and time, and how you will attend.
As already noted, you will need to complete the Your Symptoms Matter screening within 24 hours before any appointment. http://isaac.cancercare.on.ca/
The computer or iPad may also prompt you once every 30 days to complete a second survey called “Your Voice Matters”. Please share your thoughts about your experience to improve the patient experience for everyone.
Have your Health Card available and be prepared to confirm your address, phone number, preferred pharmacy and family doctor.
- In-person Appointments: Always arrive at the Regional Cancer Centre at least 10 minutes early and bring your Health Card to each appointment. Check in with the clerk at the Main Reception Desk.
- Phone Appointments: Be prepared 30 minutes before your appointment time, in case the phone call comes a bit early.
- Video Appointments: This type of appointment allows you to see your doctor by video using your home computer, tablet or cell phone. You will have a test call with the clinic staff to make sure this type of appointment will work for you. If it does, then you will receive an email with a link to connect to the appointment. The clinic staff will give you specific instructions if your appointment will be done this way.
During all future appointments, you will talk with your nurse and cancer doctor. They will review your medications, ask questions about your health and how you are doing.
Your doctor will review the results of your symptom screening together with you at this appointment. This helps you and your healthcare team to:
- Talk about symptoms that matter to you
- See how your symptom scores change over time
- Decide how to manage your symptoms
Appointment Changes
At the Regional Cancer Centre we try hard to make sure that your appointments go ahead as planned, but changes can happen.
- We will give you as much notice as possible if your clinic appointment needs to be changed.
- Your doctor works as part of a team and you may on occasion see a different doctor.
- Appointments can be mailed to you up to one year in advance. Please mark these appointments in your calendar.
If you need to change or cancel an appointment, call the Regional Cancer Centre as soon as possible. You must call at least 24 hours ahead of your appointment time.
If you need to change or cancel an appointment, call the Regional Cancer Centre as soon as possible. You must call at least 48 hours ahead of time. Phone (807) 684-7200 or toll-free at 1-877-696-7223.
Telemedicine Services
Telemedicine Services uses special video monitors and equipment. This service connects patients with doctors and health care professionals so patients do not have to travel long distances to their health care appointments.
- Patients living in Northwestern Ontario may be scheduled to visit their local hospital or clinic to use the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) or the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Telemedicine Network (KOTM, serving Indigenous communities).
- These Telemedicine systems make it easy for patients to participate in health care appointments with their doctor and other health care professionals.
For more information about Telemedicine Services, please speak to your health care team.
Click to learn more about Telemedicine Services
Tests and Lab Results
We understand that waiting for test results can be difficult. Test and lab results are usually given during clinic appointments with your doctor or you may be called at home.
Our lab is located in the Regional Cancer Centre on Level 3.
- Please arrive at the scheduled time for your lab appointment.
- If you do not have an appointment scheduled, come anytime between 8:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. for lab work.
- Check-in at the Main Reception Desk.
- If you have been given a lab slip, please bring it with you.
- If you are going to the Chemotherapy Unit for treatment, lab work must be done on a different day, before the day of your chemotherapy treatment.
- Please note that this lab is only to be used for tests ordered by your Regional Cancer Care doctor. Tests ordered by your family doctor or primary care provider must be done at a community lab.
