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Your first visit, step by step
Knowing what to expect makes the first appointment easier — for you and for whoever comes with you.
A first oncology appointment usually lasts 60 to 90 minutes. Most of that time is unhurried conversation with your physician — reviewing your records, examining you, answering questions, and mapping out what happens next. Treatment almost never starts the same day — this visit is a conversation, not a procedure.
Before you arrive
Once your appointment is booked, our team requests your pathology, imaging, and records from your other providers — you don’t have to collect them yourself, though bringing copies never hurts.
Our staff confirms your coverage and handles referral paperwork before you arrive, so the visit starts with medicine, not forms.
Every question is fair game. Writing them down beforehand means none get lost in the moment.
What to bring
- Photo ID and insurance card(s)
- A complete list of medications, vitamins, and supplements, with doses
- Any pathology reports, imaging discs, or records you have copies of
- Your written questions
- A family member or friend — a second set of ears is one of the most valuable things you can bring
During the visit
You’ll typically have lab work drawn in our in-house laboratory first, then meet your physician. From your very first visit, you’re seen by one of our oncologists, with a doctor directing your care from day one. Together you’ll review your diagnosis in plain language, discuss every treatment path that fits your situation and agree on next steps. You leave with a written plan: what happens, when, where, and who to call with questions.
After the visit
Our team schedules whatever comes next — scans, procedures, or your first treatment — and our staff helps you sort out anything related to insurance or scheduling along the way. You will never be left wondering what happens next.