Your first appointment at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is a time for you and your hematologist-oncologist to meet. You might meet your advanced practice provider, too. You will talk about your diagnosis, subtype, disease stage and likely treatment. This visit is also a time for us to start getting to know you as a person. This helps us fit our recommendations to you. Together, you and your care team will decide what needs to happen next.
We encourage you to bring a family member or friend to your first appointment (and any future visits).
“In the first appointment, we focus on the big picture. We communicate what your diagnosis is, what it means and whether any additional information is needed. We discuss next steps, which could include things that need to be done before starting treatment, as well as the logistics of the treatment itself.”
— Ryan C. Lynch, MD, hematologist-oncologist
First appointments usually last one to two hours. You will spend about one hour with your physician. The rest of your visit may involve checking in, being escorted to an exam room and getting settled in there, meeting other members of your team and setting up your next appointments. Here is what you can expect to happen.
Here are tips about how to prepare for your first appointment at Fred Hutch and what to bring.
As a caregiver, you can give your loved one both emotional and practical support for their first appointment. Ask them if you can help with things like these: