Oncology and Haematology Clinic

Making an appointment 

You must have a referral to book an appointment in the clinic. Your care team will set up any appointments or consultations you may need with our team.

Your first visit: what to bring 

• A list of your current medicines, and herbal/vitamin supplements
• Imaging from other hospitals including mammograms, ultrasounds, or x-rays
• Contact information of your family doctor or any specialists you are currently seeing or have seen
• Drug store name, address, and phone number
• Something to take notes with
• Health card, private drug insurance card, or any other method of payment for possible prescriptions
• Family member or friend may come if you wish.

What to expect

• Please check in at the reception desk.
• You will be asked to wait in the waiting room until your name is called.
• Your first visit to the clinic will be a consultation with an oncologist or hematologist. These are doctors who specialize in treating cancer.
• The doctor will discuss your case with you and determine the next steps.
• The doctor will explain if you require treatment and what your options are. If you require treatment, they will discuss the benefits and side effects with you. You will not receive any treatment during this first visit.
• You will be provided with a binder of clinic information, contact numbers and important information about your treatment.
• You will be provided with any necessary follow up appointments.
• You are required to sign a consent form before receiving any cancer treatments.

Chemotherapy Treatment

Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses chemicals to kill fast-growing cells in your body. Chemotherapy is effective for treating cancer, since cancer cells grow and multiply much more quickly than most cells in the body. Chemotherapy drugs can be used alone or in combination to treat a wide variety of cancers.

There are a variety of settings in which chemotherapy may be used in people with cancer:

• Chemotherapy can be used to cure your cancer, to shrink your tumour prior to surgery or for pain control and symptom management in advanced cancers.
• Biotherapy and immunotherapy can be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy. These drugs are different from chemotherapy in that they can target specific molecules in cancer treatment.
• Immunotherapy drugs stimulate your own immune system to destroy cancer cells. 

Preparing for your chemotherapy treatment

If you require treatment, you will be given an orientation session where you will learn about the treatment side effects. You will be given a tour of the clinic and information about the services available to you. 

You will be asked to come to the clinic the day before your treatment to have your blood work done. This allows the team to evaluate the blood results prior to treatment.

what to bring to your visit:

• Ontario Health Card.
• Cell phone
• Drug insurance information (i.e. Group and policy numbers for private insurance plans, Trillium, Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program etc.) You are responsible for the cost of drugs prescribed that are not covered by Ontario Health Insurance. If you do not have drug coverage, please let us know.
• Name, address and phone number of your family doctor, next of kin, and emergency contact.
• A list of medicines you are currently taking including over the counter drugs.
• Equipment you need (i.e. oxygen tanks etc.)
• Snack/lunch, or you can buy food at MGH, on the ground floor, prior to your treatment.
• Book, magazine, iPads, etc.
• Money for parking or anything else you may buy on site, or you can use the bank machine on the ground floor.

Registration

• Please check in with the receptionists at the front desk on K2. You do not need to register at central registration.
• You will be asked to wait in the waiting room until your name is called.
• Tell us how you're feeling: After checking in at reception, please take a moment to complete the Symptom Screening at the kiosk. Our volunteers and staff would be happy to help if you need assistance. You will be asked questions about your symptoms, such as your pain, appetite and well-being. Your responses will help the healthcare team understand how you are feeling at today's visit and track changes over time so that your symptoms can be managed appropriately. The "Your Symptoms Matter" survey was designed by Cancer Care Ontario to help assist conversations with your care team. Symptom guides are available from Cancer Care Ontario to help you manage any symptoms you experience.

during your Appointment

• A nurse will bring you into the chemotherapy suite.
• Once you are settled in your chair, an intravenous line (IV) will be inserted into your arm. This is how the treatment will enter your body. Instead of an IV, you might have a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) or a small device placed beneath your skin called a Port-a-Cath. These are used for specific treatments. 
• A nurse will check on you frequently to make sure you are not having any problems related to the medicine.
• If you feel uncomfortable at any time during your treatment, please let someone on your healthcare team know.
• You are welcome to relax, read, or eat while receiving your treatment.
• A member of your health care team will always be available to answer any questions or concerns that you have.

Visitors 

• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, visitors are not permitted in the Oncology Clinic.

Electronic Devices

• Computers, mobile phones, and other devices may be used, but MGH is not responsible for the loss of these items or any other valuables
• Public wifi is available 

After your chemotherapy treatment:

• After your treatment, your IV will be removed and you will be able to go home.
• You might need to pick up your medicines from the pharmacy before you go.

going home after your treatment

Everyone responds to chemotherapy differently, and some of the side effects can be unpleasant. It is good for you to know which side effects require the help of a health care professional. Please seek medical attention from your nearest emergency department if you experience the following symptoms: 

• A fever above 38° C or 100.5° F and/or you feel chills (Do NOT take Tylenol. Make sure you tell the staff, particularly if you go to the emergency that you are receiving chemotherapy)
• Vomiting or diarrhea for more than 24 hours after chemotherapy and you are losing a lot of fluids
• Pain not controlled by prescribed medication
• Blood in your vomit or black stool
• Bleeding gums, a bleeding nose or bruising for no reason

An after hours clinic is available for any questions or concerns you may have after the clinic is closed.