Understanding your care

Understanding your diagnosis

What a cancer diagnosis means, who is on your care team, and how to find information you can trust.

6 min read From our care team

What your diagnosis tells you

A diagnosis usually names the type of cancer — where in the body it started. It often also includes a stage, which describes how far it has spread, and a grade, which describes how the cells look under a microscope. Together, these help your team plan the care that is right for you.

It is completely normal not to take everything in at once. You can ask for anything to be repeated, explained again, or written down. Take the time you need.

Your care team

Your care is not planned by one person alone. A multidisciplinary team looks at your case together. This team may include:

Oncologists the doctors who specialise in cancer
Surgeons
Radiologists
Pathologists
Specialist nurses
Supportive-care and other staff

They meet to agree on the plan that suits you best. You can ask who your main point of contact is, so you always know who to turn to.

Asking questions

There are no silly questions. It can help to:

bring someone with you to your appointments
write your questions down beforehand
ask for explanations in plain language

Questions you might ask include:

What type of cancer is it?
Has it spread, and if so, where?
What are my treatment options, and what is the goal of each?
What happens next, and when?

A second opinion

Asking for a second opinion is your right. It will not offend your care team — it is a normal part of care, and it can give you added confidence in the plan. Your records and results can be shared with another specialist so they have the full picture.

Information you can trust

When you look for information, lean on your care team first. Reputable sources such as WHO, NHS, Macmillan and Marie Curie are written with care and kept up to date.

Be cautious with what you read on social media. Be especially wary of anything that:

promises a guaranteed or miracle cure
asks you to pay for a secret treatment
tells you to stop the treatment your team has recommended

If something you read worries or confuses you, bring it to your team and talk it through.

This guide offers general information and does not replace your personal care plan. Talk through your questions with your doctor or nurse. In an emergency, call 103.