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SELCA's patient guide to understanding the path to diagnosis, has been designed to explain the hospital appointments and diagnostic tests that patients may undergo after receiving an Urgent Suspected Cancer referral from their GP.
The waiting times provided are estimates only and may vary depending on the hospital you are attending. Please note that not every patient will require every test outlined in the guide.
Please find below tailored guides corresponding to the suspected cancer being investigated.
Information for patients and carers
Your GP has referred you to hospital for tests to see if you have prostate cancer. We know this can be a worrying time but most people who are sent for tests do not have cancer. If you do have cancer, it is important to find it early. Some prostate cancers do not need treatment, but others need treatment straight away.
It is very important that the hospital has your correct phone number and address, and that you are available during the first four weeks after your GP refers you.
If your contact details change, or you cannot attend appointments, please tell your GP and the hospital as soon as possible using the contact details they will send you.
The following plan is called the prostate pathway. It is a guide to the appointments and tests you may have, and how long each step usually takes. You may not need every test listed. Please remember the waiting times given are an estimate only.
| The prostate pathway: |
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Assessment (Usually 1 to 7 days after referral by your GP) • This may be a phone call or a face‑to‑face appointment. The team will ask you about your symptoms, your health, and any history of cancer in your family. • You may also be asked to visit the hospital for blood or urine tests. |
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MRI Scan (Usually 4 to 7 days after your assessment appointment) • You may be asked to have an MRI scan of your prostate in the hospital. This is a painless test. The team will give you more information before the scan. • For general information please visit www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/mri-scan |
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MRI results (Usually 1 to 3 days after your MRI scan) • The team will give your MRI results 2–4 days after the scan, either by phone or in a face-to-face appointment. • They will explain your results to you and discuss the next steps. |
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Prostate biopsy (Usually 7 to 14 days after your MRI results) • This is a test where a specialist will take a small sample of your prostate. • If you need to have a biopsy, the team will explain this test to you in more detail. • For general information please visit www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/biopsy |
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Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) discussion (Usually 7 to 10 days after your biopsy) • This is a meeting where a group of specialists at the hospital will discuss your test results. You do not attend this meeting. |
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Biopsy results (Usually 10 to 14 days after your biopsy) • You will receive your biopsy results on the same day as the MDT meeting or shortly afterwards. This will usually be a face-to-face appointment. • If you need more scans or treatment, this will be discussed with you. |
Information for patients and carers
Your GP has referred you to hospital for tests to see if you have upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. We know this can be a worrying time but most people who are sent for tests do not have cancer. If you do have cancer, it is important to find it early.
It is very important that your GP and the hospital have your correct phone number and address, and that you are available for the next 4 weeks for appointments and phone calls. Please make it a priority to go to all of the appointments the hospital gives you.
If your contact details change, or you cannot attend appointments, please tell the hospital as soon as possible using the contact details they give you. If you do not attend your appointments, you may be discharged back to your GP.
The guide below shows the appointments and tests you may have on the upper GI urgent suspected cancer pathway. You may not need every test listed, and some patients may need tests or treatments that are not listed. You will be discharged from the pathway at the appropriate step if no cancer is identified.
The waiting times below are an estimate of how long each step usually takes.
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The urgent suspected cancer pathway – upper gastrointestinal |
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Hospital assessment appointment (Usually within 1 week of your GP referral)
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Endoscopy (OGD), scan (ultrasound, CT), or hospital clinic appointment (Usually 1 to 2 after your GP referral)
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Endoscopy or scan review (Usually 2 weeks after your GP referral)
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MDT Discussion
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Results (Usually 3 to 4 weeks after your GP referral)
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Next steps
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If you are concerned that a step is taking much longer than expected, please contact the upper GI (or Gastroenterology) team at the hospital doing the tests. |
Information for patients and carers
Your GP has referred you to hospital for tests to see if you have hepatobiliary-pancreatic (HPB) cancer. We know this can be a worrying time but most people who are sent for tests do not have cancer. If you do have cancer, it is important to find it early.
It is very important that your GP and the hospital have your correct phone number and address, and that you are available for the next 4 weeks for appointments and phone calls. Please make it a priority to go to all of the appointments the hospital gives you.
If your contact details change, or you cannot attend appointments, please tell the hospital as soon as possible using the contact details they give you. If you do not attend your appointments, you may be discharged back to your GP.
The guide below shows the appointments and tests you may have on the HPB urgent suspected cancer pathway. You may not need every test listed, and some patients may need tests or treatments that are not listed. You will be discharged from the pathway at the appropriate step if no cancer is identified.
The waiting times below are an estimate of how long each step usually takes.
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The urgent suspected cancer pathway – hepatobiliary-pancreatic |
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Hospital assessment appointment (Usually within 1 week of your GP referral)
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Blood tests, scans [CT, MRI, endoscopy (ERCP)], surgery, or hospital appointment (Usually 1 to 2 after your GP referral)
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Blood test or scan review (Usually 2 weeks after your GP referral)
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MDT Discussion
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Results (Usually 3 to 4 weeks after your GP referral)
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Next steps
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If you are concerned that a step is taking much longer than expected, please contact the Clinical team at the hospital doing the tests. |