Rapid diagnostic cancer clinic

Why we have referred you

You have been referred to the Rapid Diagnostic Cancer Clinic (RDCC) because you have symptoms that need further investigation, but do not clearly point to a single diagnosis. (These are often called 'non-specific symptoms.)

Common reasons for referral include:

• unexplained weight loss
• long-lasting fatigue (tiredness)
• loss of appetite
• ongoing tummy pain or discomfort
• unexplained anaemia (not enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to your body’s tissues)
• abnormal test results (eg from an X-ray, ultrasound or MRI scan). 

Being referred to this clinic does not mean you have cancer. Most patients we see do not have cancer.

The RDCC aims to investigate your symptoms and rule out serious conditions where appropriate. This enables us to offer you a diagnosis or reassurance as quickly as possible.

If you have any questions about your referral, contact the doctor who referred you.

Preparing for your appointment

Your GP may already have arranged some tests for you, such as blood tests, X-rays or an  ultrasound.

Your first appointment with us will be a face-to-face consultation with a doctor or nurse at Kingston Hospital.

Your appointment

At your appointment, a doctor or nurse will ask you questions about your health. They  may decide to arrange further investigations, depending on your symptoms.

These might include:

• blood tests
• imaging tests such as CT scans (to take detailed pictures of the inside of your body)
• endoscopy (a procedure where we use a thin flexible tube with a camera on the end to look at organs inside your body)
• other tests.

Sometimes, no additional tests are needed.

The choice about tests will be a shared decision between you and your doctor or nurse. They will talk to you about the risks, benefits and procedures of each type of test they recommend for you.

After your appointment

There are several possible outcomes.

• We may reassure you and discharge you from the clinic with some advice. We will send a letter to you and your GP with the outcome, and any further actions suggested.
• If you need further tests, we may telephone you or ask you to come back to the clinic to discuss the results. You will have the chance to ask us questions. The decision about what happens next will be based on your preferences. We will work closely with your GP to ensure your care is managed together with your other individual medical and support needs.
• If your symptoms suggest a specific cancer or non-cancerous condition which requires specialist advice, we will directly refer you to the appropriate speciality team.

More information

For more information about our clinic, visit Kingston Hospital Rapid Diagnostic Cancer Clinic.