Pre-assessment is an important part of your care with us. It helps to keep you safe while on treatment. This page explains why pre-assessment matters and what to expect.
It is very important to attend your pre-assessment appointment(s). You can bring somebody with you if you want.
Why you need pre-assessment
When you start cancer treatment, there are lots of things you need to know. Cancer drugs are likely to be different from any medicines you have taken before. They need to be handled very carefully. You need to know:
- How to stay safe while on treatment
- What side-effects to look out for, and
- How and when to contact us with any problems
There are also lots of things we need to know about you so we can offer you the right care and support. That's why the national guidelines say that every patient should have a pre-assessment before starting treatment.
At pre-assessment, we will:
- Explain more about your treatment and help you prepare
- Find out more about you through a holistic needs assessment so we can arrange any support you'd find helpful
Group pre-assessment
Pre-assessment takes place in a group of up to 10 patients, who are all about to start treatment. You can bring someone with you - for example, a relative, friend or carer.
The session will be led by one of our experienced senior chemotherapy and SACT nurses. We run the session in partnership with the charity, Maggie's.
During the session, we will:
- Show you a video that explains more about your cancer treatment
- Discuss common side-effects and their management
- Give you an information pack for home
- Signpost you to any other support services available
Read more about our group pre-assessment sessions.
Video
There are two versions of the video:
- Chemotherapy - for anyone starting chemotherapy or other similar cancer drugs
- Immunotherapy - for anyone starting immunotherapy
You can watch the video again at any time using the links below. If you have a break from treatment, it is useful to watch the video again before restarting treatment.
You can also show the video to relatives or carers.
Getting started with chemotherapy
Getting started with immunotherapy
Important: blood tests
You will need to have blood tests before every treatment appointment to check you are well enough for treatment. You can have these blood tests in hospital; some GP practices also offer this service.
To avoid any delays in your treatment, it is important you get your blood tests done at the right time:
- Chemotherapy patients (weekly treatment): blood tests up to 24 hours (1 day) before treatment
- Chemotherapy patients (not weekly treatment): blood tests up to 48 hours (2 days) before treatment
- Immunotherapy patients: blood tests up to 72 hours (3 days) before each treatment
- Combined treatments (chemotherapy and immunotherapy): blood tests up to 48 hours (2 days) before treatment or up to 24 hours (1 day) if your treatment is weekly
Other useful information
Video guides to our treatment clinics
We have treatment clinics in hospitals across Cheshire and Merseyside. Wherever possible, we will offer you treatment in the location that is most convenient for you.
Find out more about your treatment unit - including how to get there - in the videos below. We also have a video that explains more about different types of cancer drugs and how they work.
Clatterbridge Cancer Centre - Liverpool
CANtreat, Nightingale Building - Halton
Clatterbridge Cancer Centre - Wirral
Different cancer drugs - how they work
Marina Dalglish Centre - Aintree
Podcast series - Taking Care of Cancer
The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre has its own podcast called 'Taking Care of Cancer'. (A podcast is a bit like a TV or radio show.) It features cancer experts and people affected by cancer, all speaking about their experiences. The episodes include diagnosis, treatment, side-effects and supporting patients and their loved ones.
Listen online or wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.