Hematologist
CION Cancer Clinics
What happens at a first haematology consultation | CION Cancer Clinics
At a first haematology consultation, the doctor asks about your symptoms and medicines, reads every blood report you bring, examines you for paleness, bruising and swollen glands, and usually orders a fresh blood count and smear. You rarely get a final diagnosis on day one. You should leave knowing what is being looked for, which test comes next, and which symptoms mean you should not wait. At CION Cancer Clinics, our haematology team supports patients and families through treatment, cost questions and life at home.
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Basudev PokhrelConsultant Haematologist · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- What actually happens at a first haematology visit?
- What should you bring to the appointment?
- What happens, step by step, during the consultation?
- Which tests might be ordered after the first visit?
- What do the terms from the consultation mean?
- What do people often expect that turns out not to be true?
- What happens after the first visit, and what can this page not tell you?
- Common questions about a first haematology consultation
The short answer
What actually happens at a first haematology visit?
The haematologist listens to your story, reads every report you bring, examines you and usually orders a fresh blood count and a blood smear. You rarely leave with a final diagnosis on the first day, but you should leave knowing what is being looked for and what the next test is.
Why the first visit is mostly questions
Blood results only make sense alongside the person. The doctor will ask about tiredness, bleeding, bruising, fevers, night sweats, weight loss, periods, diet, alcohol and every medicine you take, including tonics and herbal remedies. They will also ask whether anyone in the family has had a blood condition, because thalassaemia, sickle cell disease and some bleeding disorders run in families.
Why old reports matter so much
A single abnormal count is a snapshot. A series of reports shows whether a number has always been a little low, is slowly falling, or changed suddenly. Those three patterns point in very different directions. Families often leave old reports at home because they seem out of date. They are frequently the most useful papers in the folder.
If the patient is elderly or unwell, bring the family member who knows the medical history best, not only the one who can drive.Before you leave home
What should you bring to the appointment?
- Every blood report, oldest to newest, in one folder
- Original printouts, not only photos on a phone
- Any referral letter or note from your physician
- Medicine strips or a written list, including tonics and herbal remedies
- Discharge summaries from any past hospital stay
- Scan reports and any earlier biopsy report
- A written list of symptoms and when each one started
- Your Aarogyasri, CGHS, ECHS, EHS or insurance card
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistIn the room
What happens, step by step, during the consultation?
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Your story
The doctor asks what brought you in, how you have been feeling, and what has already been tried. Say everything, even what feels unrelated, such as frequent infections or bleeding gums.
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Reading your reports
The haematologist lines up your earlier results and looks for a pattern. They may ask where each test was done, because reference ranges differ between laboratories.
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The examination
They check your skin for paleness, bruising or tiny red spots, feel your neck, armpits and groin for swollen glands, and press on your belly to check the size of the spleen and liver.
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Deciding on tests
Most people are asked for a fresh blood count and a smear. Others may be added, depending on what the doctor suspects.
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The plan for now
You are told what the tests are looking for, when to come back, and which symptoms mean you should not wait for the next visit.
Tests you may hear about
Which tests might be ordered after the first visit?
Not everyone needs all of these. The doctor picks tests to answer a specific question about your blood.
Complete blood count and smear
The count measures red cells, white cells and platelets. The smear is a slide of your blood looked at under a microscope, so the doctor can see the shape and type of cells, not just the numbers.
Iron, vitamin B12 and folate
These show whether the body is short of what it needs to make red cells. A shortage is one of the commonest reasons for low haemoglobin, which reports often call anaemia.
Tests for inherited conditions
A haemoglobin test, often called HPLC, can pick up thalassaemia trait or sickle cell disease. Clotting tests look at how well the blood forms a clot.
Bone marrow test
A small sample is taken from the back of the hip bone under local anaesthetic. It is not a routine first-day test. It is advised only when the blood tests suggest the problem lies in the marrow itself.
Ask where it will be done and when the report is expected.Leave a number, we will call you
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Words you may hear
What do the terms from the consultation mean?
- Peripheral smear
- A drop of blood spread on a glass slide and looked at under a microscope.
- Reference range
- The range a laboratory treats as usual. It differs between laboratories, so compare results against the range printed on the same report.
- Spleen
- An organ under the left ribs that filters blood. It can grow larger in some blood conditions.
- Thrombocytopenia
- A low platelet count. Platelets are the cells that help blood clot.
- Tumour board
- A meeting where several specialists discuss a case together before a plan is made, used when a blood cancer is suspected.
Commonly believed
What do people often expect that turns out not to be true?
"We will get the full answer on the first day."
Sometimes the cause is clear straight away. More often the first visit narrows the question, and the answer comes once the tests are back. Leaving without a diagnosis does not mean the visit was wasted or that the news is bad.
"A bone marrow test means they think it is cancer."
A marrow test is used to find out why the marrow is not making blood normally. Many of the answers it gives are not cancer at all. It is a way to stop guessing, not a sign that the doctor has already decided.
"Our old reports from the local lab are useless now."
They are some of the most useful papers you have. They show how the counts have changed, which a single new test cannot. Bring them all, even the faded ones.
"We should not mention the tonics and herbal medicines."
Please do. Some remedies affect blood counts, bleeding or the liver. The doctor is not judging you. They need the full list to read the results correctly.
Being straight with you
What happens after the first visit, and what can this page not tell you?
Once the tests are back, you return to go through the results. If the cause is a shortage or an inherited trait, the plan is often simple and your physician may share the follow-up. If a blood cancer or marrow problem is suspected, more tests follow before any treatment is decided.
How CION handles the next step
At CION, the first consultation is with the haematology team led by Dr. Basudev Pokhrel. Where a blood cancer is suspected, your case is presented at a tumour board so that the plan is agreed by several specialists. Some specialised tests and treatments are arranged with qualified partner centres. Ask the team where each test will happen and who will explain the report to you.
What this page cannot tell you
This page describes a typical first visit. It cannot tell you which tests you will need, what your results mean, or how long the answer will take. Those depend on your own reports and examination. If a visit leaves you unsure, ask the doctor to write down the next step before you leave.
Do not stop or change any medicine before the visit unless the doctor who prescribed it tells you to.Questions we are asked
Common questions about a first haematology consultation
Do I need to come fasting for the first visit?
Usually not for the consultation itself. Some blood tests ordered afterwards, such as a sugar or cholesterol check, do need fasting, and a few iron tests are best done in the morning. Call ahead and ask. If you are diabetic, do not skip a meal or a medicine without speaking to your own doctor first.
How long does the first consultation take?
Longer than a routine physician visit, because the doctor needs your full history and time to read old reports. Blood tests on the same day add waiting time. Plan for most of the morning, bring water and a snack, and keep the report folder in order so nothing is missed.
Will blood be taken on the same day?
Often, yes. A fresh blood count and smear are commonly done on the day so the haematologist can see the cells directly. Some tests are sent to a specialist laboratory, so results can come back at different times. Ask which results you should wait for before the next appointment.
Will I have a bone marrow test at the first visit?
Rarely. It is usually advised only after blood tests suggest the marrow itself is the problem. If it is needed, the doctor explains why, what it involves and where it will be done. You can ask questions and take time to talk it over with your family before agreeing.
Can my son or daughter speak to the doctor for me?
Yes, with your permission. Many patients come with an adult child who helps with questions and decisions. It helps if one family member keeps the reports and notes, so the story stays consistent from visit to visit. If they cannot attend, they can join on a phone call.
Can I ask for the consultation in Telugu?
Yes. Tell the front desk when you book. Staff can help explain the plan and the tests in Telugu, and a family member is welcome to sit in. Do not leave with a plan you did not fully understand. Ask for it to be explained again or written down.
What if the haematologist says I do not need follow-up?
That is good news, and it happens often. Ask what would change that advice, which symptoms should bring you back, and whether your physician should repeat any test later. Keep the report and the doctor's note with your records for future visits.
Is the first consultation covered by schemes or insurance?
It depends on your policy or scheme. Aarogyasri, PM-JAY, CGHS, ECHS and EHS mostly cover defined treatments rather than an outpatient visit, and the rules change, so check the current position. Call the helpline with your card details and we will tell you what applies before you travel.
Your Haematologist
Meet CION's haematologist. One specialist for your blood report and your plan.
Dr. Basudev Pokhrel reviews blood counts, transfusion needs and blood disorders, and works with the CION tumour board on blood cancers.
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Patient stories
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Accreditation and empanelment
- NABH
- NABL
- ISO 9001:2015
- ArogyaSri empanelled
- CGHS accepted
- ECHS accepted
- EHS accepted
- Major cashless insurers
Paying for it
Insurance, schemes and payment
What you actually pay usually differs a great deal from the sticker figure.
AarogyasriEmpanelled. Bring the card and a referral where you have one.
CGHS / ECHS / EHSAccepted at CION centres for eligible treatment.
Cashless insuranceMost major insurers are empanelled. Pre-authorisation is handled by our desk.
Self-payItemised estimate given before treatment starts. No EMI scheme exists.
Where to find us
Our centres in and around Hyderabad
Addressed by landmark, because that is how this city navigates. A haematology consultation can be booked at any of these centres through one helpline, and your team will tell you where each test or treatment takes place.
Warangal
Vizag
Sources
- NHS — Blood tests
- American Society of Hematology — Blood disorders: patient information
- Cancer Research UK — Bone marrow test
- NHLBI — Health topics
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
When to See a Haematologist Rather Than a PhysicianWhether your report needs a specialist at allQuestions to Ask at a Haematology AppointmentA list to take into the roomKeeping Your Own Blood Disorder RecordsHow to organise the reports you bringHaematology Care in TeluguThe same guidance in TeluguChoosing Care for a Blood DisorderThe full guide to finding blood disorder care
Talk to us
Preparing for a first haematology visit?
Tell us what your reports show so far. The team will tell you what to bring and what to expect. One helpline serves every CION centre.