Hematologist
CION Cancer Clinics
What to carry to your first haematology appointment | CION Cancer Clinics
Bring every blood report you have, in date order, including old normal ones. Add any marrow, biopsy or scan reports, a list of every medicine including herbal ones, your ID and Aarogyasri, PM-JAY, CGHS, ECHS, EHS or insurance card, and a family member who can take notes. This page gives the full checklist, what happens at the visit, and the questions to ask before you leave. At CION Cancer Clinics, our haematologist reviews abnormal blood reports with you, orders only the tests that answer your question and explains each result plainly.
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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 should you bring to your first haematology appointment?
- What goes in the folder, group by group?
- What should you write down the night before?
- What usually happens at a first haematology visit?
- What do people get wrong about preparing for the visit?
- Which questions should you ask before you leave?
- Common questions about a first haematology appointment
The short answer
What should you bring to your first haematology appointment?
Bring every blood report you have, in date order, including the old normal ones. Add any marrow, biopsy or scan reports, a list of every medicine taken, your ID and scheme or insurance card, and one family member who can listen and take notes.
Why the old reports matter so much
A haematologist is often less interested in one number than in how it has moved. A haemoglobin that has fallen slowly over two years tells a different story from one that dropped suddenly. A platelet count that was always a little low may be your normal. Old reports, even ones you think are irrelevant, can save a repeat test and sometimes change the whole direction of the visit.
Why the medicine list matters
Many ordinary medicines change blood counts. Some antibiotics, seizure medicines, pain relievers, blood thinners and even herbal or Ayurvedic preparations can lower counts or affect bleeding. Bring the strips or bottles if that is easier than writing a list.
Why a family member helps
A first appointment can bring a lot of new words. Anxiety makes it hard to remember what was said. A second person who writes things down, or who asks the questions you forget, is one of the most useful things you can bring.
Do not stop or change any medicine before the appointment unless a doctor has told you to.The checklist
What goes in the folder, group by group?
Put everything in one folder, oldest at the back and newest at the front. Photos on a phone help, but paper is easier to read in clinic.
Blood reports
Every complete blood count you can find, plus any smear report.
Also bring
- Iron, vitamin B12 and folate tests
- Kidney and liver function tests
- Any HIV, hepatitis or thyroid tests
Marrow, biopsy and special tests
The marrow report, flow cytometry, chromosome, FISH or gene reports if these were done.
If you can, collect the slides and block from the laboratory. A review of them may avoid a repeat test.Scans and hospital papers
Ultrasound, CT or PET-CT reports, with the images on a CD or download link, and any discharge summary.
Include
- Transfusion records
- Letters from other doctors
Medicines and health history
Every current medicine, including herbal and Ayurvedic ones, and a note of other illnesses, past surgeries and allergies.
ID and cover
Aadhaar or another photo ID, and your Aarogyasri, PM-JAY, CGHS, ECHS, EHS or insurance card. Pre-authorisation often starts at the first visit.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistBefore you leave home
What should you write down the night before?
- When you first felt unwell, and what you noticed
- Any fevers, night sweats or weight loss, and when
- Bruising, bleeding gums, nosebleeds or heavy periods
- Any blood transfusions, and where they were given
- Blood disorders or blood cancers in the family
- Your three most important questions
On the day
What usually happens at a first haematology visit?
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Registration and cover check
Your ID and scheme or insurance details are taken. Arrive a little early, because this often takes longer than people expect.
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Your story
The haematologist asks how things started, what has changed, and about medicines, family history and other illnesses. This is where your written notes help.
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Going through the reports
The doctor reads your reports in order, looking at how the numbers have moved. Expect questions about gaps or missing tests.
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Examination
A check for pale skin, bruising, swollen glands in the neck, armpits and groin, and an enlarged spleen or liver in the tummy.
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A plan for next steps
Often more blood tests, sometimes a smear review, a scan or a bone marrow test. Ask what each test is for, when results will come, and who will call you. You may not get a diagnosis on the first day, and that is normal.
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Commonly believed
What do people get wrong about preparing for the visit?
"Only the latest report matters."
The trend often matters more than the latest number. Old reports show whether a change is new or long-standing, and that can decide whether you need a marrow test at all.
"I should fast in case they take blood."
Most haematology blood tests do not need fasting. If you are unsure, ask when you book. Going without food, especially for someone with diabetes or low counts, can leave you faint during a long clinic wait.
"We should not mention the herbal medicines."
Tell the doctor everything, without worrying about being judged. Some preparations affect blood counts, the liver or bleeding. The doctor needs to know to read your reports correctly.
"We will get the full diagnosis on the first day."
Sometimes, but often not. Many blood problems need more tests before a name can be given. A first visit that ends with a clear plan for the next tests is a good visit.
Did you know
Most laboratories print their own reference range beside each result. Ranges differ between laboratories, so a value marked high at one may sit inside the range at another. Your haematologist reads each result against its own laboratory's range and alongside your symptoms.
Getting the most from the visit
Which questions should you ask before you leave?
Ask what the doctor thinks is most likely, and what else is being ruled out. Ask which tests come next, why, and what each one will decide. Ask when the results will be ready and how you will hear about them.
Questions about safety at home
Ask which symptoms mean you should come back early, and which mean going to the nearest emergency department. Fever, bleeding that will not stop, confusion or sudden breathlessness usually fall into the second group. Write the answers down and keep them with the folder.
Questions about cost and cover
Ask for an estimate of the next tests, and whether your scheme or insurance covers them. Scheme rules change, so ask the desk to check the current position rather than relying on what a relative was told.
What this page cannot tell you
A checklist cannot tell you what your reports mean, or how urgent your situation is. If you are worried about a result tonight, call the helpline or seek care rather than waiting for the appointment. CION's haematology team can go through what you have and help you prepare for the visit.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about a first haematology appointment
What if I cannot find all my old reports?
Bring what you have. Many laboratories can reprint old reports if you give your name, phone number and rough dates, and some share them online. Ask the doctor who referred you for copies too. Do not delay a first appointment only because a few old reports are missing.
Should the patient come, or can family go first?
The patient should usually come. The haematologist needs to examine them and hear the story directly. If the patient is too unwell to travel, call first and ask whether a family member can bring the reports for an initial review, and what needs to happen urgently.
Do I need to stop my blood thinner before the visit?
No, not for a consultation. Never stop or change a blood thinner on your own. If a bone marrow test or another procedure is planned later, the treating team will tell you exactly what to do with each medicine, and when.
Will I have a bone marrow test on the first day?
Sometimes, if the reports point clearly towards it and the patient agrees. More often, repeat blood tests or a smear review come first. If a marrow test is likely, ask whether to arrange for someone to accompany you home that day.
Is a referral letter needed?
It is not always required, but it helps. A letter from the doctor who found the abnormal result explains why they were worried, and what has already been tried. Some schemes and insurers need a referral for cover, so check with yours before the visit.
Should I bring the X-ray and scan films or just the reports?
Bring both where you can. The written report is read first, but the doctor may want to see the images, especially when comparing an old scan with a new one. A CD or download link is usually enough, so large films are rarely needed.
How long will the first appointment take?
Plan for most of the morning or afternoon. The consultation itself is usually longer than a routine visit, and blood tests or registration can add waiting time. Bring water, a snack, your medicines and something to write with.
What if the appointment is for a child?
Bring the same folder, plus the child's vaccination record and birth history if available. Both parents or a trusted relative help. Bring a toy or book for the wait, and tell the team if your child is frightened of needles, so they can plan together.
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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Sources
- American Society of Hematology — Blood Basics
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute — Blood Tests
- Cancer.Net — Navigating Cancer Care
- Macmillan Cancer Support — Cancer information and support
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
How Long Haematology Results Take, Test by TestWhen to expect each result after the visitCost of the Full Haematology Diagnostic WorkupHow the bill for tests is builtSecond Opinion on a Haematology Marrow ReportIf you already have a marrow reportBlood cancer guideThe wider picture if a blood cancer is suspected
Talk to us
Want help getting ready for the visit?
Share your reports with us before you come. CION's haematology team will tell you what else to bring. One helpline serves every CION centre.