Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Getting a diagnosis faster: what to carry to each appointment | CION Cancer Clinics
Carry every scan on a disc, every report and blood test with its date, and a written list of your medicines. Most delays in a liver cancer diagnosis come from missing papers, not from the illness. This page gives you a checklist for the folder you take to every visit, which papers matter at which appointment, and how to prepare so no trip is wasted. At CION Cancer Clinics, our team goes through your scan, blood test and biopsy reports with you and plans the next step.
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Naresh GunduConsultant Medical Oncologist · MBBS, DNB (Internal Medicine), DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS) · last reviewed October 2026, next review due October 2027
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On this page
- What should I carry to a liver cancer appointment?
- What goes in the folder you carry to every visit?
- How do I prepare so no appointment is wasted?
- Which papers matter most at which appointment?
- Which tests does CION do, and which does it arrange?
- What this page cannot tell you
- Common questions about preparing for liver cancer appointments
The short answer
What should I carry to a liver cancer appointment?
Carry every scan as images on a disc or pen drive, every report, every blood test with its date, and a written list of your medicines. Most delays in a liver cancer diagnosis are not caused by the illness. They come from a missing disc, an old report left at home or a test repeated because nobody could find the first one.
Why this matters more in liver cancer
Liver cancer is often diagnosed from a scan and blood tests, without a biopsy. That means the doctor's judgement rests heavily on the papers and images you bring. Older scans let the radiologist see whether a spot is new or growing, which a single scan cannot show. The way the tests fit together is explained on how liver cancer is diagnosed.
Primary or secondary
This checklist works for both. If a scan done for another cancer found spots in the liver, also bring the reports for that first cancer: the biopsy, the operation notes and the treatment summary. Those papers often decide whether the liver spots are secondary liver cancer or something new.
One organised file, carried to every visit, saves more time than any single test.Your file
What goes in the folder you carry to every visit?
Keep one folder, in date order, with the newest papers on top. Families who do this tend to move through the tests fastest.
Scans as images
Every ultrasound, CT, MRI or PET-CT of the abdomen, on a disc, pen drive or download link, with the written report. Printed films and phone photos cannot be re-read properly.
Ask the scan centre for
- The full image set, not selected pictures
- The date and type of scan on the label
- A copy of the signed report
Blood test reports
Liver function tests, a full blood count, clotting (INR, a measure of how fast blood clots), kidney tests, AFP (a blood marker linked to liver cancer) and hepatitis B and C results. Older results matter, because the trend tells more than one value.
Medicines and history
A written list of every medicine, including herbal tonics, home remedies and anything bought without a prescription. Add any past operations, diabetes, heart problems, and how much alcohol is or was taken.
Write the names exactly as they appear on the strip. "A small white tablet" cannot be checked.Earlier hospital papers
Discharge summaries, endoscopy reports, any biopsy or pathology report, and letters from other doctors. If you have had treatment for hepatitis B or C, bring those papers too.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistBefore each visit
How do I prepare so no appointment is wasted?
Ask what the visit is for
When you book, ask whether this is a consultation, a scan, blood tests or a results visit. Ask whether you need to fast, and whether you should stop any medicine beforehand. Write the answers down.
Collect discs before you travel
If you are coming from a district to Hyderabad, get every scan disc and report before you leave home. A disc that has to be sent for later can hold up the whole plan.
Write your questions down
Families often remember their most important question in the car on the way home. Write three or four questions on one page, and give a copy to whoever comes with you.
Bring someone with you
A son, daughter or friend can take notes while you listen. In a joint family, agree beforehand who will speak to the doctor, so the conversation stays clear.
Visit by visit
Which papers matter most at which appointment?
Appointment
What matters most
First oncology consultation
The whole folder, with every scan disc and the medicine list
Triple-phase CT or MRI
Recent kidney test, any history of dye allergy, older scans for comparison
Endoscopy to check for varices
Medicine list, especially blood thinners, and recent clotting results
Biopsy, if one is needed
Platelet count, INR and a clear note of every blood thinner
Tumour board results visit
Your written questions and the family member who helps decide
Leave a number, we will call you
One field. No form to fill in, and no charge for the call.
Did you know
Hiding alcohol use or herbal tonics from the doctor is common, and it can slow a diagnosis. Both change how the liver looks on scans and blood tests. Doctors ask so they can read your results correctly, not to judge.
Who does what
Which tests does CION do, and which does it arrange?
At a CION centre you see the oncologist, your case is discussed at the multidisciplinary tumour board, and your follow-up and paperwork are planned. Scans, biopsy, pathology and endoscopy are arranged through accredited diagnostic and partner hospitals. Your team tells you where each test will take place, and the results come back to the same oncologist.
Scheme and insurance papers
If you are using Aarogyasri, Ayushman Bharat, CGHS, ECHS, ESI or private insurance, bring the card, an identity document and any referral letter. The rules for each scheme change, and must be checked at the time. CION's team helps with the paperwork, but the scheme decides what it covers.
Who this does not apply to
This checklist is for planned appointments. If you are vomiting blood, passing black stools, have new confusion or drowsiness, or a high fever with a swollen belly, do not stop to collect papers. Go to hospital today, and let a family member bring the folder later.
If you are unsure what to bring, call the helpline before you travel.Being straight with you
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot tell you how long your own diagnosis will take, or which tests you will need. That depends on what the first scan showed, how well your liver is working, and whether the doctors need a biopsy. A fuller picture of timing is on how long a liver cancer diagnosis should take.
It cannot read your reports for you
A good folder helps your doctor work quickly. It does not replace the conversation where the doctor explains what the results mean for you. Please bring your questions to that conversation rather than searching each line of a report online.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about preparing for liver cancer appointments
Is the scan report enough, or do I need the disc?
Bring the disc or pen drive as well. The report is one radiologist's summary. In liver cancer, the oncologist and the tumour board often want to look at the images themselves, compare them with older scans and decide whether a better scan is needed. Without the images, a scan may have to be repeated.
My old scan centre has closed. What can I do?
Bring whatever report you still have, even a photocopy. Tell the doctor the date and the type of scan. A report alone still helps, because it shows what was seen at that time. The team will decide whether a fresh scan is needed to make up for the missing images.
Should I get new blood tests done before the first visit?
Not unless you are asked to. Bring the reports you already have, with dates. The oncologist will order what is missing, so the right tests are done once. Repeating tests on your own can add cost without adding anything the doctor needs.
Do I need to bring the herbal medicines I am taking?
Bring the bottle, packet or label if you can, or a clear photo of it. Some herbal and Ayurvedic preparations can affect the liver. The doctor needs to know so they can read your blood tests correctly and keep you safe. Nobody will judge you for having taken them.
Can I send reports on WhatsApp instead of carrying them?
Photos of reports are useful for a first conversation, and can help the team decide what you should bring. They are not a substitute for scan images, which need to be viewed on a proper screen. Keep the original papers and discs safe and bring them to the appointment.
Who should come with me to the appointment?
Someone you trust who can listen, take notes and help you remember. If your family decides together, bring the person who will be part of the decision. It helps if the same person comes to the results visit, so nothing has to be explained twice.
What if I have hepatitis B or C reports from years ago?
Bring them. Old hepatitis results, and any treatment you had, help the doctor understand your liver's history. The team may still repeat hepatitis tests at diagnosis, because current results are needed to plan treatment. See why hepatitis testing is always done.
How can CION help me get organised?
Call the helpline before your first visit and say what you already have. Someone will tell you what to bring, which scans may need to be collected, and what to expect at the consultation. The same helpline serves every CION centre, so you do not need to call each one.
Your Specialists
Meet CION's liver cancer specialists. Bring your scan reports and liver blood tests.
Our medical and surgical oncologists plan liver cancer care together, weighing the tumour and how well your liver works before choosing surgery, a liver-directed procedure or medicines.
Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
Want a specific doctor for your case? Mention them when booking.
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Sources
- American Cancer Society — Diagnosing Liver Cancer
- Cancer Research UK — Diagnosing liver cancer
- MedlinePlus — Liver Function Tests
- EASL — EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines: management of hepatocellular carcinoma
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
The order tests usually come inKnow which test comes next and whyHow long should a liver cancer diagnosis take?What a reasonable pace looks likeSecond opinions on liver imagingWhen to ask for your scan to be read againTravelling to Hyderabad for liver cancer treatmentPractical help if you are coming from a district
Talk to us
Not sure what to bring to your first visit?
Tell us which scans and reports you already have. We will tell you what else to collect and what to expect at the consultation. One helpline serves every CION centre.