Often, when people decide to make an appointment with their doctor or health worker lots of different questions and concerns can pass through their mind:

• The doctor or health worker is always too busy. It’s too hard to get an appointment
• When I get to my appointment my mind goes blank
• What could happen when I see the doctor or health worker?
• I don’t have a doctor or health worker
• Where else can I get advice?

If you’ve notice something unusual about your body, or any of the possible symptoms of cancer, it’s important that you tell your doctor.  Remember that the doctor or health worker is there to help you.

The doctor or health worker is always too busy.  It’s hard to get an appointment

People sometimes think that it’s hard to make an appointment because their doctor or health worker is too busy.  But this is not always the case.  If you need to see your doctor or health worker you should always call and try to make an appointment.  Calling early in the morning is often the best time to arrange an appointment.  If your doctor or health worker can’t see you on the day you call you can make an appointment for a few days time, or ask to see another doctor or health worker in the same practice.

If you feel that you need to talk to a doctor or health worker straight away let the receptionist know that it is urgent when you call.  Or ask to speak to the doctor or health worker, so you can tell them your concern.  If you can’t get an appointment and are really worried, you could contact your nearest hospital.  However, few symptoms are emergencies so you can usually afford to wait a few days to see your doctor or health worker.

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When I get to the appointment my mind goes blank

Quite often, we get to the appointment and can’t remember everything we wanted to tell them.  So it can be helpful to write down -before you go – why you’ve made the appointment and what you want to let your doctor or health worker know about.

You might find it helpful to keep a symptom diary – a record of what’s been happening, how long it’s been going on for, and how often it occurs.  You could take this with you to the doctor and use it to help you tell them what’s been going on.

When we speak to the doctor or health worker we often only tell them about the things that we think are important.  But a doctor or health worker needs to know about everything that’s been happening, even if you don’t think the signs and symptoms are related. Writing everything down before you see your doctor, or keeping a symptom diary, can help you be sure you are telling your doctor or health worker all that you’ve noticed so they can decide if it is serious or not.

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What could happen when I see the doctor or health worker?

What will happen when you see the doctor or health worker depends on what they find.

• The doctor or health worker might be able to reassure you straight away that there’s nothing serious to worry about.
• The doctor or health worker may send you for tests or refer you to the hospital to find out more about what’s going on.
• The doctor or health worker may ask you to come back if things haven’t got better in a couple of weeks or so.  This is because you sometimes need to allow time for things to sort themselves out on their own.  If they don’t clear up, or if they change or get worse, it’s important to go back to the doctor or health worker.  They may refer you on for further tests to find out what’s happening.

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I don’t have a doctor or health worker

If you don’t have a doctor or health worker, don’t worry.  To find a  doctor in your local area you can:

• Look in the white or yellow pages, or local directory or phone book
• Call healthdirect Australia 1800 022 222
• Contact your local shire or council
• Contact your local Community Resource Centre
• Contact your nearest health centre or Aboriginal Medical Service
• Contact the nearest hospital

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Where else can I get advice?

If you notice anything unusual, there are other people who can give you advice:

• Cancer Council Helpline 13 11 20
• the practice nurse
• the nurse practitioner
• the pharmacist

But remember, always make an appointment with your doctor if your signs and symptoms don’t go away.

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Find out more about:

• Symptoms of bowel, breast, lung, prostate and skin cancer
• Why early detection is important
• What to do if you find a symptom
• How to tell your doctor or health worker
• The Find Cancer Early Campaign
• Watch Find Cancer Early videos 

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