Frequently Asked Questions
What will happen on my first visit with the doctor?
You can learn more about your initial visit here: Patient Experience
How long after my first visit will I start treatment?
This will be discussed with the doctor during your initial consultation.
Will you need copies of my medical records?
Yes. Your referring physician will need to provide us with the following:
General New Patients: General New Patient Requirements
Head & Neck New Patients: Head & Neck New Patient Requirements
Proton Ocular New Patients: New Patient Requirements Proton Ocular
Prostate New Patients: Prostate New Patient Requirements
Can I be a part of a research study?
This will be discussed with the doctor during your initial consultation. You can find more information about available research studies here: Clinical Trials
Who do I call if I have any questions?
You can contact us in the following ways: Contact Us
Where can I learn more about my medical team?
You can find information about the physicians here: Radiation Oncology Medical Providers
Where can I learn more about my condition and treatment options?
You can find information about conditions and treatment options here: Conditions | Treatments
“Tackling the most difficult problems in medicine for the benefit of our patients and humankind is a privilege.”
—Jean Nakamura, MD
When will I be contacted for scheduling the initial appointment?
Patients should expect a phone call from the New Patient Coordinator 2-5 business days from receipt of the referral.
When is the next available appointment?
Appointment availability depends on each physician’s patient load.
What paperwork do I need to fill out before my first appointment?
General New Patients:
General New Patient Paperwork.pdf
Prostate New Patients:
Prostate New Patient Paperwork.pdf
Is there anything else I need to bring besides the paperwork?
You will need to have your insurance card(s) and a government-issued photo ID at the time of your visit.
Which insurances do you take?
You can find a list of participating insurance plans here: InsuranceList.pdf
Will I need to have any additional imaging done (MRIs, CTs, PET/CTs, mammograms, etc.) other than the imaging I’ve already had?
This will be determined by the doctor during your initial consultation.
Which doctor will I be seeing?
In most cases, you will be seeing the doctor that you are specifically referred to. You may also be assigned to whichever doctor has the first available appointment and is best suited to take on your case.
What is a simulation appointment?
You can find information about the simulation appointment here: Prepare for My Exam – Simulation
At which location will I be getting treatment?
This will be discussed with the doctor during your initial consultation.
Which machine(s) will I be treated on?
This will be discussed with the doctor during your initial consultation.
How long will my treatment last?
This will be discussed with the doctor during your initial consultation.
What are the side effects of the treatment?
This will be discussed with the doctor during your initial consultation.
Will I be seeing my doctor every day during my treatment?
In most cases, your doctor will visit with you once a week during your treatment.
What is brachytherapy?
You can find information about brachytherapy treatment here: Brachytherapy
What is hyperthermia?
You can find information about hyperthermia treatment here: Hyperthermia
What is Gamma Knife?
You can find information about Gamma Knife treatment here: Gamma Knife
What is CyberKnife?
You can find information about CyberKnife treatment here: CyberKnife
What role do physicists play in treatment?
Our world-renowned physics team ensures the highest quality of radiation therapy for our patients. The interdisciplinary team provides unparalleled clinical care firmly founded in our dual mission of educating the next generation of leaders and researching innovations for the treatments of tomorrow.
For more information on how to navigate through the UCSF Cancer Center, please refer to the UCSF Cancer Center Guidebook for parking instructions, activities, and brief explanations of cancer center related terms.