Head and Neck Rapid Access Clinic (RAC)
Information for head and neck patients on a cancer pathway
This leaflet explains the following.
What happens after your referral to the Head and Neck Rapid Access Clinic.
What will happen at your first appointment.
The investigations you may need to have.
What happens when we have your results.
We hope this leaflet answers some of the questions you may have. If you have any further questions or concerns, please speak to the Cancer Pathway Navigator. Their contact details are at the end of this leaflet.
What happens now?
Your GP or dentist has concerns about your symptoms. They have referred you to a head and neck consultant at the hospital’s Rapid Access Clinic.
There are many common conditions that your symptoms can be linked to, including the possibility of cancer. The Rapid Access Clinic aims to quickly investigate your symptoms, and find out if there is a problem as soon as possible.
After meeting with you in the clinic, your consultant may decide you need some diagnostic tests. We have listed these tests below. These tests will help us diagnose or rule out certain head and neck conditions. The results will help us to decide your best treatment options going forward.
What diagnostic tests might I have?
Your consultant may decide you need to continue with investigations on an urgent cancer pathway. This is because the consultant wants to complete the investigations urgently. Your symptoms can be caused by differing conditions, including cancer. We would like to make a diagnosis as soon as possible.
We will try to arrange for you to have the investigations at your nearest hospital; but this is not always possible. It is important that you are available to go to all your appointments, even if they are at short notice. Please make sure that we have your correct telephone numbers, so we can contact you.
We have listed the diagnostic tests below, but you may not need all these tests.
You may have blood tests at or after your clinic appointment.
CT (computerised tomography) scan. You will need a blood test before your CT scan. Before your scan, we will ask you to lie on a table, which will pass through the CT scanner. The scanner takes x-rays, which build up a highly detailed and accurate image of the inside of your body. If you have any questions about the CT scan, please ask your specialist, doctor, nurse, or the Radiology Department.
An ultrasound scan creates pictures of your neck. It helps us to see if there are any areas that are abnormal.
Your doctor may need to take a sample (biopsy) of the abnormal area seen during your examination.
An MRI scan may involve you having an injection before going into a narrow scanner. The scan takes approximately 20 minutes. An MRI scan is particularly useful for assessing soft tissues in the head and neck.
You may not be able to have an MRI scan if you have a pacemaker, a cardiac defibrillator, or you have metal in your head or neck. You will discuss this with your doctor before we make any decisions.
PET (positron emission tomography) CT scan. Before this scan you will need a low-grade radioactive tracer injection, so we can see any abnormal activity in your body. A PET CT scan is like a CT scan, but can give more information.
For more information on the scans listed above, go to the Trust's Radiology web page or speak to the Cancer Pathway Navigator on 01227 206759.
When will I get the results of my tests?
When you get your test results varies for each test. When your test results are available one of the team will discuss them with you. This may be by telephone or they may ask you to come into the hospital.
Please be aware that telephone calls from the hospital will come from a withheld number.
Will I need an operation?
Depending on the results of your consultation and the above tests, your doctor may recommend an operation to make a diagnosis. If you agree, we will add you to the operation waiting list.
The amount of time you might need to wait for an operation depends on the clinical priority of your condition. We will arrange the procedure as soon as possible:
if we need to make a diagnosis where cancer might be a possibility; or
where an operation is being performed to treat cancer.
The aim of an operation is to:
assess your head and neck further; and
take a tissue sample from areas that cannot be easily biopsied in the clinic.
What operation will I have?
The types of operation available include the following.
Microlaryngoscopy
We assess your voice box using metal tubes through your mouth and a microscope. You will have this procedure under a general anaesthetic (you are asleep for the procedure).
Panendoscopy
During this procedure we assess your whole throat. This sometimes includes the back of your nose and your oesophagus as well. This is also done under general anaesthetic.
Excision of neck lumps
This may involve the removal of lymph nodes, cysts, masses, thyroid gland, parotid gland, and / or submandibular gland. This is usually done under general anaesthetic.
Depending on their symptoms, each patient will need different investigations. We will give you information at your RAC appointment about which investigations you have been referred for. These details will also be in your appointment letter.
We understand that patients may have concerns about coming to the hospital or about their investigations. If you do have any concerns or questions, please contact the Cancer Pathway Navigator on the number listed below.
Contact details
Please contact our Cancer Pathway Navigator if you have any questions. We would like you to have the investigations completed as soon as we can arrange them. We do understand that sometimes this can be difficult, and we would like to try and help you with any concerns.
The Cancer Pathway Navigator will not be able to give you the results of your scans, but they will be able to liaise with your consultant.
Cancer Pathway Navigator
Telephone: 01227 206759
What do you think of this leaflet?
We welcome feedback, whether positive or negative, as it helps us to improve our care and services.
If you would like to give us feedback about this leaflet, please fill in our short online survey. Either scan the QR code below, or use the web link. We do not record your personal information, unless you provide contact details and would like to talk to us some more.
If you would rather talk to someone instead of filling in a survey, please call the Patient Voice Team.
Patient Voice Team
Telephone: 01227 868605
Email