Your doctor will contact the CICS team who will direct you to either Nottingham Children’s Hospital or Leicester Children’s Hospital depending on which tests are required. You / your child may need to be admitted to undergo these tests or will be asked to attend hospital during the day for tests and appointments. We will explain what the tests involve and inform you of the outcome as soon as possible. Please ask the nurse or doctor caring for you / your child if you have any questions at any time.

The CICS team will make every effort to establish what is wrong with you / your child as quickly as possible. However, the highly specialised nature of the tests that may be required sometimes mean it can take several days, even a few weeks, before it is clear exactly what is wrong.

The way we work

The results of tests will be jointly interpreted by specialists from across the East Midlands to ensure the correct diagnosis is made and, if appropriate, the most suitable treatment plan is recommended. Patients who are found not to have cancer will be referred back to their GP or other appropriate services.

If your / your child’s symptoms are caused by a type of cancer we will carefully explain this as well as the proposed treatment. We collaborate with colleagues in the UK and from around the world to ensure the most suitable treatments are offered. You may also be given the opportunity to take part in national or international trials.

We will provide additional information on all these aspects at that stage and will assign a key worker (paediatric oncology outreach nurse) who will help to guide you through the treatment.

In line with national guidance CICS endeavours to provide you with the highest quality care as close as possible to your home. Due to the rarity of childhood cancer and the complexity of its treatment some treatments are only available in certain hospitals and we will discuss the most suitable option for you as soon as it is clear what your / your child’s treatment will involve.