What happens at your urology clinic appointment

Being asked to attend a urology clinic appointment

Referred by your GP

Your GP may refer you to a urology clinic if you have a symptom(s) that needs investigating. GPs follow guidance when deciding whether to refer you to a urology clinic. This guidance also outlines how quickly you should be seen, depending on your symptoms and your age.

The vast majority of people referred to a urologist do not have cancer.  

However, the sooner cancer is diagnosed, the more successful treatment is likely to be. So it’s important to go to your appointment so you can be fully assessed.

Your visit to the urology clinic may take several hours so that all the necessary tests can be carried out. You can take someone with you for company or support. Some people prefer to go on their own. 

You may be asked to fill in a short questionnare before you are seen by a doctor or specialist nurse. This includes questions about:

• any family history of urology problems
• any medicines you are taking

This will be followed by an examination.  As part of the examination, its normal to examine the lymph nodes (also called glands) under your arm (axilla) and around your neck.

Your may then need to have further tests. These will usually include one or more of the following:

• ultrasound scan
• core biopsy
• an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan
• a bone scan
• a CT scan

The order in which the tests are done will vary between clinics. 

Your assessment may be done in a one-stop clinic. This is where all tests are carried our during your visit to the clinic. Some test result may be available later that day, but if you have a core biopsy this will take longer. In some cases you may be asked to make another appointment to finish your tests or to get your results.