To diagnose your cancer, you may have seen a surgeon at your local hospital: for example, a breast surgeon for suspected breast cancer or a gastrointestinal surgeon for suspected stomach cancer. Rarer cancers require more specialised surgeons who are skilled at particular surgical techniques. This may mean that you have to be referred to a specialist cancer hospital, possibly some distance from where you live.

If you want to know about the referral process planned for you, you can talk to your GP. They can explain the procedure and if necessary refer you for another surgical opinion. You can also ask your surgeon if they specialise in surgery for your particular type of cancer and what experience they have.