Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the questions our patients ask most frequently. If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

I’d like to bring a friend or family member with me to my appointment. Is that OK?

Yes. We strongly encourage you to bring a friend or family member (14 years of age or older) to be with you throughout your appointment. This person can take notes to help you remember what your doctor told you, assist you with transportation and be there to support you.

My care team includes a medical student, resident or fellow. What does that mean?

As an academic teaching facility, the UNM Cancer Center is able to stay abreast of the most recent developments in cancer care, and is actively involved in training the next generation of physicians. Every physician-in-training is part of a comprehensive cancer care team that provides the most advanced care available. Each is closely supervised by an attending physician, who has completed the highest level of training and directs your care. Click here for a complete description of each level of experience.

My physician is out of the office. Who will I see at my appointment?

UNM Cancer Center physicians are committed to providing the finest healthcare available. If your physician is not available when you are scheduled for an appointment, you will be seen by another highly trained member of our team. This could be another physician, a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant. Our multidisciplinary team is in constant contact, and you can be assured that your physician will oversee every aspect of your care.

I need a refill for my prescription. How can I get one?

The most efficient way to obtain a refill is for you to contact your pharmacy directly. If you need UNM Cancer Center assistance, please call our main number, 505-272-4946, and a triage nurse will work with your pharmacist to get your prescription refilled. If you come to the UNM Cancer Center in person, our team will be able to assist you. Please note that we require 48 hours to complete the transaction.

My insurance or my personal information has changed. What should I do?

If your insurance or any of your personal information (such as your name, address and phone number) changes, please call the main number, 505-272-4946, or contact the front desk.

I do not feel well or am having a bad reaction to medication and the clinic is closed. What should I do?

The UNM Cancer Center is closed on weekends and holidays.

If it is a medical emergency, dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.

If it is not a medical emergency, call the UNM Cancer Center at 505-272-4946 or 800-432-6806. From there, you will be connected to our answering service.

If for any reason you cannot connect to our main number, you can call our answering service directly at 505-857-3758.

They will ask you the following questions:

If you are calling for the patient, what is the patient’s name?
What is your name?
Where are you being seen? (UNM Cancer Center or Lovelace)
What is your telephone number?
What is the patient’s date of birth?
Who is the patient’s doctor?
Why are you calling?

After obtaining this information, the answering service will contact Nurse Advice New Mexico. A nurse will call you back and ask you some more questions.

After talking with you, the nurse will take one of the following actions:

Give you some suggestions for you to care for yourself
Tell you to get medical care right away
Transfer your call to the answering service. The answering service will ask you to hold while they contact a doctor for you.

I have a bad reaction at home and the clinic is open. What should I do?

Call the main number, 505-272-4946 or 800-432-6806. Our telephone triage nurse can help you manage your symptoms and will contact your physician.

My physician has referred me for an imaging study. What should I do?

Imaging studies (also called radiology procedures or exams) include X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound, mammography, nuclear medicine, PET/CT and interventional radiology. If your physician tells you that he or she is ordering such a procedure, you will receive a call from the Radiology Department at UNM Hospitals to schedule the procedure. If you do not receive that call within two working days after your appointment with your doctor, please call 505-925-0158.

My physician ordered a test not offered at the UNM Cancer Center. What should I do?

The scheduling team at the UNM Cancer Center works closely with our physicians and will schedule the tests for you. They will notify you of the time and place of your test.

I have a compliment or a complaint. What should I do?

The UNM Cancer Center takes patient and family feedback very seriously and we welcome your input. Please contact the front desk to pick up a compliment or complaint form. If you wish to speak with someone, please call 505-272-4946 and ask to speak with the Director of Quality.

What are clinical trials? How can I enroll in one?

Clinical trials are research studies designed to determine the effectiveness and safety of new medications and treatments. These studies are crucial to advancing knowledge about how cancer works and how to prevent it, and can provide patients with the most advanced treatment options. As a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, we have access to nationwide clinical trials, and at any given time have about 300 open studies.

There are many things to consider before enrolling in a clinical trial. You and your doctor should discuss whether a clinical trial is right for you. All clinical trials are voluntary, and you will always have the right to choose whether or not you will take part in a clinical trial. Once enrolled, you have the right to leave at any time for any reason. About 20 percent of UNM Cancer Center patients choose to participate in clinical trials.

Click here to learn more about clinical trials, including potential benefits and risks, or to find out if a clinical trial is right for you. You may also email our Clinical Trials Office or call them at 505-272-5490. Click here to learn more about the New Mexico Cancer Care Alliance, our statewide clinical trials network, or call them at 505-272-7813.

I would like to help. Can I make a donation to the UNM Cancer Center?

There are many ways to make a gift to the UNM Cancer Center. Gifts can be in the form of cash or securities (stocks, bonds). Donors may also plan for a future gift by naming the UNM Cancer Center in a will, establishing a trust or designating us as a beneficiary of an insurance policy or retirement account. All gifts are tax deductible and, unlike many cancer charities, 100 percent of your gift goes to support the program you choose. Call the UNM Cancer Center Development Office at 505-272-4443 to find out more or donate through our secure online form.