Learn more about conditions, tests and treatments

Your health and wellbeing while waiting

Knowing more about your conditions, tests and treatments will help you to:

  • make an informed choice about the treatments and care that are right for you
  • talk to your family about how they can support you while waiting
  • talk to health professionals
  • learn more about what you can do support your health and wellbeing in the meantime

Managing a long-term condition

If you’re living with a long term condition, it’s important to think about this when waiting.

The best thing you can do is try and make sure your condition is stable. You may also be able to improve it through some lifestyle changes.

If your condition is stable, it means you may be able to cope better with things like surgery or treatment. It may also help you get better faster.

You should talk to the healthcare professional who supports you with your long term condition for more advice.

Risk factors for other conditions

The aim whilst you’re waiting is to help you get your health and wellbeing to the best place it can be.

Many people have risk factors for other conditions that they have not spotted any symptoms for. You can learn more about some common conditions and their symptoms through:

If you think these may be issues for you, talk to your healthcare professional.

Knowing about the risks for certain conditions can help you spot the symptoms and get treatment early. This will help your health and wellbeing for the future. It’ll also help you get fitter ahead of the surgery or procedure you’re waiting for.

Cancer

Improving your physical and mental wellbeing may help you cope with cancer. This approach is called pre-habilitation or prehab.

Prehabilitation can help you:

  • recover more quickly from surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy
  • reduce the chance of developing other problems during and after treatment

Further information on prehabilitation