Document:

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10(W)

                              FORBEARANCE AGREEMENT

         THIS FORBEARANCE AGREEMENT dated as of December 29, 2000 ("this
Forbearance Agreement") is executed by RESPONSE ONCOLOGY, INC., a Tennessee
corporation ("Response"), RESPONSE ONCOLOGY MANAGEMENT OF SOUTH FLORIDA, INC., a
Tennessee corporation ("Management"), RESPONSE ONCOLOGY OF TAMARAC, INC., a
Florida corporation ("Tamarac") and RESPONSE ONCOLOGY OF FORT LAUDERDALE, INC.,
a Florida corporation ("Ft. Lauderdale"; Response, Management, Tamarac and Ft.
Lauderdale are sometimes together referred to as the "Borrowers"); AMSOUTH BANK,
an Alabama banking corporation ("AmSouth"), UNION PLANTERS BANK, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., a
national banking association and formerly known as NationsBank, N.A.
(collectively, the "Lenders"), and AMSOUTH BANK, in its capacity as Agent for
Lenders ("Agent")

                                   BACKGROUND

         A.       The Borrowers, the Lenders and the Agent have entered into a
Credit Agreement dated as of June 10, 1999, as amended by a First Amendment
thereto dated as of September 30, 1999 and a Second Amendment thereto dated as
of March 30, 2000 (such Credit Agreement, as so subsequently amended, modified
or supplemented through the date hereof, the "Credit Agreement"). Capitalized
terms not otherwise defined in this Forbearance Agreement have the same meanings
as specified in the Credit Agreement.

         B.       The Borrowers have informed the Lenders that they are not in
compliance with the provisions of Section 7.7 of the Credit Agreement (each an
"Event" and collectively, the "Events"). The Events constitute Events of
Default.

         C.       In order to provide the Borrowers with a period of time within
which to develop a plan to address the Borrowers' current financial
difficulties, the Borrowers have requested that the Lenders forbear from
exercising their rights and remedies under the Credit Documents. Subject to the
terms and conditions of this Forbearance Agreement, the Lenders have agreed to
this request.

                                    AGREEMENT

         NOW, THEREFORE, incorporating the section in this Forbearance Agreement
captioned "Background" above, and for other good and valuable consideration, the
Agent, the Lenders and the Borrowers agree as of the date hereof (the
"Forbearance Agreement Effective Date") as follows:
<PAGE>   2

                                    ARTICLE 1

                         ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND AGREEMENTS

         1.1      Acknowledgment of Existing Events; Existing Credit Documents.
The Borrowers acknowledge and agree that: (a) each Event is material in nature
and constitutes an Event of Default; (b) the Credit Documents are valid and
enforceable against the Borrowers in every respect and all of the terms and
conditions thereof are binding upon the Borrowers; and (c) the Subordinated Debt
is subordinated and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of
the obligations described in the Credit Agreement. The Borrowers further
acknowledge and agree that, as a result of the Events, the Lenders are entitled
immediately without further notice or declaration to the Borrowers or any other
Person, to accelerate the Obligations pursuant to the Credit Documents and to
exercise all rights and remedies under the Credit Documents, applicable law or
otherwise. With respect to the Events, to the extent that any of the Credit
Documents require notification by the Lenders or the Borrowers of the existence
of a default or an opportunity for the Borrowers to cure such a default, or
both, such notice and period for cure have been properly given by the Lenders or
hereby are waived by the Borrowers.

         1.2      Acknowledgment of Current Outstanding Obligations. As of
December 26, 2000, the Borrowers are indebted to the Lenders in an aggregate
amount equal to the principal sum (including the face amount of outstanding
letters of credit) of $33,748,715 apportioned as follows:

<TABLE>
                  <S>                                <C>
                  Term Loan Facility                 $28,749,000.00

                  Revolving Credit Facility          $ 4,999,715.00

                  Letters of Credit                  $            0
</TABLE>

plus accrued but unpaid interest, plus, to the extent provided in the Credit
Documents, the costs and expenses associated with the Loans incurred by any
Lender and/or the Lenders, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys'
fees incurred by the Agent in the negotiation and preparation of the Credit
Documents, this Forbearance Agreement and the documents related hereto (the
foregoing amounts are hereafter collectively referred to as the "Current
Outstanding Obligations") and/or in connection with the Events, all without
offset, counterclaims or defenses of any kind. Nothing contained herein shall
alter, amend, modify or extinguish the obligation of the Borrowers to repay the
Current Outstanding Obligations, and neither this Forbearance Agreement nor any
of the other documents related hereto constitutes a novation or modification of
any of the Credit Documents.

         1.3      Acknowledgment of Liens and Priority. Pursuant to the Credit
Documents and except as specifically set forth therein or herein, the Agent, for
the benefit of the Lenders, holds first priority, perfected security interests
in and liens upon all of the Borrowers' assets, wherever located, including
assets now owned or hereafter acquired, and as more specifically described in

                                      -2-
<PAGE>   3

the Credit Documents. The Borrowers will promptly take all actions and execute
all documents requested by the Agent in regard to such security interests and
liens including any actions requested by the Agent as a result of revisions to
the Uniform Commercial Code in the jurisdictions in which any Collateral is
located. Such security interests and liens secure all of the Obligations now or
hereafter incurred, including, without limitation, the Current Outstanding
Obligations and all other amounts now or hereafter owed by the Borrowers to the
Lenders under the Credit Documents. For purposes of this Forbearance Agreement,
the word "Obligations" shall mean any and all obligations and liabilities of the
Borrowers to the Lenders, of every kind and description, direct and indirect,
absolute and contingent, sole, joint, several, or joint and several, primary or
secondary, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising, regardless
of how they arise or by what agreement or instrument they may be evidenced or
whether evidenced by any agreement or instrument, and includes obligations to
perform acts and refrain from taking actions as well as obligations to pay
money, and also includes the Current Outstanding Obligations.

         1.4      Reaffirmation of Security Interests. All of the assets of the
Borrowers pledged, assigned, conveyed, mortgaged, hypothecated or transferred to
the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders pursuant to the Credit Documents
including, without limitation, the Collateral constitute collateral security for
all of the Obligations. The Borrowers hereby reaffirm their prior conveyance to
the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders of a continuing security interest in
and lien on the Collateral as well as a security interest in and lien upon any
and all funds and/or monies of the Borrowers.

                                    ARTICLE 2

                                   FORBEARANCE

         2.1      Forbearance Period. Subject to the terms and conditions of
this Forbearance Agreement, and without waiving the Events or other Defaults or
Events of Default that may exist, the Lenders agree to forbear from enforcing
their rights or remedies pursuant to the Credit Documents and applicable law as
a result of the occurrence of the Events until the earliest to occur of the
following (as the case may be, the "Forbearance Termination Date"): (i) February
28, 2001, (ii) the occurrence of an Event of Default under this Forbearance
Agreement, any other Credit Document or any other loan or credit agreement or
other document evidencing a debt obligation of the Borrowers, including without
limitation the documents evidencing Subordinated Debt, except for the Events,
and (iii) the exercise of any rights by any party to any loan or credit
agreement or other document evidencing a debt obligation, including, without
limitation, the documents evidencing Subordinated Debt, which the Required
Lenders and the Agent consider to be adverse to the interests of the Lenders.

         2.2      Payments to Affiliates; Subordinated Payments. Until the
occurrence of the Forbearance Termination Date, neither the Borrowers, nor any
Subsidiary, will (i) pay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise partially or
fully satisfy in any manner, whether in respect of

                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4

interest, principal, premiums, fees, expenses or otherwise, any of the
Subordinated Debt except for the payment of interest to Medical Oncology
Hematology Consultants, PLLC in the amount of $3,605, which payment is due on
January 1, 2001; provided, however, Response represents to the Agent and the
Lenders that it is negotiating an amendment to the Management Services Agreement
with Oncology-Hematology Group of South Florida ("OHG") that would allow
Response not to pay the Subordinated Debt payment due OHG on December 31, 2000.
If the negotiations between Response and OHG fail to result in nonpayment of the
scheduled Subordinated Debt payment to OHG, the Agent and the Lenders will
consider, as promptly as practicable, approving such payment by Response to OHG.
In no event shall the Agent and the Lenders be deemed to permit such payment
without written approval signed by the Agent and the Lenders; or (ii) make any
other payment, whether as a dividend, compensation, management fee, bonus or
otherwise to any Affiliate of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries.

         2.3      Financial Advisor. (a) The Borrowers are utilizing the
services of PricewaterhouseCoopers, which is acceptable to the Lenders, to
develop a business plan and otherwise advise the Borrowers with respect to the
Borrowers' current financial difficulties. The business plan developed with the
assistance of the outside professionals and the restructuring proposal
formulated by the Borrowers will be delivered to the Agent and the Lenders by no
later than February 1, 2001.

         (b)      The Borrowers agree promptly to provide to the Agent copies of
any existing or subsequently created valuations of the Borrowers' businesses
and/or the Collateral. The Borrowers confirm that they will require
PricewaterhouseCoopers to perform a valuation of the Borrowers' businesses under
various scenarios and assumptions as soon as practicable.

         2.4      Interest and No Advances. From the Forbearance Agreement
Effective Date until the occurrence of the Forbearance Termination Date, (i)
interest on the Obligations shall be charged at the Prime Rate plus two
percentage points (200 basis points), (ii) the Borrowers shall otherwise make
all payments required to be made in accordance with the terms of the Credit
Documents and (iii) the Lenders shall not be obligated to advance any additional
Loans and the Issuing Bank shall not be obligated to issue Letters of Credit.

         2.5      Forbearance Fee. In consideration for the Lenders' agreement
to forbear as set forth herein, the Borrowers hereby agree to pay to the Agent
for distribution to the Lenders Pro Rata, on the date of the Borrowers'
execution of this Forbearance Agreement a forbearance fee in an amount equal to
Sixty-Seven Thousand Four Hundred Ninety-Seven and 43/100 Dollars ($67,497.43),
which shall be fully earned and not refundable by the Lenders.

         2.6      Financial Information. In addition to all the information
required to be provided to the Agent under the Credit Agreement, including
without limitation the information required to be provided under Section 5.3 of
the Credit Agreement, the Borrowers shall deliver to the Agent each week
commencing January 1, 2001, cash flow forecasts for each of the next four weeks
on both a consolidated and consolidating basis in such form and content as are
mutually acceptable

                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5

to the Agent and to the Borrowers. The cash flow forecasts shall be on a rolling
basis, shall reflect actual receipts and disbursements, shall compare actual
cash flow for the past week to the previously projected amounts for such past
week and shall reflect the actual cash on hand as of the date of the forecasts.

                                    ARTICLE 3

                              CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

         The obligations of the Agent and the Lenders under this Forbearance
Agreement and the effectiveness of this Forbearance Agreement are subject to the
receipt by the Agent of the following:

         (a)      this Forbearance Agreement duly executed by the Borrowers, the
                  Lenders and the Agent; and

         (b)      all reasonable fees, costs, expenses and disbursements owing
                  to the Lenders, including without limitation, the fees and
                  disbursements of Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C. shall have been
                  paid.

                                    ARTICLE 4

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         To induce the Lenders to enter into this Forbearance Agreement and as
partial consideration for the terms and conditions contained herein, the
Borrowers, jointly and severally, make the following representations and
warranties to the Lenders, each and all of which shall survive the execution and
delivery of this Forbearance Agreement and all of the other documents executed
in connection herewith:

         4.1      Organization. (a) The Borrowers are corporations duly
incorporated and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their
respective states of incorporation, and are duly authorized to do business and
are duly qualified as foreign corporations in all jurisdictions wherein the
nature of their businesses or properties make such qualification necessary, and
have the corporate power to own their respective properties and to carry on
their respective businesses as now conducted; and

         (b)      The Borrowers have the requisite corporate power and authority
to deliver and perform this Forbearance Agreement and all of the documents
executed by them in connection herewith.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6

         4.2      Authorization; Valid and Binding Agreement. All corporate
action required to be taken by the Borrowers and their respective officers,
directors and stockholders and all actions required to be taken by the
principals of the Borrowers for the authorization, execution, delivery and
performance of this Forbearance Agreement and other documents contemplated
hereby have been taken. Each person executing this Forbearance Agreement on
behalf of the Borrowers is an authorized officer of the Borrowers. This
Forbearance Agreement is, and each of the documents executed pursuant hereto
will be, legal, valid, and binding obligations of the party or parties thereto,
enforceable against each such party in accordance with their respective terms,
subject only to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other
laws or equitable principles affecting creditors' rights generally.

         4.3      Third Party Consents. The execution, delivery and performance
by the Borrowers of this Forbearance Agreement and the documents related hereto
will not:

         (a)      require any consent or approval of any person or entity which
has not been obtained prior to, and which is not in full force and effect as of,
the date of this Forbearance Agreement;

         (b)      result in the breach of, default under, or cause the
acceleration of any obligation owed under any loan, credit agreement, note,
security agreement, lease indenture, mortgage, loan document or other agreement
by which any of them are bound or affected; or

         (c)      result in, or require the creation or imposition of, any lien
or encumbrance on any of their respective properties other than those liens or
security interests in favor of the Lenders or the liens or security interests
disclosed to the Lenders in the Credit Documents.

         4.4      Other Representations and Warranties. The Borrowers hereby
reaffirm all of their representations and warranties to the Lenders contained in
the Credit Documents, and warrant that such representations and warranties, not
otherwise rendered untrue by the Events as disclosed by the Borrowers herein,
are true and correct as of the date of this Forbearance Agreement (it being
understood that any representation or warranty made as of a specific date shall
be true and correct in all material respects as of such specified date).

                                    ARTICLE 5

                              DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

         It shall constitute an immediate Event of Default under this
Forbearance Agreement if the Borrowers (i) fail to perform or observe any
covenants, term, agreement or condition of this Forbearance Agreement, or (ii)
are in violation of or non-compliance with any provision of this Forbearance
Agreement or any of the Credit Documents (other than the Events) after the
expiry of any cure period related thereto, if applicable. The Borrowers
specifically agree that, upon and at any time after the Forbearance Termination
Date, the Lenders, upon written notice to the Borrowers, may, in their sole
discretion, exercise or enforce any or all of their rights and

                                      -6-
<PAGE>   7

remedies under this Forbearance Agreement, the Credit Documents, and/or
applicable law, against any one or more of the Borrowers.

                                    ARTICLE 6

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         6.1      Submission to Jurisdiction; Selection of Forum. Each of the
parties hereto agree that the provisions of Sections 10.6 and 10.24 of the
Credit Agreement shall be incorporated herein by reference and shall apply to
any action with respect to this Forbearance Agreement as if fully set forth
herein.

         6.2      Cooperation; Other Documents. At all times following the
execution of this Forbearance Agreement, the Borrowers shall execute and deliver
to the Lenders and the Agent, or shall cause to be executed and delivered to the
Lenders and the Agent, and shall do or cause to be done all such other acts and
things as the Lenders and the Agent may reasonably deem to be necessary or
desirable to assure the Lenders of the benefit of this Forbearance Agreement and
the documents comprising or relating to this Forbearance Agreement.

         6.3      Remedies Cumulative; No Waiver. The respective rights, powers
and remedies of the Lenders in this Forbearance Agreement and in the other
Credit Documents are cumulative and not exclusive of any right, power or remedy
provided in the Credit Documents, by law or equity and no failure or delay on
the part of the Lenders in the exercise of any right, power or remedy shall
operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any
right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof, or the
exercise of any other right, power or remedy. Nothing contained in this
Forbearance Agreement or in any prior communications between or among the
Borrowers and the Lenders shall constitute a waiver or modification of any
rights or remedies that the Lenders may have under the Credit Documents and
applicable law. The Lenders expressly reserve and preserve all of their rights
and remedies.

         6.4      Notices. Each of the parties hereto agree that the provisions
of Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement shall be incorporated herein by
reference and shall apply to any action with respect to this Forbearance
Agreement as if fully set forth herein, except that copies of notice to
Borrowers shall be sent to:

                           Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP
                           Attn: James A. Barker, Esq.
                           1333 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W.
                           Washington, D.C.  20036
                           Telecopier: 202-887-4288

                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8

         6.5      Indemnification. If, after receipt of any payment of all or
any part of the Obligations, the Lenders are compelled to surrender such payment
to any person or entity for any reason (including, without limitation, a
determination that such payment is void and voidable as a preference or
fraudulent conveyance, an impermissible setoff, or a diversion of trust funds),
then the Borrowers shall be jointly and severally liable for, and shall
indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Lenders with respect to the full amount
so surrendered including any fees and costs incurred by the Lenders in
connection therewith. The provisions of this section shall survive the
termination of this Forbearance Agreement and the other Credit Documents and
shall be and remain effective notwithstanding the payment of the Obligations,
the cancellation of the Notes, the release of any lien, security interest or
other encumbrance securing the Obligations or any other action which the Lenders
may have taken in reliance upon their receipt of such payment. Any cancellation
of the Notes, release of any such encumbrance or other such action shall be
deemed to have been conditioned upon any payment of the Obligations having
become final and irrevocable.

         6.6      RELEASE. TO INDUCE THE AGENT AND THE LENDERS TO ENTER INTO
THIS FORBEARANCE AGREEMENT, THE BORROWERS HEREBY RELEASE, ACQUIT AND FOREVER
DISCHARGE THE LENDERS, AND EACH OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AGENTS,
EMPLOYEES, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITIES, CLAIMS,
DEMANDS, ACTIONS OR CAUSES OF ACTION OF ANY KIND OR NATURE (IF THERE BE ANY),
WHETHER ABSOLUTE OR CONTINGENT, DISPUTED OR UNDISPUTED, AT LAW OR IN EQUITY, OR
KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, THAT THE BORROWERS NOW HAVE OR EVER HAD AGAINST THE AGENT OR
THE LENDERS ARISING UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY OF THE CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR
OTHERWISE.

         6.7      Restructuring Negotiations. The Borrowers have informed the
Lenders of their desire to restructure the Obligations owing to the Lenders. In
connection with any such restructuring, the Borrowers acknowledge that (i)
discussions among the Borrowers, the Agent and the Lenders do not evidence an
agreement on the Lenders' part to modify or restructure the Obligations; (ii)
any discussions, questions or comments posed or made by the Lenders' staff,
consultants or advisors during any discussions or meetings should not be
considered by the Borrowers to be a binding commitment by the Lenders to accede
to any requests or proposals made by the Borrowers during any such discussions
or meetings; (iii) even if any understanding in principle is reached on the
terms of a restructuring of any of the Obligations at any time, neither the
Borrowers nor the Lenders shall be legally bound until the appropriate approval
authority in the Lenders has approved the proposed restructuring, and until all
parties have signed definitive documents evidencing such restructuring; and (iv)
any discussions concerning the terms of a proposed restructuring shall in no way
invalidate, nullify or waive the Lenders' rights and remedies under the Credit
Documents or signify the Lenders' agreement to postpone the exercise of any of
their respective remedies under the Credit Documents. The parties contemplate
that these discussions may be lengthy and complex and that while the parties may
reach agreement on one or more preliminary matters that are part of the disputes
and issues that they are trying to

                                      -8-
<PAGE>   9

resolve, the parties agree that none of them shall be bound by any agreement
until said agreement has been reduced to a written agreement and signed by each
of the parties. Thus, no party can rely upon (i) any understanding or agreement
which is not reduced to a written agreement and signed; or (ii) the existence of
the negotiations. The terms and conditions set forth in this Forbearance
Agreement are the product of joint draftsmanship by ALL parties, each being
represented by counsel, and any ambiguities in this Forbearance Agreement or any
documentation prepared pursuant to or in connection with this Forbearance
Agreement shall not be construed against any of the parties because of
draftsmanship.

         6.8      Survival of Representations and Warranties. All
representations and warranties of the Borrowers contained in this Forbearance
Agreement and in all other documents and instruments executed in connection
herewith or otherwise relating to this Forbearance Agreement shall survive the
execution of this Forbearance Agreement and are material and have been or will
be relied upon by the Agent and the Lenders, notwithstanding any investigation
made by any person, entity or organization on the Agent and the Lenders' behalf.
No implied representations or warranties are created or arise as a result of
this Forbearance Agreement or the documents comprising or relating to this
Forbearance Agreement.

         6.9      Governing Law. This Forbearance Agreement and all documents
and instruments executed in connection herewith or otherwise relating to this
Forbearance Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the
internal laws of the State of Tennessee without reference to conflict of laws
principles.

         6.10     Amendment and Waiver. No amendment of this Forbearance
Agreement, and no waiver, discharge or termination of any one or more of the
provisions thereof, shall be effective unless set forth in writing and signed by
all of the parties hereto.

         6.11     Successors and Assigns. This Forbearance Agreement and the
other Credit Documents, (i) shall be binding upon the Lenders, the Agent, the
Borrowers and their respective heirs, nominees, successors and assigns, and (ii)
shall inure to the benefit of the Lenders, the Agent, the Borrowers and their
respective heirs, nominees, successors and assigns; provided, however, that none
of the Borrowers may assign any rights hereunder or any interest herein without
obtaining the prior written consent of the Lenders, any such assignment or
attempted assignment shall be void and of no effect with respect to the Lenders.

         6.12     Severability of Provisions. Any provision of this Forbearance
Agreement that is held to be inoperative, unenforceable, void or invalid in any
jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be ineffective, unenforceable, void
or invalid without affecting the remaining provisions in that jurisdiction or
the operation, enforceability or validity of that provision in any other
jurisdiction, and to this end the provisions of this Forbearance Agreement are
declared to be severable.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>   10

         6.13     Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Forbearance Agreement may be
executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties on separate
counterparts, and each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original, but
all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Forbearance
Agreement. This Forbearance Agreement may be executed by facsimile signatures,
and shall be effective when Agent has received telecopy transmissions of the
signature pages executed by all parties hereto; provided, however, that all
parties shall deliver original executed documents to Agent promptly following
the execution hereof.

         6.14     Credit Documents to Remain in Effect. Except as specifically
modified by this Forbearance Agreement, the Credit Agreement and the other
Credit Documents shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their
respective terms. This Forbearance Agreement shall be one of the Credit
Documents wherever that term is used.

                  [Remainder of page left intentionally blank]

                                      -10-
<PAGE>   11

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective officers thereunder duly authorized as of the date
first written above.

                           RESPONSE ONCOLOGY, INC.

                           By: /s/ A. LaMacchia
                              --------------------------------------------------

                                Title: /s/ President & CEO
                                      ------------------------------------------

                           RESPONSE ONCOLOGY MANAGEMENT OF SOUTH
                           FLORIDA, INC.

                           By: /s/ A. LaMacchia
                              --------------------------------------------------

                                Title: /s/ President & CEO
                                      ------------------------------------------

                           RESPONSE ONCOLOGY OF TAMARAC, INC.

                           By: /s/ A. LaMacchia
                              --------------------------------------------------

                                Title: /s/ President & CEO
                                      ------------------------------------------

                           RESPONSE ONCOLOGY OF FORT LAUDERDALE, INC.

                           By: /s/ A. LaMacchia
                              --------------------------------------------------

                                Title: /s/ President & CEO
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                      -11-
<PAGE>   12

                           AMSOUTH BANK, as Lender

                           By:  /s/ Cathy M. Wind
                              --------------------------------------------------

                                Title: Vice President
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                      -12-
<PAGE>   13

                           UNION PLANTERS NATIONAL BANK, as a Lender

                           By: /s/ Elizabeth Rouse
                              --------------------------------------------------

                                Title: Senior Vice President
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14

                           BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. (formerly known as NationsBank,
                           N.A.), as a Lender

                           By: /s/ David Colmie
                              --------------------------------------------------

                                Title: Senior Vice President
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15

                           AMSOUTH BANK, as Agent

                           By: /s/ Cathy M. Wind
                              --------------------------------------------------

                                Title: Vice President
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                      -15-<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10(X)

                                 FIRST AMENDMENT
                                       TO
                              FORBEARANCE AGREEMENT

         THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO FORBEARANCE AGREEMENT, dated as of February 28,
2001, ("this Amendment") is executed by RESPONSE ONCOLOGY, INC., a Tennessee
corporation ("Response"), RESPONSE ONCOLOGY MANAGEMENT OF SOUTH FLORIDA, INC., a
Tennessee corporation ("Management"), RESPONSE ONCOLOGY OF TAMARAC, INC., a
Florida corporation ("Tamarac") and RESPONSE ONCOLOGY OF FORT LAUDERDALE, INC.,
a Florida corporation ("Ft. Lauderdale"; Response, Management, Tamarac and Ft.
Lauderdale are sometimes together referred to as the "Borrowers"); AMSOUTH BANK,
an Alabama banking corporation ("AmSouth"), UNION PLANTERS BANK, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., a
national banking association and formerly known as NationsBank, N.A.
(collectively, the "Lenders"), and AMSOUTH BANK, in its capacity as Agent for
Lenders ("Agent").

                                    RECITALS

         A.       The Borrowers, the Lenders and the Agent entered into a Credit
Agreement dated as of June 10, 1999, as amended by a First Amendment thereto
dated as of September 30, 1999 and a Second Amendment thereto dated as of March
30, 2000.

         B.       In order to provide the Borrowers with a period of time within
which to develop a plan to address the Borrowers' financial difficulties, the
Borrowers, the Lenders and the Agent entered into a Forbearance Agreement dated
as of December 29, 2000 (the "Agreement"). Capitalized terms not otherwise
defined in this Amendment have the same meanings as specified in the Agreement.

         C.       The Borrowers and the Lenders now desire to extend the
Forbearance Termination Date as set forth in this Amendment.

                                    AGREEMENT

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the recitals and the mutual
obligations and covenants contained herein, the Borrowers and the Lenders hereby
agree as follows:

         1.       Capitalized terms used in this Amendment and not otherwise
defined herein have the respective meanings attributed thereto in the Agreement.

         2.       Section 2.1(i) of the Agreement is hereby amended to read as
follows:

<PAGE>   2

                  "(i) March 30, 2001."

         3.       Section 2.7 is hereby added to the Agreement, and shall read,
in its entirety, as follows:

                  2.7      Extension Fee. In consideration for the Lenders'
                  agreement to extend the Forbearance Period as set forth
                  herein, the Borrowers hereby agree to pay to the Agent for
                  distribution to the Lenders Pro Rata, on the date of the
                  Borrowers' execution of the First Amendment to Forbearance
                  Agreement an extension fee in an amount equal to Twenty-Nine
                  Thousand Nine Hundred Ten and 72/100 Dollars ($29,910.72),
                  which shall be fully earned and not refundable by the Lenders.

         4.       Except as hereby amended, the Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect as written. This Amendment may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which when
taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The covenants and
agreements contained in this Amendment shall apply to and inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and
permitted assigns.

         5.       Nothing contained herein shall be construed as a waiver,
acknowledgment or consent to any breach of, or Event of Default under, the
Agreement and the Loan Documents not specifically mentioned herein, and the
consents granted herein are effective only in the specific instance and for the
purposes for which given.

         6.       This Amendment shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Tennessee.

                  [Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

<PAGE>   3

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be
executed by their respective officers thereunder duly authorized as of the date
first written above.

                                    RESPONSE ONCOLOGY, INC.

                                    By:  /s/ A. LaMacchia
                                       -----------------------------------------

                                         Title: /s/ President
                                               ---------------------------------

                                    RESPONSE ONCOLOGY MANAGEMENT OF SOUTH
                                    FLORIDA, INC.

                                    By:  /s/ A. LaMacchia
                                       -----------------------------------------

                                         Title: /s/ President
                                               ---------------------------------

                                    RESPONSE ONCOLOGY OF TAMARAC, INC.

                                    By:  /s/ A. LaMacchia
                                       -----------------------------------------

                                         Title: /s/ President
                                               ---------------------------------

                                    RESPONSE ONCOLOGY OF FORT LAUDERDALE, INC.

                                    By:  /s/ A. LaMacchia
                                       -----------------------------------------

                                         Title: /s/ President
                                               ---------------------------------

<PAGE>   4

                                    AMSOUTH BANK, as a Lender

                                    By: /s/ Cathy Wind
                                       -----------------------------------------

                                         Title: Vice President
                                               ---------------------------------

<PAGE>   5

                                    UNION PLANTERS NATIONAL BANK, as a Lender

                                    By: /s/ Elizabeth Rouse
                                       -----------------------------------------

                                         Title: Senior Vice President
                                               ---------------------------------

<PAGE>   6

                                    BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. (formerly known as
                                    NationsBank, N.A.), as a Lender

                                    By: /s/ David Colmie
                                       -----------------------------------------

                                         Title: Senior Vice President
                                               ---------------------------------

<PAGE>   7

                                    AMSOUTH BANK, as Agent

                                    By: /s/ Cathy Wind
                                       -----------------------------------------

                                         Title: Vice President
                                               ---------------------------------

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00024-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00024-of-00352.parquet"}]]