Gynaecology Cancer

Key Staff

Surgeons

  • Mr Vivek Nama, Lead Gynaecology Oncology Surgeon     
  • Miss Maha Alkatib, Deputy Lead Gynaecology Oncology Surgeon 

Nursing and Support Team                                                                                                                                                     

  • Mrs Soroya Thethi, Macmillan Advanced Nurse Practitioner                                                                                 
  • Mrs Denise Wilkes, Macmillan Patient Support Officer                                                                                        
  • Monday – Friday 09.00 – 17.00hrs                                                                                                                                     
  • Telephone: 020 8401 3000 Ext 5724                                                                                                                       
  • Email: ch-tr.gyn-onc-cns@nhs.net

 

About Gynaecology Cancer 

Gynaecological cancers are also known as Women’s cancers and start in the female reproductive system.  The main types of cancer are cervical, ovarian, womb / uterine, vaginal, vulval and very rarely fallopian tube.   

Gynaecological cancers can affect women, some transgender men and non-binary people who are assigned female at birth.  

The seriousness of the Gynaecological cancer depends on the size of the cancer, if the cancer has spread, and your general health.

Cervical cancer screening can pick up cervical cancer early, which may make it easier to treat. 

Any irregular vaginal bleeding, abnormal vaginal discharge, changes in appetite or weight, bloating, pelvic pain and pressure should always be reported to

your GP. 

 

What are the tests to confirm the diagnosis?

If a GP refers you to a specialist because they think you could have a gynaecological cancer, you will need to have tests to check for cancer.  Initially your GP may arrange for you to have an ultrasound scan of your abdomen and pelvis.  Sometimes a transvaginal ultrasound scan is required, and this is where a scanning probe is gently inserted into the vagina to provide an image of your reproductive organs.  

You may also need to have a biopsy, where a small sample of tissue is obtained under local / general anaesthetic for further analysis under a microscope.

The procedure may be uncomfortable, but you will be offered painkillers to help you feel more comfortable.  

Other tests to help with diagnosis and treatment planning once a cancer diagnosis is confirmed include:

 

The results of these tests can show the stage/extend of your cancer, and if the cancer has been caused by certain changes in your genes. This will also help your specialist team decide what treatment you need.

All of these results will be discussed in a multidisciplinary team meeting and a team of specialists will help decide what treatment you will need.     

Macmillan information: A - Z Diagnostic tests

 

What treatment are available?

The treatment you will have for gynaecological cancer depends on:

  •   The type of gynaecological cancer you have
  •   The size of the cancer
  •   If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body
  •   Your age and general health

You may be offered surgery, targeted medication, or a combination of treatments including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Treatments are offered in collaboration with

The Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea or Sutton.

Your specialist treatment team will:

  •   Explain the treatments, benefits and side effects
  •   Work with you to make a treatment plan that is best suited to you
  •   Help you to manage the side effects of treatment
  •   See you for follow-up (where applicable)

If you have any questions or worries, you can talk to your specialist team.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/colposcopy/what-happens/ 

https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-our-patient-information/laparoscopic-hysterectomy-recovering-well/ 

Macmillan information: A-Z treatments- drugs

Macmillan information: A-Z- Impact of cancer

Macmillan information: After Treatment

 

Personalised cancer care

Personalised cancer care allows you to take an active role in the way your care is planned and delivered by identifying your concerns and support needs. It puts you in control of your care, with help from your specialist cancer team.

There are lots of things you can do to look after your own health during and after cancer treatment. Some of this can be done with the involvement of your clinical team, such as physical activity and dietary modifications   

Here  are the key elements of personalised care for our cancer patients: 

  •        Personalised Assessment and Care Planning
  •        Access to health and wellbeing information and support
  •        End of treatment summaries to support you with understanding and managing impacts of cancer—also shared with your GP so they can also support you.
  •        Stratified Follow up when you have finished treatment or are living with cancer.   

Read the Personalised Cancer Care Guide   for newly diagnosed patients at Croydon Health Services.

Also available in Arabic , Bengali , Bulgarian , French , Gujarati , Polish , Portuguese , Punjabi , Romanian , Somali , Spanish , Tamil , Urdu.   

Macmillan information in your language

Macmillan information in Audio, video & BSL

Macmillan information in Easy reads

 

Additional support