Gynaecology oncology

Key workers

The key workers provide support and information to patients and their families. They are based at the Macmillan Renton Unit, Hereford County Hospital. They co-ordinate your gynae-oncology care and liaise with all other health professionals involved in your care. Their aim to ensure there is continuity for you.  Find out about the Macmillan Renton Unit.

Karen Gow and Lesley Williams are the gynaecology cancer clinical nurse specialists (CNS)/ keyworkers based at Hereford County Hospital.

They are available to support you from the point of diagnosis onwards.

They aim is to try and reduce the stress and anxiety that you and your family may be experiencing.

They are able to help you in many ways including;

• Explain investigations or tests you are undergoing and support you through them.
• Chase up appointments for tests and their results.
• Explain any information you have been given which you do not understand.
• Discuss gynaecological cancer and its treatment options.
• Support you through any treatment you may require.
• Help control any symptoms you may be experiencing.
• Offer support and advice about the impact of illness on body image and sexuality.
• Contact your GP or Community Nurse to make sure they are aware of what is happening to you.
• Answer any questions you may have.
• Access financial advice for you.
• Provide access to booklets and/or information in other formats (e.g. audio CD) which explain what is happening to you. 

Working closely with the specialist gynaecology cancer team based at Cheltenham General Hospital enables them to continue to offer support to ladies who undergo their treatment at other hospitals.

Please contact them to discuss ways in which they can support you. Their role is to support you therefore no question or worry is too small. 

Contact details

• Mrs Karen Gow Lead, Gynaecology Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Mrs Lesley Williams, Gynaecology Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist.
• Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4pm, if no answer please leave a message.
• Our telephone number is 01432 355444 ext 5470. 

Patient Information

We will discuss the information below with you when you attend your appointment at Hereford County Hospital with the Gynae-oncology team as appropriate. However if you require further information please contact Macmillan Information and Support Service or if you have a clinical nurse specialist at the hospital and have a question please give them a ring. 

Types of gynaecological cancers   

• Cervical cancer 
• Vaginal Cancer 
• Vulval cancer 
• Womb cancer 
• Ovarian cancer 

Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT)

What is a Multi-Disciplinary Team?

A multidisciplinary team (MDT) is a group of healthcare professionals from different fields (e.g. surgeons, radiologists and nurses) that work together to make decisions regarding the treatment of individual patients. Membership of the MDT varies depending on the specialty but they usually have a core membership. 

Members of the Gynaecology Oncology MDT

• Surgeons
• Oncologist – gives chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments
• Radiologists - looks at scans
• Histopathologists - looks at cells under the microscope
• Clinical Nurse Specialist / Keyworker
• MDT Coordinator - organises the meetings
• Cancer tracker – tracks patients pathway through the system 

Gynaecology Oncology MDT Meetings

These are held once a week to discuss individual patient’s results and treatments. The MDT may discuss patients at any point in their pathway. Such as:-

• After a biopsy
• After a scan
• After a treatment has finished
• If a patient develops new symptoms 

Cancer support and information services

Hereford County Hospital

Cancer Information and Support is available free of charge in the Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Centre on the ground floor of the Macmillan Renton Unit

• Open:   Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4.30pm
• Telephone: 01432 355444 ext 5459
• E-mail: hereford.cancerinfoandsupport@nhs.net

Useful links

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