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Gynaecological cancers are cancers of the female reproductive system including cancers of the womb (uterus), vulva, cervix and ovaries.

Do I need any tests to confirm diagnosis?

St George’s offers a comprehensive diagnostic service including colposcopy, outpatient hysteroscopy, specialist gynaecological ultrasound and biopsy. The Rapid Access Service means that patients can receive many of these diagnostic tests, and often treatment, in one visit.

To further aid diagnosis, the Radiology Department provides a comprehensive imaging service (including MRI, CT and ultrasound technologies) whilst the Pathology service provides expert analysis of blood, cells and tissues.

What treatment are available?

Gynaecological cancers are usually treated with either surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or a combination of treatments). Sometimes the radiotherapy is combined with chemotherapy or hormone therapy. The type of surgery needed and the particular combination of surgery and therapy will depend on the type and complexity of cancer.

St. George’s Healthcare has particular expertise in fertility sparing surgery, surgery for recurrent disease and vulval surgery as well as expertise in ovarian and endometrial cancer. Many procedures can be carried out laproscopically (key hole surgery).

St George’s Hospital is a large teaching hospital with the full range of skills and support services needed to be able to carry out complex cancer surgery. These include intensive care (ITU), anaesthetic and pain management services which are all available on site.

 

What is Personalised Cancer Care?

 Personalised Cancer Care means your team will support you to take an active role in your cancer care by giving choices and control based on what matters most.

Together with your key workers’ team, like your Clinical Nurse Specialist and Macmillan Support worker, we will aim to help you access the care and support that meets your individual needs from the moment you receive your cancer diagnosis so that you can live as full, healthy and active a life as possible.

You will be invited to complete a Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA) to identify any concerns you may have when you have been diagnosed with cancer. These concerns may be physical, emotional, practical, financial and spiritual.

You will answer a simple set of questions or fill in a checklist about all areas of your life. It is to find out about the concerns you may have. You are often asked to rate how important these concerns are to you. It could help you decide what to discuss first during the assessment.

Once you have completed the assessment, your Clinical Nurse Specialist will discuss your needs, maybe face-to-face in a clinic or over the phone. During the discussion, you and your Clinical Nurse Specialist will agree on the best ways to manage your needs and concerns. They will write down what you have decided in a document called a care plan.  They may write it during the discussion. Or they may make notes and send them to you afterwards. Your care plan will record the following:

  • The main concerns you talked about
  • Suggestions and actions to help you manage your concerns
  • Services that may be able to support you, and any referrals that are made
  • What is already being done to help – for example, the services you are already using
  • Information about who to contact if you need more help
  • The details of other health or social care professionals with whom you have agreed to share the information.

You may not wish to complete the holistic needs assessment at this time. The care you receive will not be affected in any way, and we will be happy to discuss this again in the future

 Health and wellbeing information and support also include:

  • Access to the Macmillan Information & Support Centre to find out what support is available in the community, e.g., practical, financial, and how to access it
  • Help with understanding cancer and its treatment and how to manage its impact through videos and workshops run by healthcare professionals at St George’s and in the community.
  • Attend wellbeing activities which are great opportunities for you and your carers to get together with others affected by cancer.