Colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer, also known as bowel cancer, is made up of the colon, rectum and anus.

More than 94% of people diagnosed with bowel cancer are over the age of 50, however, more than 2,600 cases per year are now diagnosed in people under the age of 50.

To find out more about bowel cancer, visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer.

What we offer

We have many ‘links’ with other organisations where you will be able to go for tests or treatments.

Basildon

  • Links with Basildon bowel screening service.
  • Links with local hospice and community services.
  • Links to the Royal London (HPB Liver metastases).
  • Links with St Marks London and Basingstoke Hampshire.
  • Weekly multi-disciplinary team meetings (MDT).
  • On site endoscopy unit with Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR) service.
  • Research team (participation in clinical oncology trials).
  • Cardio-pulmonary exercise testing service.
  • Nurse led follow up for post-surgery, palliative and oncology patients.
  • Nurse led remote patient follow up telephone clinic for patients under curative pathway and polyp follow up.
  • 5 to 8-year nurse led follow up for post operative patients.
  • Rapid diagnostic centre (RDC) on site rapid diagnostics service.
  • Pre assessment clinic.
  • Links with Southend oncology unit.

Meet the team

  • 5 colorectal consultants
  • 1 MDT oncologist (based at Southend)
  • 4 whole time equivalent colorectal nurse specialists
  • 1 MDT colorectal histopathologist
  • 2 MDT colorectal radiologists
  • 1 MDT gastroenterologist
  • 2 full time and one part time stoma nurse.

Broomfield

  • Links with local bowel screeening services at Braintree Hospital.
  • Links with local hospice services and community services.
  • Links with The Royal Free hospital (liver disease) and St Mark’s complex cancer centre.
  • Muti-disciplinary team meetings weekly.
  • Chemotherapy unit.
  • Radiotherapy service via Southend hospital.
  • Research unit and participation in trials.
  • Cardio-pulmonary exercise testing service.
  • Endoscopy unit.
  • Outpatient clinics for surgery, oncology and nurse led clinics.
  • Up to 7 years post curative treatment follow up programme.
  • 2 wards taking post operative colorectal and emergency colorectal cancer patients.

Meet the team

  • 3 straight to test clinical nurse specialists (GP referral direct to test).
  • 2 clinical oncologists.
  • 1 oncology registrar.
  • 4 colorectal consultant surgeons (laparoscopic, robotic and tamis trained).
  • Surgical registrars.
  • 2 full time and 3 part time colorectal cancer clinical nurse specialists.
  • 2 full time and one part time stoma nurse.
  • 3 part time enhanced recovery nurse specialists.
  • 3 MDT consultant radiologists.
  • 1 MDT consultant histopathologist.
  • 1 MDT anaesthetist.

Southend

  • Weekly multidisciplinary team meeting on Thursdays (MDT).
  • Alternative weekly complex pelvic multidisciplinary team meeting.
  • Alternative weekly NET (neuroendocrine) team meeting.
  • Link with Basildon and Broomfield bowel screening service.
  • Link with the Royal London team hepatobiliary team weekly (HPB Liver metastases).
  • On site endoscopy unit.
  • Comprehensive pre assessment with nurse clinic and anaesthetic consultants.
  • Geriatrician and anaesthetic joint service for pre assessment.
  • Geri-oncology clinic for fitness assessment pre and during chemotherapy.
  • Cardio-pulmonary exercise testing service on site.
  • Link with stoma nurses and ERP nurses.
  • Link with research nurses.
  • Nurse led follow up for post-surgery, palliative and oncology patients.
  • 5-year nurse led follow up for post operative patients.
  • Rapid diagnostic centre (RDC) on site rapid diagnostics service.
  • Links with local hospice and community services.
  • Link with chemotherapy unit and Acute Oncology Service (AOS) team.

Meet the team

  • 6 colorectal cancer surgeons
  • 1 clinical oncologist
  • 4 colorectal nurse specialists
  • 2 MDT consultant radiologists
  • 3 stoma nurses
  • 2 enhanced recovery nurses.

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Pelvic radiation disease service

Patients who have had pelvic radiotherapy to treat certain cancers can suffer side effects to the bowel, bladder and sexual organs. Symptoms may vary from person to person but could include:

  • needing to go to the toilet more (bowels and/or passing urine)
  • mucus or blood from the back passage
  • tiredness
  • difficulty in having sexual intercourse
  • leaking urine or blood in your urine.

Side effects caused by pelvic radiotherapy is called pelvic radiation disease (PRD). Pelvic radiation disease can:

  • affect you during or shortly after treatment and last longer than 3 months.
  • begin months or even years after treatment.
  • be quite significant in making day-to-day life difficult.

If you are affected by these side effects and need support, get in contact with Southend Hospital’s pelvic radiation disease clinic at 01702 435555 using extension 6897.

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Contact us

Basildon

Our service is covered Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) between 7am and 4pm.

We will offer you continuous support from diagnosis to discharge, including ongoing palliative support.

If you have questions, call the cancer nurse specialist team on 01268 524900 using extension 3997.

Broomfield

If you have questions, call the cancer nurse specialist team on 01245 515813.

Southend

Our service is covered Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) between 7am and 4pm.

You will be supported from the time of diagnosis, up to five years surveillance post-surgery. You will also receive support if you are on a palliative pathway.

If you have questions, call the cancer nurse specialist team on 01702 385056 or email mse.southend.colorectal.cns@nhs.net.

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