Gynaecology cancer

Gynaecological cancers are those which start in the female reproductive system. They include cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, womb cancer, vaginal and vulval cancer.

To find out more about each type of cancer, visit:

Cervical cancer - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-cancer
Ovarian cancer - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ovarian-cancer
Womb cancer - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/womb-cancer
Vaginal cancer - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaginal-cancer
Vulval cancer - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vulval-cancer

About the service

We offer expert treatment for all types of gynaecological cancers including:

surgery
radiotherapy
chemotherapy
immunotherapy.

Our cancer centre is based at Southend Hospital. Depending on the stage of your gynaecological cancer, you may be offered surgical treatment at your local hospital or the cancer centre (Southend Hospital for Southend and Basildon patients or Ipswich Hospital for Broomfield patients)

Oncological treatments

Radiotherapy Centre - Southend Hospital.

Chemotherapy Unit - Southend Hospital (for Southend and Basildon patients).

Chemotherapy Unit Broomfield Hospital (for Broomfield patients).

Outpatient clinic appointments run at each hospital site and you may receive an appointment at any of the hospitals.

What we offer

Basildon

Our outpatient service for adults includes weekly oncology clinic offering surveillance up to five years. We also offer:

Pre-diagnostic support for patient and gynaecologists.
Post operative care.
Post palliative radiotherapy support.
Inpatient support/support ward teams.
Nurse led clinics for genetic testing, post radiotherapy support, chemotherapy support, symptom control and emotional support.
Signposting and referrals.
Liaising with primary and secondary care teams.
Co-ordinating care for patients.
Support from the charity COPES.

Broomfield

Monday to Friday outpatient service for adults including weekly oncology clinic offering surveillance up to five years. We also offer:

Curative and palliative chemotherapy.
Post operative and palliative radiotherapy.
nurse led clinics for: breaking bad news, genetic testing, post radiotherapy assessment, emotional support.

Southend

Monday to Friday inpatient and outpatient service for adults. We run a joint gynae-oncology weekly clinic (surgeons and oncologists) and other oncology and surgical clinics across the week.

We also offer:

Curative and palliative chemotherapy.
Curative and palliative radiotherapy.
Advanced cancer surgery, inclusive of robot.
Nurse led radiotherapy clinic.
Nurse led genetics clinic.
Patient stratified follow-ups for low-risk gynaecological cancers.

Personalised Stratified Follow Up (PSFU) Beetroot

Our follow ups service is designed to support you when you have completed your treatments.

If suitable, you may be entered into a remote monitoring pathway (PSFU), whereby you can access the specialist gynae-oncology team when you need to.

If you have questions about this service please contact the Gynae-Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist team on 0300 443 0210.

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.

Meet the team

Basildon

Team of gynaecologist
1 clinical oncologist
1 medical oncologist
2 gynae oncology clinical nurse specialists.

Broomfield

1 clinical oncologist
1 medical oncologist
2 gynae oncology clinical nurse specialists.

Southend

2 clinical oncologists with one oncology registrar and one speciality doctor
1 gynae-oncology surgeon and one clinical fellow
4 gynae-oncology clinical nurse specialists (CNS).