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In this section you can find out more about the types of people you will meet on your treatment journey. The staff below have kindly provided an explanation of what they do and how they would help you as a patient in their care. You will meet similar people who do the same job on your own journey through the healthcare system.
Please note, the staff below cannot respond to individual requests and queries from patients. Please contact the organisations listed in the "What do I do?" part of this site, or those listed in our "Links/Support" section.
As a GP it is my role to take responsibility for the health care of all the patients who are registered with my practice. In the community I work with a large number of clinical individuals as we cover all ages and medical conditions. Patients visit their GP for a variety of reasons but in the context of gynaecological cancer this would mainly be unexplained symptoms. As a GP I would need to assess my patient and make a decision whether to investigate and/or refer her to the appropriate consultant (see below). Patients will have concerns around their symptoms and as a GP I will reassure them as to the significance of their problems. Much of our work as GP’s is spent educating patients about their bodies and about the symptoms of potential disease. In recent years patients have also become aware that their family history may be important and, as a GP, I would help them understand the relevance of any familial disease. I would also encourage my patients to participate in any national screening programmes such as the Cervical Screening Programme and help them understand the importance of these programmes.
Gynaecological cancers are relatively rare but the symptoms are very common. It is my role as a GP to support patients who may have concerns that they have a serious disease. Secondly some patients will have a diagnosis of cancer and despite treatment may not recover from the disease and in this case I will support them through the latter stages of their life as well as supporting their relatives. This is where team work involving District Nurses, Macmillan Nurses and all practice staff becomes very important.
As a Practice Nurse, I see Health Promotion as one of my main responsibilities. Cervical screening is a very important part of this and I spend a lot of time encouraging women to have smear tests.
I have found that women have many reasons for ignoring this advice or trying to "put it off". Many women don't have the full knowledge about cervical screening, are anxious, embarassed or frightened by stories they may have heard. I try to give them more information and explain that the aim of cervical screening is to treat any changes to the body's cells before they become cancerous and why it so important.
Before I take the 'smear', I allow time to chat with the woman. I will explain the procedure, showing her the instruments I will use and reassure her that although it may feel a little uncomfortable, it shouldn't hurt. I explain that if it does become painful, she can stop me at any time.
I then ask the woman to lie on a couch behind a curtain and remove her underwear. I give her a sheet so that she doesn't feel too exposed. I dont use a "cold metal instrument" - most nurses these days use plastic speculums, which are more comfortable. I then gently examine her so that I can see her cervix. I then gently sweep the cervix with a special brush which collects the cells. These cells are then sent to the laboratory to be examined. If the labarotory find anything they think needs further examination, I will then refer the woman to hospital to see a specialist.
The whole procedure takes only a few minutes and most women say how surprised they are that it really doesn't hurt. Remember too that nurses are so used to examining women in this way that there is no need to feel embarrased, although the nurse will do all she can to minimise any embarrassment you may feel.
Once you are referred to the Consultant Gynaecologist, your care will be managed by a ‘Multi-disciplinary’ team of people (MDT) who are all experts in gynaecological cancer. These professionals understand the best ways of investigating your symptoms and reaching a diagnosis. If you are diagnosed with cancer, they are able to provide you with the treatment options that are the most effective in managing your cancer.
There can be many people in the MDT, but the main experts include a:
The CNS is an experienced Nurse with specialist knowledge in women’s health and gynaecological cancer. She is an expert in caring for women and their families affected by gynaecological cancer. As a gynaecology CNS I will provide the following services to my patients :
You will have access to a CNS from the point of your initial referral to the MDT and throughout all of your investigations and treatment. The CNS will act as your Keyworker throughout your care, helping to provide consistency and coordinate your care.
My name is Dr Cathrine Holland and I am a Gynaecological Oncology Consultant working in Central Manchester. I work within a large team of people dedicated to the care of women with gynaecological cancers. My specific role is to assess women with possible cancers and to recommend and perform the surgery that may be required. I work closely with other members of the team, particularly the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), to ensure that women with gynaecological cancers (and their families) receive important information and emotional support as well as the correct treatment for their condition.
Women may be referred to me by a GP or by another hospital doctor. I am therefore responsible for ensuring that the referring doctor receives accurate and timely information about the women they refer so that they can provide ongoing support. Not all of the women who I see turn out to have a cancer. However it is important that women report symptoms and put any embarrassment to one side because if a cancer is found, then the sooner we know about it the easier it is to treat.
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