Cancer Services

The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust treat and care for patients with all types of cancer.

Our patients are referred to us after a diagnosis from their GP or from another hospital department. We know that receiving a cancer diagnosis can be an extremely anxious time. Our friendly and compassionate staff have many years experience in helping patients navigate their investigations, diagnosis and treatment.

Every patient that is diagnosed with cancer will have their case discussed by an expert multi-disciplinary team, who will make recommendations on the best course of treatment.

The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust treat and care for patients with all types of cancer.

Our patients are referred to us after a diagnosis from their GP or from another hospital department. We know that receiving a cancer diagnosis can be an extremely anxious time. Our friendly and compassionate staff have many years experience in helping patients navigate their investigations, diagnosis and treatment.

Every patient that is diagnosed with cancer will have their case discussed by an expert multi-disciplinary team, who will make recommendations on the best course of treatment.

We’ll then discuss this with you, making sure you fully understand each of the options. We will make sure you have access to as much information as possible so that you can make an informed decision.

As part of your treatment plan, you may be offered a number of treatments such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy or surgery. We will also talk to you about monitoring and additional support available to you.

We work closely with the team at the Macmillan Health and Wellbeing Service, who provide support and information for anyone who is, or has been, affected by cancer. We also work alongside the palliative care team to support patients who have symptom control issues or a limited prognosis.

The following pages will tell you all about the clinical cancer services we offer. You can find out more about our specialists and the clinics we run for particular types of cancer on the individual specialty pages

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• Acute Oncology

  The acute oncology service advises, manages and supports cancer patients who present to hospital as an emergency.

  This could be:

  • Patients in whom a first diagnosis of cancer is made in the emergency setting.
  • Patients with known cancer who present as an emergency with acute complications of treatment – including radiotherapy or Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
  • Patients with known cancer who are acutely ill because of the disease itself.

  The acute oncology team has Consultant Oncologists and Acute Oncology Nurse Specialists.

  Working hours are Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm (excluding weekends and bank holidays)

  The acute oncology team will:

  • Provide professional support and advice on managing side effects of your cancer treatment.
  • Provide expert advice to healthcare professionals looking after you while you are in hospital.
  • Keep you and your family/ carers fully informed of the management plan and provide support.
  • Help ensure that you only have appropriate tests and investigations.
  • Help ensure that you are not kept in hospital longer than is necessary.
  • Arrange referrals for you to specialists if needed.
  • Communicate with local cancer teams and other hospitals involved in your care.

  Following completion of systemic anti-cancer therapy you can still contact the 24 hours helpline if you are

  • Within 6 weeks of finishing chemotherapy by contacting the helpline Tel: 07713 082 649

  Or

  • Within 12 months of completing Immunotherapy by contacting the helpline Tel: 07713 082 649

  Sources of further information:

  NICaN- www.cancerni.net

  Macmillan: www.macmillan.org.uk

• Teenage and Young Adult Service

  

  The TYA service offers a dedicated specialist cancer service to young people, their families and professionals in Northern Ireland at the point of diagnosis.

  The team aims to ensure that all young people aged 16 to the eve of their 25^th birthday diagnosed with cancer are supported through the cancer pathway. We aim to ensure the impact of cancer on their daily lives is managed to support the young person and their family feel equipped to emotionally and psycho-socially navigate from diagnosis through treatment and into survivorship.

  Who are we?

  The Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) is for young people aged 16-24 +364 days with a cancer diagnosis. For the South Eastern Trust, there is one clinical nurse specialist funded by Teenage Cancer Trust and social worker funded by Young Lives vs Cancer. There is a youth support worker funded by Cancer Fund for Children.

  When will you see us?

  We aim to meet with you at your diagnosis alongside your specific cancer team. We will  support you from diagnosis and onwards.

  What do we do?

  We offer psycho-social support for you and your family, provide peer support with group work and residential events and financial support. We will make sure that any information you are provided with is specific to your age group and is easy to understand. We advocate on your behalf with educational staff (schools and universities) as well as employers. This service will extend to your parents and care-givers.

  We can offer guidance about your diagnosis and treatment. We will refer you to other agencies who can provide age-specific support outside of the hospital.

  The clinical nurse specialist will provide keyworker support.

  To find out more contact:

  Lisa Callender
  07912046631
  lisa.callendar@setrust.hscni.net

  Available Monday-Friday 8:30am-5pm

• Macmillan Health and Wellbeing Service

  The South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust is committed to ensuring that people affected by cancer have access to high quality information and support. Working in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support we have developed the Macmillan Health and Wellbeing Service to ensure this is the case.

  This service offers information and support to all those affected by cancer, from those with concerns relating to diagnosis or those caring for someone with cancer to those who just wish to know more about how to reduce their risk.

  Click Here to find out more.

• Cancer Clinical Trials

  The South Eastern Trust offers clinical trials and studies aimed at improving outcomes for cancer patients and those at risk of developing cancer.

  Within the Trust there are two research nurses, employed to offer cancer clinical trials to both haematology and oncology patients.

  Clinical trials look at:

  • Risks and causes– how genetics, lifestyle and other factors can increase people’s risk of cancer
  • Preventing cancer– using drugs or lifestyle changes to reduce risk
  • Screening– tests for people with higher than average risk, or for the general population
  • Diagnosing cancer– new tests or scans
  • Treatments– new drugs or combinations of drugs, new doses or ways of giving treatment and new types of treatment
  • Controlling symptoms or side effects– new drugs or complementary therapies
  • Support and information– for people with cancer and their carers, families or friends

  The SEHSCT work in collaboration with the Northern Ireland Cancer Trials Network (NICTN), to deliver a range of clinical trials to patients attending the SEHSCT.

  Why do we cancer clinical trials?

  • To advance our knowledge of cancer and cancer management
  • To produce a scientific evidence base for treatment decisions
  • Patient benefits in outcome, treatment and care
  • To determine the values of new treatments compared to existing treatments
  • Basis for drug licensing
  • To avoid ineffective treatments
  • Requirement of the NHS – 10% of all cancer patients should be on a clinical trial

  Aim of clinical trials

  • Advanced knowledge regarding prevention, diagnosis, treatment and symptom management
  • Provide state-of-the-art care
  • Improve care of cancer patients present and future

  Useful Websites

  Cancer Research UK
  National Cancer Research Network 
  Northern Ireland Cancer Network 

  For any further information on clinical trials within the Trust, please contact the research nurses.

   

• Macmillan Unit

  The Macmillan Unit has been designed through a joint vision shared by Macmillan Cancer Support and the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust to bring together treatment &support to patients, carers and those living with cancer.

  Patients will receive a warm welcome in this state of the art building which incorporates the Macdermott assessment suite, Macmillan treatment suite, satellite pharmacy and a Macmillan Support Centre situated over 2 levels within the Ambulatory Care Centre.

  The facility is enhanced by open social spaces, terraces and beautiful artwork offering  uninterrupted views from Scrabo Tower to the Castlereagh Hills and has been carefully planned to promote privacy and dignity whilst enabling social interaction between patients and staff which is fundamental to offering a supportive and relaxed environment.

  People living with cancer are at the heart of this Unit and have helped to shape the way it looks and feels, as well as the support it provides.

  The Macmillan Unit is a Haematology/Oncology treatment day unit for patients with Haematology and Oncology malignant disease (multiple myeloma, lymphoma and leukaemia, and lung, prostate, breast and colorectal cancer) and also haematology conditions that are not cancer.

  Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatments (SACT)  is the term used to describe treatments prescribed within oncology and haematology including chemotherapy, immunotherapy , monoclonal antibodies and targeted therapies.

  SACT is prescribed and delivered by a multi-professional team including medical and clinical oncologists, haematologists, pharmacists and nurses.

  The current prescribing for SACT is provided primarily by oncology and haematology medical staff with support from nursing and pharmacy staff who are non- medical prescribers. Non-medical prescribers are healthcare professionals whom, after attaining an advanced qualification in prescribing, are trained and skilled to prescribe medicines, dressings and appliances.

  Non SACT supportive treatments such as blood products, iron infusions and immunoglobulins are also administered in Macdermott Unit.

  A chemotherapy helpline is available  24 hours a day, 7 days a week (07713082649) for patients who feel unwell and are currently receiving chemotherapy.

  The helpline can be contacted by patients up to 6 weeks following the completion of chemotherapy  or 12 months following the completion of immunotherapy.

  After this time frame the clinical nurse specialist can be contacted for advice

  Information about chemotherapy and how this will affect you:
  
  

• Cancer Prehabilitation

  Prehabilitation (prehab) means getting ready for your cancer treatment in whatever time you have before it starts. Evidence shows that the benefits of Prehab can be seem in as little as 2 weeks. It is a programme of support and advice designed to help improve your physical and mental wellbeing. It covers three particular parts of your health:

  • what you’re eating and your weight
  • physical activity or exercise
  • mental wellbeing

  Focusing on these three areas before your surgery or treatment starts can help you to leave hospital earlier, reduce the risk of side effects and help you to feel more in control of your health and wellbeing.

  Also, if you stop smoking and cut down on alcohol, the benefits to your cancer treatment, recovery and overall health could be even greater.

  Fitter patients who are able to improve their health and activity levels before treatment recover more quickly. What you do now can have a really big impact on your recovery.

  The information below will help you to reflect on areas in your life that may benefit from change as well as providing you with some ideas on how you can improve your physical and mental wellbeing prior to treatment.

  For more information and advice on prehab, please speak to your Clinical Nurse Specialist who will be happy to help and refer you to the Cancer Prehab Programme if appropriate

  You can access our Cancer Prehabilitation page HERE

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