Barts Cancer Centre

Barts Cancer Centre | Cancer types | Gynaecological cancer

Gynaecological cancer

Including ovary, womb (uterus/endometrial), cervix, vagina and vulva.

The following is a summary of our gynaecological cancer service at Barts Cancer Centre. For full details, please go to our dedicated gynaecological oncology website at www.bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk/gynaecancer.

Our service
Types of treatment available
For patients
For clinicians
Research and clinical trials
Sources for further information
Meet the team

Our service

The gynaecological cancer team at Barts Cancer Centre provides specialist treatment for women with cancer of the ovary, cervix, endometrium (womb), vulva and vagina.

Barts Cancer Centre provides a gynaecological cancer service for the whole of north east London and has strong links to other hospitals in north east London and Essex. However, we accept referrals from all over the country and we are recognised nationally and internationally as a centre of excellence.

We follow international best practice in the way we organise patient care, bringing together a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, each with their own specialist contribution to every patient. This co-ordinated approach means that our patients get the highest level of expert care at every stage. Our multidisciplinary team includes gynae-oncology surgeons, medical and clinical oncologists, clinical nurse specialists, specialist imaging, pathology and palliative care staff, as well as dedicated therapists for cancer patients.

Type of treatments available

The treatments and equipment used at our centre are at the forefront of modern healthcare. As with all of our services at Barts Cancer Centre, treatments offered will depend on individual cases and the stage of cancer. This will be discussed in detail with every patient by one of our medical team, once a diagnosis has been made.

Our therapeutic approach ranges from state-of-the-art surgery, chemotherapy, new types of chemotherapy treatment, brachytherapy, to world-class radiotherapy techniques, such as Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). Our colposcopy service is one of the best in the UK, consistently achieving national access targets. This means that women referred to us for a colposcopy are usually seen with two weeks.

We are dedicated to offering alternatives to radical surgery, wherever possible, including minimally invasive (or laparoscopic/keyhole) surgery, and targeted radiotherapy. We were one of the first centres in the UK to offer fertility sparing surgery for the early management of cervical cancer, using a revolutionary technique called a radical trachelectomy, which preserves fertility. We are the largest UK centre for this type of surgery. Many women who have had this procedure at Barts Cancer Centre have gone on successfully to have a family.

Barts Cancer Centre has the benefit of being part of a large teaching hospital trust, and as a result we have access to a wide range of other specialists. In particular, patients with gynecological cancers whose fertility may be affected by their treatment have the option of meeting specialists at our highly successful fertility centre at Barts. Our fertility centre offers a range of solutions for our patients including the storage of eggs and ovarian tissue.

For patients

A diagnosis of cancer can be an extremely worrying time for both patients and their families. The prospect of coming to hospital whether for an outpatient appointment, day case treatment or an inpatient stay can be a daunting experience. At Barts Cancer Centre it is our aim to make that experience as stress free and easy as possible for you and your family.

We have three full-time Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS). A CNS is a registered nurse who is a specialist in dealing with patients with gynaecological cancer. You will be allocated a CNS at your first appointment and they will follow you through your time with us. They are able to offer support to patients and families at diagnosis, during treatment and follow-up care. They can offer advice and provide information about cancer, treatment side effects, both short and long term including survivorship, financial issues, psychological and emotional support and anything else you as an individual may find useful, including, much needed telephone advice. The CNS also works closely with the rest of the clinical team to ensure your needs are met.

For clinicians

We consistently achieve national access targets for patients with suspected cancer and for treatment following diagnosis. Referral criteria and forms are all available on our website, please click here for referral forms.

There are three gynaecological cancer clinics each week on Monday afternoon, Wednesday morning (held jointly with the Medical Oncologist) and Friday morning, as well as medical and clinical oncology clinics on a Thursday afternoon.

New patients are seen by a consultant or sub-speciality trainee fellow and case-by-case information will be fed back to you about the appropriateness or timeliness of the referral. Referrals from the diagnostic units or local services are managed similarly.

Research and clinical trials

Barts has been at the forefront of medical discovery since it was founded nearly 900 years ago and today, our research continues to be recognised for its originality, significance and rigour. The results of the work we do here means we are constantly improving the treatments and care we can offer patients.

Our clinical team includes researchers from the Institute of Cancer at Barts and The London School of Medicine, who undertake both laboratory and clinical research dedicated to improving the diagnosis and treatment of gynaecological cancers.

Research is integral to the work of our team and there are three types of research underway.

Clinical trials

Barts Cancer Centre is one of largest centres for recruitment into gynaecological clinical trials in the UK. Many large national trials are led by our investigators, and three members of the Barts gynaecological cancer team are members of the National Cancer Research Network Gynaecological Clinical Studies Group.

Through clinical trials, patients at Barts Cancer Centre have access to the most cutting edge treatments, including new drugs and radiotherapy techniques. In addition, we have a portfolio of imaging trials, which aim to improve our ability to diagnose and monitor gynaecological cancers.

Screening

The Cancer Prevention Trials Unit at Barts and The London School of Medicine is one of the foremost centres in the UK for trials of screening in gynaecological cancers. The Unit is leading research on HPV vaccination in the prevention of cervical cancer.

Laboratory research

In the Institute of Cancer at Barts and The London School of Medicine, there are large laboratory teams researching gynaecological cancers. These include the role of inflammation in the development of ovarian cancer; novel gene and biological therapies for ovarian cancer; the role of Human Papilloma virus in vulval cancer.

Sources for further information

For full details about our gynaecological cancer centre, please visit our dedicated website
www.bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk/gynaecancer

Vicky Clement Jones Macmillan Cancer Information Centre at Barts, click here for more information

From the Macmillan, cancer support website

Macmillan – ovarian cancer
www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Ovary/Ovariancancer.aspx

Macmillan – cervical cancer
www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Cervix/Cervicalcancer.aspx

Macmillan – vulval cancer
www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Vulva/Vulvalcancer.aspx

Macmillan – womb cancer
www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Wombuterus/Wombcancer.aspx

Other useful websites

Cancer Index is a guide to Internet Resources for Cancer family of Websites, established 1996, now with over a thousand pages. It is maintained on a voluntary/not-for-profit basis. www.cancerindex.org

Cancer Research UK (CRUK) - the UK's leading charity dedicated to cancer research. Their websites have a wealth of information about cancer, our research, how to donate and more ways to support the charity. www.cancerresearchuk.org

Dipex is aimed not only at patients, their carers, family and friends but as a teaching resource for health professionals. The website contains interviews with everyday people about their own experiences of serious illness, health problems or health related matters. www.dipex.org

Gynae C aims to support women with any form of gynaecological cancer, their partner, family and friends at an obvious crisis point in their lives. www.communigate.co.uk/wilts/gynaec

Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust is the UK's only cervical cancer charity dedicated to women, their families and friends affected by cervical abnormalities and cervical cancer. Jo’s Trust primary activity is providing online cervical cancer information and counselling and helpline advice. James and Jo Maxwell established the Trust in 1999 with the belief that it could make a difference to the lives of women and their families affected by pre-cancer and cancer of the cervix. The freephone helpline 0808 802 8000 which is manned by volunteers who have had personal experience of cervical cancer or cervical abnormalities.
http://www.jostrust.org.uk/

The Lymphoedema Support Network (LSN) takes the lead role in educating and supporting other patients with this condition by providing a high standard of information and promoting self-help. www.lymphoedema.org/lsn

Macmillan Cancer Voices is a UK-wide network that helps people who have or have had cancer, their loved ones and carers to speak out about their experience of cancer. www.cancervoices.org.uk

Marie Stopes International UK is the country's leading reproductive healthcare charity, helping over 112,000 women and men each year. With nine specialist centres and a network of GP partners the organisation is the first choice for those seeking expert help and advice. www.mariestopes.org.uk

The National Electronic Library for Health programme is working with NHS Libraries to develop a digital library for NHS staff, patients and the public. www.nelh.nhs.uk

National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is an independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on promoting good health and preventing and treating ill health. www.nice.org.uk

NHS Cancer Screening - a website providing information about NHS breast, cervical and other screening programmes. www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/cervical/index.html

NHS Direct - NHS Direct staff can provide information on a wide range of healthcare topics – from helping you to find out more about diagnosed conditions and treatments to giving details of local health services. The NHS Direct telephone service is on tel: 0845 46 47. www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

NHS UK provides information about NHS services, news, how to find your local services including doctors, denstists, opticians, pharmacies, hospitals and social care services. www.nhs.uk

Target Ovarian Cancer – is dedicated to achieving a long and good life for every woman with ovarian cancer www.targetovarian.org.uk

Daisy Network: Premature Menopause Support Group – this is a free confidential service for women who have had an early menopause induced as a result of surgery or chemotherapy. www.daisynetwork.org.uk

VACO – Vulval Awareness Campaign organisation - provides support and information via telephone and email to women with vulval cancer. www.vaco.co.uk