Specialist cancer and haematology clinics

This service is currently unavailable due to COVID restrictions

Once restrictions are lifted Complementary Therapies will be re-introduced.

The complementary therapy service is provided by experienced volunteers and is available at the Cancer Care and Haematology Unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital,  and the Sunrise Cancer Unit at Wycombe Hospital.

A range of therapies are available for example: aromatherapy, Indian head massage, massage and reflexology.

Where are they carried out

In our complementary therapy room. It’s a quiet space with a sofa, hand washing facilities and background music.

Alternatively, some therapies can be provided in the treatment room during your medical treatment, therapists also visits our inpatients wards.

During your first visit the therapist will ask general questions about your health, lifestyle and medical history, (including sleep patterns, diet, allergies and how you feel emotionally).  You will be asked about any symptoms, what medicines you are taking and any side effects. You must always tell the therapist about any health problems and medicines you take.  Complementary therapies may not be suitable for everyone.

The therapist will explain the therapy, including the benefits and any side effects. You will then be asked to sign a consent form to say you are happy for the therapy to go ahead.

Macmillan Dietitians

This service is currently available via telephone or virtually

Some cancer treatments can cause hair loss or thinning. We have a contract with Raoul Wigmakers who supply wigs or headwear.

If you are advised that your treatment may cause hair loss or thinning, a nurse will complete a signed wig supply form.  This authorises the supply of the wig or headwear.

Raoul will phone you and ask you what colour/ style of wig/ headwear you would prefer and once you have made your choice they will send the wig to you by post.

Please read our leaflet ‘Wig Supply & Fitting Service‘ for more information.

The experience of cancer is more than just the physical aspects of the disease and its treatment. There are emotional effects too, such as feelings of fear, anger, sadness or depression.

These are quite normal. They may come and go, or may be there most of the time.

Our clinical psychology service works closely with other professionals involved with your care to help meet your emotional needs, as well as your family and relatives. Our team can provide specialist support if you experience high levels of distress.

A member of our team will listen to you and explore your problems and concerns. We may offer you specific therapies to help you think in ways that will be helpful to you.

How to access our service

Talk to a doctor, nurse or healthcare professional who is involved in your care in hospital. They will refer you to us.

You’ll have a named nurse who will attend your outpatient clinics, post clinical consultations and appointments for ongoing follow-up care.

This includes ward visits and regular discussions with other members of the healthcare team.

A multidisciplinary team will meet weekly to discuss your ongoing treatment. We’ll discuss these meetings with you during your outpatient appointments.

Members of this team include a respiratory physician, an oncologist, a pathologist, a radiologist and the lung cancer clinical nurse specialist.

We provide consultant-led clinics for rare forms of cancer including:

• brain
• head and neck
• eye
• thyroid
• primary bone
• soft tissue sarcoma.

We’ll see you at either Stoke Mandeville Hospital or Wycombe Hospital

A clinical nurse specialist works closely with hospital nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals to maximise the independence, dignity and quality of life of cancer patients. The nurse also works closely with community carers and GPs to ensure the highest quality of care.

We’re a team of nurses based at Stoke Mandeville, Wycombe and Amersham hospitals.  We support patients, family and their carers either in the hospital or community setting.

We offer this support throughout your diagnosis and treatment.

Our main focus is cancer of the colon and rectum but we also provide support to patients with other colorectal conditions that may need stoma formation.

We also provide stoma care either in the hospital setting or at home. Both Stoke Mandeville and Wycombe hospitals also run a dedicated nurse led stoma clinic each week.

We treat the main types of skin cancers including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma.

Our team is a well established group of experts who have a specialist interest in the diagnosis, treatment and management of skin cancers.

We work with specialists across the Trust including:

Dermatology

This team are experts in all types of skin conditions including cancers. They also diagnose and treat diseases of the hair and nails.

Clinical nurse specialist

Our clinical nurse specialist will support, advise and help coordinate your care from diagnosis to treatment. The nurse will tell you about the different treatments available to help you make informed choices.

Oncology

Our medical oncologist has a weekly clinic at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. The oncologist has links to the Churchill Hospital Oxford for patients who require radiotherapy treatment.

You may also be referred to clinical oncologists at the Churchill Hospital Oxford and Mount Vernon Hospital for chemotherapy treatment and clinical trials.

Plastic surgery

This team offers expert assessment for more complex surgical procedures that may need reconstruction and more complex surgical investigation.

Dermatology and plastic surgery nurses

These nurses give advice and support. They have expertise in skin cancer treatments and care of wounds.

Histopathologists

This team looks at all specimens of tissue removed by biopsy, incision or excision under a microscope to make a diagnosis.

Radiologists

Sometimes you may need special x-rays such as a CT scan or MRI scan.

Our nurses act as key workers for those affected by upper gastrointestinal cancer. We support you from your diagnosis and throughout your treatment.

We see and treat patients at Stoke Mandeville and Wycombe hospitals, with outpatient support offered at Amersham Hospital.

If you need surgery, we’ll refer you to the specialist team at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford. Our specialist nurses will facilitate a smooth transition of care.

The nurses also act as a link with your GP and other community support services.