Cancer services

Coronavirus (COVID-19) update on cancer services

We know that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak may have caused disruption to your cancer care, and you may have experienced changes or delays to your appointments, treatments or care. We are aware that this may have caused you concern at what is already a very stressful time for you, your family and friends. We can reassure you that our clinical teams have been reviewing the individual care needs of all patients since the outbreak started.

Every case where a patient has experienced a clinical change to their cancer pathway as a result of COVID-19 will be reviewed by their clinical team. It may be that after this review your team will want to discuss with you how these changes have impacted you.

We will modify the way some of our cancer care is delivered to ensure your safety and enable adequate social distancing when you do need to attend our hospitals.  There will be times when you may not need to physically come into our hospitals, instead you will be given a virtual appointment (telephone or video), or you may be asked to only attend for a test/ investigation, followed by a virtual consultation. Sometimes you may be asked to go to a different hospital or community setting for tests, investigations or treatment.

If you have any questions, concerns or need any additional support during this challenging time, please contact our Macmillan Cancer Navigator service on 020 331 30303, open from 08.30 to -16.30 Monday to Friday.

Our Macmillan support service can also provide emotional, financial and practical support for anyone affected by cancer. They offer virtual support, by video or telephone. To get in touch please email: imperial.macmillansupportservice@nhs.net or call: 020 331 35170. You can find out more about the Macmillan support service here.

Our cancer service is one of the foremost cancer centres in the country, with one of the highest trial recruitment rates over the whole range of treatments.

We are key to delivering tomorrow’s treatments today. We hold national treatment centres for gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) and germ cell tumours, as well as the regional centre for nearly all complex cancer surgery and many diagnostics. We offer the most up-to-date chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments, which leads to one of the best survival rates in the country.

We strive to deliver a high quality, comprehensive and patient-focussed service for all our cancer patients throughout their care. With the expansion of our Macmillan cancer navigator service, our increased clinical nurse specialist team, and the on-site support of Macmillan information and Maggie’s Centre at Charing Cross Hospital, we aim to deliver a holistic care package for our patients and carers. This enables them to receive the most advanced therapies in a compassionate and supportive manner, and empowers them to rebuild their lives.

Blood tests in oncology outpatients

Blood tests in oncology outpatients are by appointment only.

We no longer offer a walk-in service. We have made this change to support social distancing and reduce waiting times for patients. You will need to wear a face covering during your visit to the hospital.

A blood test is when a sample of blood is taken to be tested in a laboratory. Blood tests have a wide range of uses and are one of the most common types of medical test.

Making your appointment for a blood test

Conditions and treatments

We provide a dedicated screening service for bowel cancer through West London Bowel Cancer Screening and for breast cancer through the West of London Breast Screening Service. Our Trust manages all cancer diagnoses including:

• Breast cancer
• Upper and lower GI cancers
• Lung cancer
• Skin cancer
• Urological cancers (prostate, renal, bladder, urothelial)
• Brain cancer
• Head and neck cancers
• Thyroid cancer
• Pancreas cancer
• Liver or hepato-biliary cancer
• Neuroendocrine (NET) cancer
• Cancers of unknown primary origin (CUP)
• Gynaecological cancers
• Testicular cancer, germ cell cancer and GTD
• Blood cancers or haemato-oncology (including lymphoma, myeloma, leukaemia, myelodysplasias) 

Treatments we offer

We offer a wide range of supportive services to enhance the holistic care including lymphoedema management, psychological support, financial advice and support, health and wellbeing events and living with and beyond cancer via our partners at Macmillan and Maggie’s. We offer teenage and young adult services via our partners at CLIC Sargent. We do not manage sarcomas and penile cancers

We offer the full range of interventions and treatment for all the cancers we diagnose.

• Surgical treatments: including regional services in breast reconstruction, head and neck reconstruction, neurosurgery, cord compression surgery, hepato-biliary and pancreatic surgery, NET highly specialist surgery, thyroid surgery, renal and urothelial, and robotics options for thyroid and prostate.
• Chemotherapy treatments: for all cancers including research trials from phase one through four
• Radiotherapy treatments: for all cancers, including highly specialist radiotherapy such as intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) and stereotactic highly focussed radiotherapy, to deliver increased doses to the cancerous tissue whilst sparing normal tissue

Some patients need just one type of treatment, while others receive a combination of the above. The need for specific types of treatment is unique to the type of cancer, the extent of the cancer, and each individual patient. Our expert clinicians discuss every patient at their multidisciplinary meetings to ensure each patient is offered the full range of options. 

Additional information

Imperial College Healthcare Private Care

We also offer private care services at Imperial College Healthcare.

All funds generated by our private care services are reinvested back into the Trust, supporting the development of both NHS and private care for the benefit of all our patients.

Find more information about private cancer care services on our private care website.

 

Clinical trials and research

We have an extensive research department and are the top recruiters of patients to clinical trials in UK with a varied portfolio of trials.

Education and elective placements

There are extensive educational opportunities, often within the post-graduate framework or work placements, sub-specialty placements, MD and PhD, MSc programmes and many others. See the Imperial College website or the tumour site pages and contact the lead of service for more detailed information.

Further online resources

• NHS Choices: Cancer
• Macmillan