Gestational trophoblastic disease patient information

Find out what to expect when you come to hospital for your appointment.

Before your appointment

Most women with GTD will not need to be seen at the hospital. The clinical co-ordinator will contact you if a clinic appointment is required and an appointment will be offered within a few days, depending on urgency. Occasionally it will be an emergency situation and you may be asked to attend on the same day.

You are welcome to bring a relative or close friend with you to your appointment. You are also welcome to ask for a chaperone and we will endeavour to provide one for you. You will not be asked to fast, but you may be asked to arrive with a full bladder to enable a pelvic ultrasound scan to be done.

If you have been offered a clinic appointment we will need a detailed medical history from you. Please note down and bring with you any important medical events, dates of all your pregnancies and outcomes, contraceptive use, any fertility treatment, medications you take regularly and any other points you think the doctor needs to know about.

During your appointment

Please report to Clinic 8 reception when you arrive. You will have a blood test on arrival. You will need to take a ticket outside the blood room and wait to be called. The wait is generally 10 to 30 minutes.

Please note that we are a teaching hospital, so medical students may be present for some appointments. If you do not wish to have them in the room please let the nurse or doctor know and the students will be asked to step outside.

As a new patient your initial consultation will be for about 30 minutes. You will see one of our specialist doctors who will take a detailed medical history and organise the necessary investigations to establish or confirm a diagnosis. The investigations are likely to include blood tests, a pelvic ultrasound and a chest x-ray. Some other scans may also be required.

After your appointment

Results are nearly always available on the day. Once your results are ready, the consultant and/or specialist nurses will see you again to discuss the results and a treatment plan.

Patient resources

Our GTD telephone advisory line can give you information and also provides advice and a results service for patients and healthcare professionals during office hours.

Phone: 020 3311 1409
Fax: 020 3313 5577
Email: ichc.hmole@nhs.net

Please note that results are available from 08.45 to 13.00 and 14.00 to 16.45.

The service also has a dedicated counsellor who offers support to patients, partners, carers and family members. Please contact Janette de Aristizabal, the GTD counsellor based at Charing Cross. You can leave your name and contact number through the screening and treatment centre at Charing Cross Hospital on 020 3311 1409 or contact Janette directly to arrange an appointment. 

Janette de Aristizabal
Sixth floor
East wing
Charing Cross Hospital
Fulham Palace Road
London
W6 8RF

Phone: 020 3313 5553
Fax: 020 3313 0612
Email: janette.dearistizabal@nhs.net

All requests for medical advice or follow-up information should be directed to the advisory service.

Patient information leaflets

• Trophoblastic disease hydatidiform moles and choriocarcinoma