Focus on Cancer and Care Pathway

Around 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Sadly we are seeing more patients with cancer. If you or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, there is support available. It can also help to know what services you can access, and who can help at different stages.

Your GP practice

Your GP practice is usually the first place to contact if you notice symptoms that could be cancer, such as unexplained weight loss, unusual bleeding, changes in your bowel habits, a mole change, or a new lump. They can arrange initial tests including blood tests, scans and a FIT test to check for blood in stools, and, if needed, refer you to hospital specialists. These referrals are known as ’2 week wait’ cancer pathways, to make sure patients are seen within 2 weeks.

GP practices also run NHS screening programmes for bowel cancer [poo test] cervical cancer [smear test] and breast cancer [mammogram]. GPs at Castle Medical Centre also provide skin cancer checks as a charity under Cancer Research UK locally, twice a year.

While you are receiving hospital care

Your GP practice can still help with your general health, repeat prescriptions, and symptom control. If cancer cannot be cured, they can help with palliative care (support to help you live as well as possible), including pain relief and medicines for symptoms such as nausea. GPs and practice nurses are advisory in nature and liaise with other staff to support patients through cancer treatment.

Other people who provide support:

District nurses – provide nursing care at home, such as dressings and wound care, catheter care, support with medicines, and checks on general wellbeing.

Palliative care nurses – specialist nurses who visit to review symptoms, help planning ahead (advance care planning), and contact your GP if they are concerned. They may discuss ReSPECT forms, a plan that records your wishes for your future care and treatment, including resuscitation by chest compression and defibrillation with electric shock to the heart, in case of sudden stopping of your heartbeat.

Paramedics – GP practices use paramedics for home visits. They can assess urgent problems, check observations (for example, blood pressure and oxygen levels), assess falls and minor illnesses, examine you, and report back to your GP.

Macmillan nurses, Marie Curie nurses and Shakespeare nurses – provide cancer and end-of-life support, including symptom support and emotional support to carers. They can help you access hospice services (for example, day services at Myton Hospice, where available). Some services can also support carers and provide night-sitting.

Rapid Response team – a community team that can provide urgent help (for example pain relief), including out of hours, at weekends and on bank holidays.

A cancer diagnosis can cause immense anxiety and life changing events, but cancer treatment is developing significantly and it is important to see your GP if you have any concerning symptoms.

Dr Suparna Behura FRCGP
Specialist GP
Community Gynaecology and Dermatology
Saturday Mornings Nuffield Hospital, Leamington Spa

Monday-Friday – 8.00am-6.30pm
Tel – 01926 857331
www.castlemedicalcentre.co.uk
Facebook – @CastleMedKenilworth
Twitter – @Castle_Med
22 Bertie Road, Kenilworth, CV8 1JP