Cancer services

Once a tumour site has been identified, you will then be looked after by a specialist team. We cater for the following areas of cancer.

• Breast
• Colorectal
• Dermatology (skin)
• Gynaecology
• Head and neck
• Haematology (blood)
• Lung
• Nuero-oncology
• Upper GI
• Urology          
• Sarcoma

To find out more, visit Your confirmed diagnosis page.

Medical team

You will meet your medical team when you are first diagnosed. This may include a consultant (clinical/medical oncologist), surgeon and specialist registrars. You will be regularly reviewed by your medical team during and after treatment. They will explain your diagnosis and treatment options.

Clinical nurse specialists (CNS)

Clinical nurse specialists (CNS) are key workers who have skills and expertise in cancer care specific to your diagnosis. They provide physical and emotional support to you and your family, acting as a point of contact throughout your journey. They help in coordinating your care and are available if you have any concerns about your treatment or follow up.

They will provide information about your diagnosis in a way that you can understand, explain possible treatment options and their side effects, provide symptom advice and onward referral to other services offering support, if needed. Your key worker acts as a link between you and other healthcare professionals both in the hospital and the community.

Cancer support workers (CSW)

Cancer support workers (CSW) are part of the cancer team and work closely with the CNS. They will support you from diagnosis, through treatment and beyond. They may carry out an holistic needs assessment. 

Treatment (oncology) teams

Depending on your treatment plan, you may meet surgical, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy teams. These will look after you during your treatment and can answer any questions you may have about the treatment you are going to have.

Other healthcare professionals

Depending on your diagnosis, you may meet other healthcare professionals. These may include dieticians, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

Navigators

Navigators are part of the cancer support team and may be involved in coordinating your care such as arranging appointments. 

After you have had some tests, you may be referred to the cancer multi-disciplinary team (MDT) — a team of healthcare professionals such as:

• consultant specialist (doctor)
• radiologist (a doctor who specialises in reading scans and xrays)
• pathologist (a doctor who specialises in looking at cells under a microscope and diagnosing the cell type)
• clinical nurse specialist (a nurse who gives you information and support during treatment, also known as CNS or key worker)
• other doctors and allied healthcare professionals (AHP) involved in your care.

The purpose of the MDT

The purpose of the MDT is to make sure that you get the most appropriate treatment for your condition. Your case may be discussed at a variety of cancer MDTs specialising in different areas of the body. This is to reach a confirmed diagnosis.

All tests and results you have had are taken into consideration so that you can be offered the best treatment plan. This will be discussed with you either at an outpatient's appointment or within the hospital setting if you are an inpatient.

A record of your care plan

A record of your care plan will be placed in your medical notes and a copy will be sent to your GP for their reference. If you want a copy, please speak with your clinician. 

Understanding your care plan

Once the MDT have agreed your treatment plan you will be invited to an outpatients appointment or will been seen at the bedside (if you are an inpatient) by a consultant or CNS to discuss the outcome.

They will explain next steps and options available to you and will ask for your consent to start your care plan — if you have any questions or don't understand, please ask them then to explain and clarify to help you make an informed decision. You will also be given leaflets to read for more information. 

You may find it helpful to have a family member or friend with you for support. 

You will not be expected to make a decision at this time.

When a person is diagnosed with cancer that has spread within the body (metastatic cancer), the primary site - the place in the body where the cancer started - is not always obvious.

To find out more, visit Cancer of unknown primary service (CUP).

Our  Acute oncology service (AOS) works with patients who are newly diagnosed with cancer.

To find out more, visit Acute Oncology Service (AOS).

Our Chemotherapy Day Units (CDU) administrates drug treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapies in a variety of ways to best suit your treatment.

To find out more, visit Chemotherapy Day Units (CDU).

The oncology outpatient department at Southend provides a comprehensive service to diagnose, treat and support people with cancer. 

What we offer

The department see upwards of 200 patients a day to make sure that they are getting the support, treatment or intervention they need according to their care plan.

Throughout the day many specialist clinics will be taking place which include:

• Face to face consultation, breaking bad news.
• Follow up during chemotherapy/radiotherapy treatment.
• Wound dressing support for patients that may need this due to various treatments.
• Oral (tablet form) chemotherapy administration.
• Oncology patient blood tests.
• Clinical nurse specialist face to face and telephone appointments.
• End of treatment follow up appointment. 
• Bone marrow clinics run by a doctor and a clinical nurse specialist.

Meet the team

We have many specialist staff working in the outpatients department, these include: 

• Doctors 
• Clinical nurse specialist (CNS)
• Healthcare support workers.

We also work closely with the radiotherapy and chemotherapy teams to ensure a seamless treatment pathway is delivered.

The nursing team has been trained to administer oral chemotherapy, checking for toxicity and completing ongoing treatment assessments.

The nursing teams also triage calls from patients that may have concerns about their oral chemotherapy. They assess and action any follow up or assessments that may be needed including arranging face to face assessments.

Contact and location details

You can call our reception number on 0300 443 5881 between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.

If you need to find us, we are on the first floor of the Hillborough building, just inside the main entrance.

Radiotherapy uses radiation in the form of high energy x-rays to treat cancer.  It destroys cancer cells in the area where the radiotherapy is given.

To find out more, visit Radiotherapy.

Our teenage and young adult service offers specialist, age-appropriate care to people aged 16 to 24 who have been diagnosed with cancer, living in Mid and South Essex.

To find out more about the support we offer, visit our Teenage and young adults and cancer page.

Our hospital-based specialist palliative care teams provide support for individuals, their loved ones and carers who are facing issues associated with an incurable advanced/progressive or sudden illness and are in the last year, weeks or days of life.

To access palliative care services at our hospitals, visit  Palliative medicine services.

The end-of-life team care for patients who are in the last few days/weeks of life or imminently dying.

To find out more, visit our End of Life (EOL) page.

Our cancer information and support services are located at each of our main hospital sites, and anybody affected by cancer can get in contact. You can speak to a specialist cancer nurse or trained volunteer.

To find out more, visit our Macmillan cancer information and support service page.

It’s important to realise there is no right or wrong way of dealing with a diagnosis of cancer and the feelings you might experience.

To find out more about what kind of support there is out there for you, visit our Emotional and financial wellbeing page.

The living with and beyond cancer service is a nurse led service that helps patients to adjust after their cancer treatment.

If you would like to find out more, visit our Living well with cancer page.

Personalised care is based on ‘what matters’ to people and their individual strengths and needs.

To find out more, visit our Personalised care page.

Psychological therapy and support is available to any adult affected by cancer who is being treated at our hospitals and is available to inpatients and outpatients. 

To find out more about the services we offer, visit Psychological therapies service for oncology (cancer).

We know being diagnosed with cancer can be very stressful and treatment can take many months. Cancer prehabilitation is a programme to prepare patients for treatment in terms of physical fitness, nutrition and emotional wellbeing. It maximises resilience to treatment, improves long-term health and overall quality of life.

Scientific evidence shows that benefits include:

• Improved tolerance to treatment
• Reduced side effects such as fatigue, pain, anxiety and depression
• Improved quality of life
• Reduced complication rates
• Shorter hospital stays and fewer emergency admissions.

Two programmes are available to patients from diagnosis onwards up to two years post diagnosis:

Alvie

A digital health optimisation programme focusing on boosting your fitness and energy, improving your nutrition and help you manage stress. 

Every newly diagnosed cancer patient within the Trust will be offered this programme.

Living Well with Cancer in association with Impulse Leisure.

There is also the option to attend a Living Well with Cancer face-to-face exercise programme, which is provided at seven venues across mid and south Essex.

Speak to your specialist nurse or the social prescriber at your GP practice to be referred. 

If you would like further information about either programme, email mse.msecancerprehabilitation@nhs.net. 

Hospital services

There are other services that can offer you support with your care, please see these below:

• Chaplaincy - if you need spiritual support or just someone to talk to, our chaplains are on hand to help with a listening ear. To find out more, visit Chaplaincy services.
• Learning disabilities — for more support visit Learning disabilities and autism support.
• PALS - if you are concerned about your ongoing care, please speak to PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) at MSE
• Patient experience - if you have feedback that you would like to share about the care you received, or information on this website, visit Patient Experience at MSE.

External useful links

• Age UK – https://www.ageuk.org.uk
• Cancer research UK - https://www.cancerresearchuk.org 
• Citizens advice – https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk
• Helen Rollason – https://www.helenrollason.org.uk
• Marie Curie – https://www.mariecurie.org.uk
• Macmillan cancer support – https://www.macmillan.org.uk
• Samaritans – https://www.samaritans.org 
• Cancer services ICB —  https://www.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk/health/support/cancer-services
• Essex Frontline — https://essexfrontline.org.uk 

Local support organisations

COPES Essex gynae cancer support – email COPES11.05@gmail.com or call 07546 316735.

Helen Rollason — https://www.helenrollason.org.uk 

Breast Friends — https://www.breastfriends.co.uk 

Tea and Chat (Chelmsford) — supporting secondary breast cancer patients. Come along every second Friday of the month between 10.30am and 12.30pm at the Helen Rollason Cancer Centre, Chelmsford, CM3 2EH. To find out more, visit https://make2ndscount.co.uk/support.  

Move against cancer — https://www.moveagainstcancer.org 

Tea and talk at Toby's (for all cancers) — information coming soon.

Mouth Cancer Foundation Support Group — https://www.facebook.com/groups/644315286678819. You can access weekly Zoom meetings every Monday between 7pm and 9pm by emailing info@mouthcancerfoundation.org. 

Head and Neck Cancer Support Group (Mid and South Essex Southend) – Meetings on Zoom, the first Tuesday of the month 7.30pm to 8.30pm. Contact angie.hobbs7@btinternet.com if you are interested.

Urological cancer support group — run by patients and family members where a diagnosis of prostate and other urological cancers have been made:

• Southend – CADGERS, email Roger.bassett@sky.com
• Broomfield – The Walnut Club, email David@family-learmonth.co.uk  
• BUGS facebook group — https://www.facebook.com/share/Dpczzqw1QUpoCsec/?mibextid=K35XfP

Blood cancer support groups

Blood Cancer UK — https://www.bloodcancer.org.uk 

Lymphoma Action - https://www.lymphoma-action.org.uk

Myeloma UK - https://www.myeloma.org.uk

Mid Essex myeloma support group — All meetings have been sponsored by Dr A. Islam, consultant haematologist at Southend Hospital. Each event takes place in Balmoral Community Centre, Salisbury Avenue, Westcliff-on-Sea SS0 7AU.

For more information including dates, please contact 0300 443 0346.

Mid Essex myeloma and stem cell transplant patient support group coffee morning — We would like to invite all myeloma and stem cell transplant patients (before and after) to join our local support group for informal gatherings over tea/coffee. This will take place at between 10am and 12noon at the Enchanted café, 216 London road, Hadleigh, SS7 2PD.

For more information including dates, please contact 0300 443 0346.

National support organisations

https://www.macmillan.org.uk

https://lookgoodfeelbetter.co.uk

https://www.cancerblackcare.org.uk 

https://www.blackwomenrisinguk.org

Support to get back to work after cancer

https://workingwithcancer.co.uk

Mental health

https://www.nhs.uk/everymindmatters

https://www.mind.org.uk

Young people

https://shinecancersupport.org

https://www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/childrens-cancer/teenage-young-adult-tya 

LGBTQ+

https://outpatients.org.uk 

https://www.wearetransplus.co.uk/uk-cancer-and-transition-service

Parents

htpps://ww.parentingwithcancer.org

Research plays a key part in understanding cancer and different ways we can treat the disease. 

To find out more about what studies are going on currently, and how you could get involved, visit  Research and development at mid and south Essex hospitals.

Doing your own research on cancer?

If you are looking to do your own research on cancer, watch our Libraries' useful video guide on how to search safely on our Researching safely page.

In order to track patients and record the number of patients we treat with cancer by our Trust, we use a system called the Somerset Cancer Register.

To find out more about this, visit https://digital.nhs.uk/ndrs.