Introduction
Receiving a cancer diagnosis is a life changing event. You and your family may experience a wide range of emotions and have a lot of questions and concerns throughout your cancer journey.
Your Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is available to provide ongoing support from the initial investigations leading to diagnosis, throughout your treatment and on to living with and beyond cancer.
Your CNS will provide you with any necessary information, answer any questions and provide emotional support and guidance to you and your family.
- Breast Care Units
- Our team
- How is your care planned?
- Your Cancer Pathway
- Additional Support
- Personalised Stratified Follow Up Pathway (PSFU)
- Cancer Support Workers
- Macmillan Support and Information
- Clinical Research
|
Regina Santos |
Fiona Jerome |
Outra Rooplal |
If you need to talk to someone about clinic appointments, contact the Breast administration team:
| Telephone | 01784 884607 |
| Oncology | Dr Teoh secretary 01784 884607 |
Breast Care Units
- Ashford Breast Clinic is based in Jasmine Suite on the first floor.
Our team
| Joanne Polley | Lead Nurse Breast, Colorectal and Gynaecology |
| Fiona Jerome | Clinical Nurse Specialist for Breast Cancer |
| Outra Rooplal | Clinical Nurse Specialist for Breast Cancer |
| Surpal Grewal | Clinical Nurse Specialist for Breast Cancer |
| Lin Mon | Clinical Nurse Specialist for Breast Cancer |
| Faithe Cockroft | Lymphoedema Nurse Specialist |
| Regina Santos | Advanced Nurse Practitioner |
Our working hours are Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 4:30 pm.
To contact a CNS directly, call:
| Dedicated Support Helpline | 01784 884411 |
How is your care planned?
Your care is planned at a weekly Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meeting.
The MDT consists of Surgeons, Medical Consultants, Radiologists, Histopathologists, Oncologists and Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS). Any investigations that have been performed are discussed and a treatment plan is agreed by the team.
Treatment may involve one of the following; Surgery, Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, Radiotherapy, Targeted Therapy and Hormone Therapy or a combination.
You will have the opportunity to meet with your doctor and CNS to discuss your treatment plan at an outpatient clinic appointment where specific information will be given to you, including the possible side effects of any treatment you are offered and the support services available to you.
We encourage patients to attend clinic appointments with a family member or friend for additional support.
Your Cancer Pathway
At the Trust we provide a patient-centred approach to your care, helping to support people living with and beyond cancer. We aim to provide a well-coordinated, holistic, personalised approach to your care.
The National Cancer Survivorship Initiative’s (NCSI) aim is to ‘ensure that those living with and beyond cancer get the care and support they need to lead a healthy and active life as possible for as long as possible’.
To help improve your cancer experience, the NCSI has developed The Recovery Package, which has been introduced and supported by Macmillan. Building on the success of The Recovery Package, we are committed to delivering personalised care for people living with cancer. Personalised Care and Support Planning (PCSP) helps people living with cancer to take an active and empowered role in the way their care is planned and delivered, with interventions and care tailored around the things that matter most to them. To achieve PCSP the following four things will be discussed with you by your CNS.
- A Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA) will be completed at key points along your cancer pathway. You will have this assessment with your CNS either face to face or by phone. The HNA will address any physical, practical, family/relationship and emotional concerns you may have. Following the HNA a care plan will be discussed with you, providing support and information and possible referrals to other agencies such as Macmillan.
- A Treatment Summary will be completed at the end of your treatment, a copy will be sent to you and your GP. This summary provides important information including side effects and any other consequences of your treatment. It will also highlight any signs and symptoms of recurrence of disease.
- A Cancer Care Review will be completed by your GP or Practice Nurse within three months of your cancer diagnosis and will be the start of ongoing conversations between you and your GP throughout your cancer pathway.
- Health and Wellbeing events are held to provide information and support on work and finance, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and physical activity and to help prepare you for the transition to a supported self-management programme. These events play an important role in moving forward to living with and beyond cancer. A Health and Wellbeing event is held annually at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospital as well as other informational events throughout the year. We will let you know when an event is coming up.
We have also developed a new mobile phone app so you can access essential information specific to your needs at the tip of your fingertips whenever you need it. To download the app, simply search for “Ashford and St. Peter’s Breast Care” in the app store.
We believe that if you are well informed you are better placed to make decisions about your care and well-being, and better able to manage changes in your health.
Additional Support
Ashford Breast Cancer Support Group (ABC) is a patient led support group based at Ashford Hospital. Please email
Personalised Stratified Follow Up Pathway (PSFU)
Cancer Support Workers
Cancer Support workers offer a dedicated support helpline for all our cancer patients, family members and carers. They are available to answer questions, help with appointments and access local support services as well as provide support throughout your cancer journey.
They work closely with your CNS and if the question or concern is of a clinical nature they will contact them and they will get in touch.
Contact Number: 01784 884411 or email
Macmillan Support and Information
In St Peter’s Outpatient Department, area 2, there is a Macmillan Resource Room providing a quiet place to sit. There are many information booklets for you to browse or take home. Macmillan also provides a number of other resources. These include information about:
- Welfare benefits
- Understanding your specific cancer
- Cancer treatments and their side effects
- Support groups and services
To find out more visit https://www.macmillan.org.uk/ or call 0808 808 000.
Clinical Research
Research is a key aspect of the work of the NHS. It is through research that we provide evidence upon which we base our care and treatments and improve our treatments.
The NHS constitution states that it is every patient’s right to be able to participate in a research study, should they wish to, and should they meet the requirements of the study.
There are many ongoing cancer clinical research projects at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals, you may be asked to participate in a study by your Surgeon or Oncologist.
