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During your treatment, you will meet a wide variety of practitioners as part of your multi-disciplinary team
How cancer develops and the drugs used to treat cancer
Your treatment plan, before and during SACT treatment and how you'll receive it
The location you may have your treatment, recovery or appointments.
What symptoms you may experience during treatment and what you can do to manage them.
Some of the following phone numbers are not continuously manned. You may not get a response as timely as you might expect.
Support with your cancer diagnosis continues even after your treatment stops.
The organs and tissues in the human body are made up of cells, which are constantly growing and then dividing to form new cells.
These drugs are described as Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapies (SACT).
Your team will work with you to get the best results from your cancer treatment. It is important that you are involved in your treatment …
We have gathered all the information you may need before starting your treatment to help your recovery.
Here you will find out what happens on the day of your treatment, any ongoing treatment and the support our hospitals can provide.
You may have your treatment given to you:
This includes Avening Ward, Nurse-Led Clinic, Oncology Outpatients and Worcester Suite at Cheltenham General Hospital.
This includes the Edward Jenner Unit (EJU) at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and the LINC outpatients at Cheltenham General Hospital.
This 24-hour helpline is for oncology and haematology patients who are unwell or experiencing side effects from their cancer or treatment while at home.
If you are unwell, require close monitoring or your treatment is administered over several hours, you may need to stay on an inpatient ward.
Radiotherapy uses high energy X-rays to treat a wide variety of cancers. This treatment may be given alone or as well as other treatments.
White blood cells (WBC) are part of the immune system. Neutrophils are a type of WBC and their job is to fight infections. Chemotherapy accidently …
As well as red blood cells and white blood cells, the blood also contains platelets. Platelets prevent bleeding.
Cancer and cancer treatments increase the risk of having blood clots. Blood clots are commonly found in the calf. These are called a Deep Vein …
Cancer drugs may affect your ability to think, concentrate or affect your memory.
If it is difficult to open your bowels or your stool is hard, you may be constipated.
This is when your bowel motions are loose or watery. You may need to go to the toilet more often than normal or find it …
Fatigue is the feeling of having no energy and is a common side effect. Resting and sleeping may not help improve fatigue.
If you are likely to experience nausea and/or vomiting, you will be given anti-sickness medication before each treatment and a supply to take home.
Hair loss and/or hair thinning can be a side effect of chemotherapy, it will depend on the drug you are given.
Peripheral neuropathy means damage to the nerves in the hands and feet. This can be caused by some cancer drugs.
Your treatment may cause rashes, skin irritation, skin discolouration, dry itchy skin or skin sensitivity to light.
You may experience taste changes and/or a loss of appetite. This may be caused by your treatment, nausea and vomiting or by a sore mouth.
Some types of cancer treatment can cause side effects that affect your bladder and bowel.
Sometimes your eyes and vision can be affected by cancer drugs. Your hearing may also be affected; you may experience tinnitus.
You may experience other symptoms that are not directly related to your SACT treatment