A-Z of Services
Cancer Office
- Service Contact: 020 8401 3986
- Address: Ground Floor, Shirley House, Croydon University Hospital, 530 London Road, Croydon, CR7 7YE, Croydon, CR7 7YE
- About us
- How to refer
- Colorectal Cancer Service
- Rapid Diagnostic Assessment Centre (RDAC)
- Urology Cancer Service
- Breast Cancer
- Head & Neck Cancer Service
- Management Team
About us
The contact details for this department are:
Tel: 020 8401 3986
Email: CH-TR.urgentreferraloffice@nhs.net
Croydon Health Services is the local provider of diagnostic, surgical and other treatment services for patients with common cancers.
We are part of the Royal Marsden Partners (RMP) West London Cancer Alliance, and work closely with neighbouring Trusts to deliver quality care to patients accessing our services.
Our Cancer Services is delivered by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) comprising of Specialist Consultants, Doctors, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Oncologists, Psychologists, Physiotherapists, Radiologists, Pathologists, MDT Coordinators and Macmillan Support Officers.
We aim to provide a high quality patient centred service, in a holistic and supportive manner.
Who we support
Our MDT supports diagnosing and treating patients with cancers associated to the Brain/Central Nervous System, Breast, Colorectal, Gastrointestinal, Gynaecological, Blood (Haematology), Head & neck (ENT, Max Fax, Thyroid), Lung, Skin, Urological and Testicular. We also provide services to support patients with Sarcoma.
In 2022, we launched a Rapid Diagnostic Assessment Centre, where we see patients with non-site-specific symptoms / vague symptoms that may be suggestive of cancer.
A dedicated Macmillan information support centre, where information and support is provided to cancer patients and their families or carers, is also available and accessible at Croydon University Hospital.
Macmillan cancer information support centre
For information on our Macmillan Information Support Centre, please click here.
Cancer Office
Croydon University Hospital, 530 London Road, Croydon, CR7 7YE
Main Outpatients
First floor, The London Wing, Blue Zone, Croydon University Hospital, 530 London Road, Croydon, CR7 7YE
Check out our brand new Personalised Cancer Care Guide: Personalised Cancer Care Guide
How to refer
Urgent suspected cancer (USC)
If a patient shows possible signs and symptoms of any type of cancer it is important that GPs and dentists make an USC referral. Please note that all GPs should process referrals via eRS. More information on the electronic referral service (eRS) can be found here.
Dentists should continue to refer via email on CH-TR.urgentreferraloffice@nhs.net and tumour site specific referral forms can be found here.
Please advise the patient they need to be available to attend the hospital within the next 14 days.
Tumour site specific referral forms can be found using the link: https://www.healthylondon.org/cancer/suspected-cancer-referrals/MS-word-referral-forms
If you need to contact the USC office, please use the following contact details:
Tel: 020 8401 3986
Email: CH-TR.urgentreferraloffice@nhs.net (for all urgent suspected cancer (USC)
Exclusions
Please note Croydon Health Services does not offer a service for suspected Bone Sarcoma or for Ophthalmology
Cancer services
Croydon Health Services is part of the London Cancer Alliance (LCA) and works in partnership with LCA pathway groups to provide high-level cancer care to those diagnosed with cancer. The Trust is proud to achieve a consistent record by meeting or exceeding national cancer targets each year.
The Trust works in close partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support and has an on-site support centre at Croydon University Hospital for patients, families and carers.
Other partners include, South East Cancer Help Centre, Croydon Citizens Advice Bureau, voluntary organisations, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust (RMH) and St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, who provide and support cancer services.
The cancer service also provides:
- A rapid access service for gynaecology
- Gynaecology oncology clinic
- Direct testing for prostate cancer and gastroenterology
- Cancer clinical nurse specialists offer additional support to cancer patients acting as point of contact, ensuring a continuity and co-ordination of individual patient care.
- Macmillan Support Officers
- Rapid Diagnostic Assessment Clinic for vague or non-site-specific symptoms suggestive of cancer
Cancer centres
Patients are treated at a cancer centre depending on their type of cancer. Specific arrangements are made with the cancer centre and agreed as part of multidisciplinary team discussions.
Croydon Health Services provides a diagnostic service for all cancers and the following treatments in partners with other Trusts:
|
Type |
Treatment |
Cancer centre |
|
Breast |
Surgery |
Royal Marsden Hospital -chemotherapy -radiotherapy |
|
Colorectal |
Surgery |
Royal Marsden Hospital -chemotherapy -radiotherapy |
|
Dermatology |
Surgery |
St George’s Hospital -complex surgery requiring plastics |
|
Gynaecology |
Diagnostic & low risk endometrial surgery |
Royal Marsden Hospital -chemotherapy, -radiotherapy -surgery |
|
Haematology |
Level II service |
Royal Marsden Hospital -level III and level IV |
|
Lung |
Diagnostics, palliative care and follow up for radiotherapy |
Royal Marsden Hospital -chemotherapy St George’s Hospital -surgery |
|
Paediatrics |
POSCU Level1 |
Great Ormond Street Hospital Royal Marsden Hospital |
|
Urology |
Surgery and bladder chemotherapy |
Royal Marsden Hospital -radiotherapy St George’s Hospital –complex surgery |
|
Upper GI |
Diagnostics |
Royal Marsden Hospital -surgery |
Contact information
Cancer Office
Ground floor, Nightingale House
Croydon University Hospital
530 London Road
Croydon
CR7 7YE
Tel: 020 8401 3986
Tel: Bradbeer Unit 020 8401 3448
Tel: Macmillan breast care nurses 020 8401 3652
Fax: 020 8401 3337
Colorectal Cancer Service
The Colorectal team provide a nurse-led triage assessment straight to test two-week-wait (2WW) pathway, which involves telephone assessment, face to face clinics, referral for diagnostics, onward referral to other specialities for investigations or treatment, or discharged back to the GP if diagnostics are all normal.
Approximately 340 referrals a month are received on the Colorectal 2WW pathway and just over 200 patients are diagnosed with colorectal cancer and treated yearly.
Once a patient has a diagnosis or suspicion of a colorectal cancer / anal cancer, they are managed by the nurse-led colorectal cancer nursing and support team.
The team provide a seamless and holistic patient led service offering 3 nurse led face to face clinics a week, which incorporates a holistic needs assessment, diagnosis, information giving, psychological support, financial support information, breaking bad news and onward referral to the Royal Marsden as needed.
The colorectal cancer team also provide a nurse led stratified follow up for patients up to 5 years after diagnosis, with holistic needs assessment, bowel dysfunction clinics and personalised care and surveillance including imaging, bloods and endoscopy.
There are two multidisciplinary meetings a week; one linked with the Royal Marsden clinical and medical oncology team, and one in house, with the medical oncologist from the Royal Marsden. At this meeting all patients with a suspected cancer are reviewed by the expert team to decide on which would be the best treatment to advise the patient. Those in attendance are Colorectal Surgeons, Radiologists, Oncologists, Pathologists, other surgeons if needed, specialist nurses, support officers and any other clinicians who are involved in the patients care.
Croydon University Hospital offers Laparoscopic surgery, Trans Endoscopic Microsurgery for early rectal cancers (TEMS), Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection, (ESD) for early cancers and high-risk polyps, and Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR) for large polyps. Patients who require Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy or Liver surgery are referred to the Royal Marsden Hospital.
Key Staff
Surgeons
Mr Mohamed, Lead Colorectal surgeon
Mr Abulafi, Colorectal Surgeon
Mr Shanmuganandan, Colorectal Surgeon
Nursing and support team
Jo Turner-Banton, Nurse Consultant
Jack Woodcock, Colorectal Cancer CNS
Giorgia Murtas, Enhanced Recovery CNS
Tom Lewis, Macmillan Support Officer
Jenny Ginty, Macmillan Support Officer
Triage Assessment Team
Ana Silvestre, CNS
Jaime Lovleen, CNS
Mira Sencio, CNS
Admin
Abdul Khan, Administrative Support Officer
Sharon Patel, Patient Pathway Coordinator
Naomi Adeleke, Patient Pathway Coordinator
Nikitta Fernando, Patient Pathway Coordinator
Colorectal Leaflets
Rapid Diagnostic Assessment Centre (RDAC)
This is a new pathway, which encourages referral of patients with ‘vague’ / ‘non-specific’ symptoms suggestive of cancer, to assess and investigate rapidly, while supporting the patient on their journey.
The service encompasses the cohort of patients who do not fit clearly into a single ‘urgent cancer’ referral pathway (as defined by NICE NG12 guidelines, but who are, nonetheless, at risk of being diagnosed with cancer) and facilitates quicker access to specialist tests for these patients.
Key Staff
Philippa Jupp – Advanced Nurse Practitioner
Nana Benson-Quarm - Clinical Nurse Specialist
Dr Judith Mbaire - General Practitioner with specialist interest in Oncology
Dr Jaimin Patel – General Practitioner with specialist interest in Oncology
Daniel Lim – Patient Pathway Coordinator”
Useful Links
Useful Documents
Urology Cancer Service
The Urology service is responsible for diagnosis of a large group of cancers. This includes prostate cancer, which is one of the commonest diagnosed cancers in the UK, through to bladder, kidney and testicular cancers.
Prostate cancer
Croydon University Hospital Urology service has fully adopted the RAPID prostate cancer diagnostic model. Patients who present with an elevated PSA have an MRI of the prostate first, which is risk scored in order to proceed to targeted ultrasound guided fusion prostate biopsies. Patients who are at very low risk of serious prostate cancer can avoid unnecessary biopsies.
Patients who are diagnosed with prostate cancer are supported through their diagnosis and discussion of treatment by an experienced group of urology consultants, nurse specialists and support officers.
Croydon University Hospital has excellent links with treating Trusts in South West London i.e. St. George’s and the Royal Marsden Hospitals, where patients have cancer treatments such as robotic prostatectomy, radiotherapy or brachytherapy. All three hospitals have access to several national and regional research trials.
Bladder cancer
Bladder cancer is the eighth most common cancer found in the UK and most patients are diagnosed when they come through the haematuria pathway.
Almost all patients will have a scan first, such as, a CT or ultrasound scan, followed by a cystoscopy assessment of the bladder. The expert Urology nurse specialist group guides them through this process, and supports patients diagnosed with bladder cancer.
There are several state of the art diagnostic and treatment modalities available to Croydon University Hospital, shared as a network with the regional teaching hospitals, such as; narrow-band imaging, bipolar trans-urethral resection of bladder tumour, robotic cystectomy, hyperthermia mitomycin and radiotherapy.
Standard bladder treatments for cancer such as intra-vesical mitomycin and BCG are available for patients based on their risk assessment for recurrence and progression of cancer.
Kidney cancer
Most patients with suspected kidney cancer are diagnosed incidentally, when they have scans for other reasons. As soon as a lump in the kidney is identified, patients are counselled and booked for dedicated kidney scans. Upon confirmation of the suspicion of kidney cancer, patients are discussed with the specialist kidney cancer team at St George’s Hospital.
Multiple state of the art modalities for treating kidney cancer are available in St. George’s Hospital, such as robotic nephrectomy, partial nephrectomy, nephro-ureterectomy and cryotherapy. Genetic tests for familial kidney cancer disease is also available.
Testicular cancer
These are rare cancers that nevertheless need prompt action in these young men. They are supported through the process of having the testicle removed for diagnosis and can have a prosthesis fitted at the same time, if they so wish. Regional services are available for fertility counselling and sperm banking should this need to be urgently required. Otherwise, most men have sperm banking after urgent removal of the cancer-bearing testicle (radical orchidectomy).
Patients will then have a follow up after surgery with the regional testicular cancer service at the Royal Marsden Hospital.
Urology Leaflets
- How prostate cancer is diagnosed.pdf
- Testicular cancer booklet.pdf
- Tests and investigations for bladder cancer.pdf
Useful links
- Prostate Cancer UK Charity: www.prostatecanceruk.org
- Orchid Charity for male cancers: www.orchid-cancer.org.uk
- Fight Bladder Cancer Charity: https://fightbladdercancer.co.uk
- Action Kidney Cancer Charity: https://actionkidneycancer.org/kidney-cancer
Meet the Urology Team
Learn about the individuals who make up the Cancer Services team.
Kristoffer Ohlin - Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Urology
Graduated as a nurse from Karolinska Institute, in his native Stockholm, Sweden, Kris worked as a nurse on a Urology ward, and has never looked back since! Kris started his first specialist nurse role at Prostate Cancer UK, before taking up this role within the NHS.
Kris, who now works as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Urology and the Team Leader for the Urology cancer nursing team, is now a trained nurse prescriber, and also carries out a large volume of prostate biopsies in the Trust, as part of the prostate cancer pathway.
Sofika Pina - Clinical Nurse Specialist in Urology
Graduated as a nurse from University of Larissa, Greece, Sofika joined the NHS working as a staff nurse on a Urology ward at a London hospital where she developed an interest in Urological conditions.
Sofika later began a role as a Urology Nurse Specialist where she delivered nurse led clinics for benign Urological cases. She has further developed her specialist nurse training and has since taken up her current role as a Bladder and Prostate Cancer Nurse Specialist at Croydon University Hospital.
Sofika supports patients through their care, monitors their pathways, develops and implements treatment plans, and most importantly reassures her patients that they are cared for and listened to.
Annete Migiraweza - Clinical Nurse Specialist in Urology
Annete began her career as a registered nurse in 2009 and has worked in a number of nursing roles across various departments, which has contributed to the vast knowledge and experience she has developed in nursing patients with acute medical and surgical conditions.
Annete is now a Cancer Nurse Specialist, and is a key worker to five Urological malignancies: Bladder, Prostate, Penile, Testicular and Renal cancers. She works alongside Urological Surgeons, Clinical and Medical Oncologists, and Advanced Nurse Practitioners specialising in these diseases.
Annete progresses pathways for patients undergoing investigations, treatments and follow-ups, and conducts inpatient visits for patients who are admitted pre or post bladder surgery to discuss diagnosis and treatment plans. She is involved in a number of clinical pathways, including a nurse-led clinic for the administration of intravesical chemotherapy and immunotherapy for treating bladder cancers, as well as the RAPID prostate cancer diagnostic pathway.
Helen Smith - Macmillan Support Officer for Prostate cancer
Joshila Bhudoye
The Macmillan Support Officers help to improve the experience for patients once they are informed of a cancer diagnosis. They ensure patients receive personal and tailored signposting and support from the point of diagnosis to treatment. This facilitates a smoother patient journey during a difficult time for patients and their families.
Breast Cancer
According to Cancer Research UK, breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. It predominantly affects women but men can get breast cancer too.
The Bradbeer Unit
Croydon Health Services has the long established Bradbeer unit, a dedicated breast cancer unit. The team see around 2500 women each year, of which approximately 250 will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
You will be referred by your GP and all patients are offered an appointment within two weeks.
The Bradbeer Unit was designed to offer a one-stop breast clinic, this means if you are referred with suspected breast cancer you can expect to be tested and to receive your results on the same day.
In addition, the Unit works closely with a genetics service and provides a family history screening service.
The breast care unit has a large and expert multidisciplinary team.
One-stop clinic
After referral all women are offered an appointment within two weeks and most are seen in a one-stop clinic where consultation, imaging and needle test results are available on the same day. The unit works closely with a genetics service and provides a family history screening service.
Diagnostic imaging
Digital mammography and ultrasound scans are performed in the dedicated Bradbeer Unit and CT and MRI are performed in the main x-ray department.
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy
Patients requiring chemotherapy or radiotherapy before or following breast cancer surgery will be referred for assessment and treatment at The Royal Marsden Hospital.
Breast cancer nurses
Our experienced and dedicated Macmillan breast care nurses run clinics providing lymphoedema and prosthetic fitting services, alongside ongoing support and information.
Surgery and breast reconstruction
Our expert consultants perform breast reconstruction surgery at Croydon University Hospital. Complex breast reconstruction is performed by plastic surgeons at St George’s Hospital.
The Bradbeer Unit
Ground floor, The London Wing, Blue Zone, Croydon University Hospital, 530 London Road, Croydon, CR7 7YE
Head & Neck Cancer Service
Head and neck services
This is a cross speciality service with experience from both Endocrine Surgery (General Surgery) and Head & Neck Surgery.
Croydon University Hospital offers outpatient clinics including two-week-wait (2WW) Endocrine and Thyroid clinic and 2WW ENT Head & Neck clinic, as well as diagnostics such as Thyroid Ultrasounds, Ultrasound-guided Fine Needle Aspiration, MRI and Neck CT.
Both H&N Consultant Surgeons link into the Regional Head & Neck Cancer Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) at St Georges Hospital and have clinical sessions at St Georges Hospital where the cancer work takes place, unless there is a specific patient request for surgery to be conducted at Croydon University Hospital.
The service is supported by a dedicated team of radiologists who regularly perform all Ultrasound-guided Fine Needle Aspiration (US FNA) of the head and neck region.
Key Staff
Mr Paul C Dent, Consultant Endocrine & Thyroid Surgeon
Mr George Oikonomou, Consultant Head & Neck Surgeon
Dr Sandeep Divekar, Consultant Radiologist
Dr John Rendle, Consultant Radiologist
Dr Rucha Madkar, Consultant Radiologist
Dr Nelesh Jeyadevan, Consultant Radiologist
Aaisha Usman, MDT Co-ordinator
Useful Links
British Association of Endocrine & Thyroid Surgeons - Patient information leaflets:
Management Team
Lauren Devaney – General Manager, Cancer Services
Mr Babbin John – Consultant Urological Surgeon and CUH Trust Cancer Lead
Baljit Vohra – CUH Trust Lead Cancer Nurse
Bam Oladokun – Deputy General Manager, Cancer Services
Sheefa Ahamadali – Operations Manager, Cancer Services