What is the Acute Oncology Service?
The Acute Oncology Service (AOS) supports cancer patients admitted to hospital who are unwell with a complication of their cancer, side effects of their cancer treatment (chemotherapy or radiotherapy) or have a new diagnosis of cancer.
What our service offers
Information and advice to patients/carers when a patient has:
- Complications from their cancer treatment i.e. Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy and Immunotherapy
- Complications from a known cancer
- A new/suspected diagnosis
- A Malignancy of Unknown Origin (MUO) or Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP)
- Suspected or confirmed Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression (MSCC)
The service is currently available Monday to Friday within office hours, 9.00am - 5.00pm. We aim to see all patients referred to the service within 24 hours of referral. Service is provided in Llandough through telephone advice and visiting CNS. Referrals from Friday or weekends will be acted upon the next working day (Monday or Tuesday if bank holiday).
What are our aims
- To provide a timely assessment and review for presenting cancer patients
- Improve clinical and patient outcomes and the experience of people with cancer admitted acutely and their carers
- To work closely with all departments in the health board and Velindre Cancer Centre
- Ensure rapid referrals to other specialities if required
- To provide advice and support to clinical staff caring for cancer patients
- Make regular visits to the wards that patients have been admitted to
- Reduce length of stays
Who we are
- Dr Diane Parry - Macmillan Acute Oncology Clinical Lead
- Jane Whittingham - Macmillan Acute Oncology Advanced Nurse Practitioner
- Sophie Norton - Macmillan Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Sarah Grady - Macmillan Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Sally Jones - Macmillan Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Lydia Harding - Macmillan Acute Oncology Service Co-ordinator
Macmillan Patient information leaflets
Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) is when a secondary cancer is diagnosed, but even after tests have been carried out, doctors can’t tell where the cancer first started. The primary cancer is unknown.
Find out about primary and secondary cancers, how CUP is diagnosed, treatments you might have, possible side effects and how to get further support.
Malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC) happens when cancer grows in, or near, the spine and presses on the spinal cord and nerves. Any type of cancer can spread to the bones of the spine, but MSCC is more common in people with breast, lung or prostate cancers, lymphoma, or myeloma.
Find out more about this condition.