Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer
Welcome
At Airedale NHS Foundation Trust we provide an established multidisciplinary upper-gastrointestinal (UGI) and hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) service. We offer all suspected cancer patients an appointment within two weeks of their GP referral.
At Airedale we offer
The Upper GI team oversees the care of patients in the Trust with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of upper-gastrointestinal (UGI) or hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) cancer. This includes oesophageal, stomach, pancreatic, duodenal, bile duct, liver, and gallbladder cancers.
We manage GP referrals into the Trust with a suspected UGI/ HPB cancer, ensuring investigations are appropriate and timely, our aim is to inform people within 28 days of referral whether an UGI/ HPB cancer has been ruled out or cancer diagnosis confirmed.
Those with a cancer diagnosis will meet a member of the team either on the ward, in the endoscopy unit or in an outpatient clinic to talk you through the next steps, support management of symptoms and offer emotional support. We will keep you updated on any investigations or results and discuss your proposed treatment plan.
Our team works with colleagues at Bradford Teaching Hospitals and Leeds Teaching hospital Trust to determine the most appropriate treatment for a patient’s UGI/HPB cancer and coordinates more specialist investigations at these Trusts as required. The UGI surgical team are based at Bradford hospitals and the HPB surgical team are based at St James’s University Hospital in Leeds. The regional Centre for radiotherapy treatment is also St James’s University Hospital.
If chemotherapy/ immunotherapy treatment is an appropriate treatment for your cancer these are offered at our haematology, oncology day unit (HODU) in Airedale hospital or on the mobile cancer unit (MCU) closer to home.
Our patients or those important to them can contact the team with any questions or to discuss any concerns. We may refer on to other specialist teams at Airedale or teams who can support you at home for different aspects of care.
Our vision is that patients with an UGI or HPB cancer have all the information and support they need on the journey from diagnosis to treatment and beyond.
Our nursing and supportive team
Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS):
All the members of the UGI/HPB clinical nurse specialist team have expertise and experience in assisting with patients and carers concerns including:
- information about the disease illness, investigations, treatments and follow up
- advice about any symptoms arising as a result of the cancer treatment
- support for patients, relatives and carers
- referral to the community nursing teams, such as the District Nurses
- referral to other professionals who can offer specialist advice such as benefits, social services or complimentary therapies. e.g. Cancer Support Yorkshire
- Your CNS is likely to be your main contact at the hospital
Our Upper GI/HPB clinical nurse specialists are:
- Aidan Henry – Lead UGI/HPB CNS
- Sarah Davie – UGI/HPB CNS
- Mark Symonds – UGI/HPB CNS
Cancer Care Coordinator (CCC)
The Cancer Care coordinator works as part of the cancer care team alongside registered practitioners to help improve care for people with cancer, helping patients to self-manage and lead as healthy lives as possible. The CCC is not a qualified clinician but is trained and experienced in supporting people with a cancer diagnosis.
CCC’s can offer practical and emotional support, sign posting, and information about lifestyle changes, such as diet, physical activity, benefits referrals, and local support available.
Our Cancer Care Co-Ordinator is: Tracy Browne
Contact details
The Upper GI team may see you as an in-patient, out-patient or communicate via telephone.
Patients with an UGI/ HPB cancer diagnosis, or those who they nominate to be involved in their care can contact the team Monday to Friday 0830-1630.
We aim to return messages the same day.
Telephone: 01535 292340
Email: anhsft.ugicns@nhs.net
Lynch Syndrome
For more information on Lynch Syndrome, please follow the link below that will take you to our Lynch Syndrome patient support page. This patient support page will help you to:
- Understand what Lynch Syndrome is
- How to get tested for Lynch Syndrome
- Understand the genetics counselling service
Lynch Syndrome patient support – Airedale NHS Foundation Trust
What is Lynch Syndrome?
Lynch syndrome is a condition that increases the risk of many kinds of cancer. This is a condition that can run in families. It used to be called hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC).
Families that have Lynch syndrome have more instances of cancer than expected. This might include colon cancer, endometrial cancer and other types of cancer. Lynch syndrome also causes cancers to happen at an earlier age.
People affected by Lynch Syndrome have a higher risk of developing:
And they have a slightly higher risk of developing:
Lynch Syndrome UK is a UK charity that offers additional support and information for all people with Lynch Syndrome. Some of the support they provide includes:
- an online support group for people that is patient lead, offering advice, support and experience
- up to date advice on the website that can be downloaded and printed
- people can be sent “the beginners guide to Lynch Syndrome” as well as request a patient passport
- a new digital app has recently been launch with Professor Julian Barwell – access to this new app can be requested through the website
- a patient conference every year in March which gives people and their families an opportunity to ask questions of the clinicians in the room about their genetic disorder. This conference is alway’s well attended and clinicians are also welcome to come along. Please find more information on the conference here
