Receiving a cancer diagnosis is a life changing event and 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.
They 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
- Macmillan Support and Information
- Clinical Research
For assistance regarding clinic appointments you may contact the Breast secretaries on:
| 01784 884607 | Lindsay Futter for Mr Johnson and Mr Bashorun’s patients |
| 01784 884783 | Erin Tims for Mr Kothari, Ms Shrotria and Ms Lawn’s patients and lymphoedema appointments |
| 01784 884607 | Sonia Baugh for Dr Neal and Dr Teoh’s oncology patients |
Breast Care Units
- Ashford Breast Clinic is based in Jasmine Suite on the first floor.
Our team
| Regina Santos | Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist for Breast Cancer |
| Fiona Jerome | Clinical Nurse Specialist for Breast Cancer |
| Outra Rooplal | Clinical Nurse Specialist for Breast Cancer |
| Michelle Swan | Clinical Nurse Specialist for Breast Cancer |
| Elaine Stewart | Clinical Nurse Specialist for Breast Cancer |
| Faithe Cockroft | Lymphoedema Nurse Specialist |
Our working hours are Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 4:30 pm.
Our contact numbers are:
| Ashford Hospital | 01784 884411 (office) 01784 884488 bleep 5129 01784 884488 pager 8461 |
| Patient navigator | 01932 726856 |
How is your care planned?
Your care is planned at a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meeting which is held weekly.
The MDT consists of Surgeons, Medical Consultants, Radiologists, Histopathologists, Oncologists and Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS). The 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 the treatment and 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 Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals 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 have developed The Recovery Package, which has been introduced and supported by Macmillan. The Recovery package consists of the following 4 components and 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, 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 yourself and your GP.
It 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 3 months of your cancer diagnosis and will be the start of ongoing conversations between yourself and your GP throughout your cancer pathway.
- Health and Wellbeing events are held to provide information and support on work and finance, 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 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
Improving Cancer Care and Action Group (ICCAG)
This is an established cancer service action group, consisting of patients, family members, carers and local community members.
They gather experiences of those affected by cancer, to help improve cancer services at Ashford and St Peters Hospitals. If you are interested in joining or learning more about the group please contact the patient navigators: 01932 726856.
Supported Self-Management Programme - specially designed to support you when you have completed treatment. It is a type of follow-up, where you, the patient are in control which means that your normal routine will not be disrupted by regular hospital appointments and you can quickly gain access to the breast care team and hospital when you need it. You will be sent an appointment to attend a nurse-led consultation to discuss this with you along with the contact number for the open access telephone helpline (01784 884762) for advice and support.
Macmillan Patient Navigators
Macmillan Patient Navigators offer a single point of contact 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 your CNS who will return your call.
Contact Number: 01932 726856
Macmillan Support and Information
At St Peter’s Outpatient department, area 2, there is a Macmillan Resource Room providing a quiet place to sit, offering many informational booklets for you to browse or take home. Macmillan provides a number of resources which are readily available to you such as:
- Welfare benefits
- Understanding your specific cancer
- Cancer treatments and their side effects
- Support groups and services
If you need further information Macmillan can assist you.
Telephone: 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.
