Patient Experience

Patient Experience

Introduction

Our Gynaecological Cancer Care Centre is the largest provider in the Republic of Ireland of treatment for malignancy of the reproductive organs: cancer of the womb (uterus), cervix, ovary, vagina and vulva.  Our centre provides a regional and national service and is accredited by the NCCP (the HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme) for complex radical gynaecological surgeries. International standards of treatment apply, and the service is supported by research and teaching activities through Trinity College Dublin and the Cancer Trials Research Office at the hospital.

Over 300 women with gynaecological cancer are referred to the centre annually. Cancer of the endometrium (lining of the womb) is the most common cancer, followed by cancer of the ovary/fallopian tube, then cervical cancer. Cancers of the vulva and vagina are less common. Women are referred by their general practitioners or by gynaecologists at their local hospital. A multidisciplinary team of doctors plans and provides the cancer care, and surgery is performed at the hospital. Some of the treatments such as chemotherapy can be given in other local regional hospitals. Radiotherapy treatment is given at St Luke’s Hospital (St James's Hospital and in Rathgar, Dublin). When treatment is completed, long-term follow-up care is often provided at the patient’s local hospital.  Follow-up visits may go on for five years or longer.

  • The vagina is a muscular tube that extends from the opening of the womb (cervix) to the folds of skin between a woman’s legs (vulva). Cancers affecting the vagina are rare. Fewer than 20 women are diagnosed with this type of cancer in Ireland each year. Vaginal cancer can start in the vagina itself (primary vaginal cancer) or spread into the vagina from another part of the body (secondary vaginal cancer). The most common symptoms of vaginal cancer are a blood-stained vaginal discharge, bleeding after sexual intercourse and pain. Diagnosis is made by taking a biopsy. A small sample of tissue will be taken from any abnormal areas for examination under a microscope.

  • The treatment for vaginal cancer depends on a number of factors, including your general health and the stage, grade and type of cancer.  Radiotherapy, surgery and chemotherapy may be used to treat vaginal cancer.  You may have one or a combination of these.

  • We are a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, medical oncologists, radiotherapists and specialist nurses supported by experts in nutrition, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, stoma care, palliative care and pain and pastoral care. Four outpatient clinics are held weekly. Each clinic has one or more lead consultants and team doctors.

    Gynaecological Consultant Surgeons

    • Dr Tom Darcy is a gynaecology cancer surgeon and trainer. He is also a lecturer at Trinity College, Dublin. He is the director of the colposcopy pre-cancer clinic at the Coombe Women’s & Infants’ University Hospital, Dublin.
    • Dr Waseem Kamran is a gynaecology cancer surgeon and trainer. He is also the director of the Cancer Risk Reduction Clinic.
    • Dr Feras Abu Saadeh is a gynaecology cancer surgeon and the director of clinical research. His published research profile is on ResearchGate; 

    Medical Oncology Chemotherapy Consultant

    • Dr Dearbhaile O’Donnell
    • Dr Karen Cadoo

    Radiotherapy Consultant

    Cancer Nurse Specialists

    • Ms Ciara Donohoe
    • Ms Elaine Gray

    Ciara and Elaine will coordinate all your care, from your first visit to the clinic through to your blood and X-ray tests, your admission for surgery or your appointments with other doctors.

    Research /Scientific Investigators

    • Dr Lucy Norris
    • Dr Sharon O’Toole

    Sharon and Lucy are scientific doctors who work in the research laboratory and coordinate the studies outlined. They ensure patients are informed about research studies, so you may meet them when you come to the outpatient clinic, when you come for your surgery or at other stages during your treatment. They coordinate the collection of blood and tissue samples and store them for the various studies.

    Further information on research projects is available on our Research page. Published research for Noreen Gleeson, Feras Abu Saadeh, Lucy Norris and Sharon O’Toole is available through ResearchGate.

    If you wish to support our research, please contact Debra McKnight, Gynaecological Coordinator; dmcknight@stjames.ie. You can also specify which type of gynaecological cancer you wish to support. We carry out research on ovarian, womb and cervix and vulval cancer.

  • Other Resources

    The following are websites of organisations offering information relating to the treatment and management of cancer:

    Irish Cancer Society: www.cancer.ie

    Emer Casey Foundation: www.emercaseyfoundation.com

    Ovacare: www.ovacare.com

    Supporting Ovarian Cancer Knowledge: www.sock.ie

    Gynaecological Oncology Referral Form