At Cromwell Hospital, we understand that getting rapid access to quality cancer care has never been so important. According to the British Journal of Cancer, one in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime – it is an illness that will touch nearly every family personally. However, with an early diagnosis and fast access to a tailored treatment plan, there is a very good chance of beating cancer.
We diagnose and treat all types of cancer at Cromwell Hospital, including breast, bowel, blood, gynaecological, prostate, liver, lung, skin, gastrointestinal, and thyroid cancers. Alongside access to a pioneering team of world-leading cancer consultants, clinical nurse specialists, counsellors and physiotherapists, we also offer rapid diagnostics including MRI, CT, PET-CT, ultrasound, mammography, and endoscopy, as well as genetic testing. We also provide leading cancer treatments, including minimally invasive and robotic surgery, advanced radiotherapy, and some of the latest cancer drugs.
We know that time to treatment heavily influences patient outcomes, so we've set up rapid-access patient pathways at our Integrated Cancer Campus, enabling patients to see a consultant, undergo the necessary tests, and receive a diagnosis in the shortest possible timeframe. Our rapid-access cancer care pathways include breast, prostate, and bowel cancers.
Between July and September in 2023, 88% of patients were seen through our Triple Assessment Clinic, and 100% patients with breast cancer were offered a treatment start date within 31 days of booking their Triple Assessment Clinic at Cromwell Hospital.
Forming a multidisciplinary team, members from each of the clinical disciplines available at our Integrated Cancer Campus meet regularly to discuss patient cases. As part of these meetings, they review test results and work together to jointly devise a tailored treatment plan that best meets a patient’s personal and clinical needs. Evidence shows that this collaborative working contributes to better patient outcomes and an improved patient experience.
Each patient and every cancer case is different. As such, we tailor our cancer treatment pathways to the individual patient. A comprehensive genetics service, overseen by our clinical geneticist and team of worldleading oncologists, allows us to both understand a patient’s predisposition to cancer and the specific genetic mutation of an existing cancer – therefore allowing our experts to devise a targeted and effective treatment plan.
Some types of cancer are more commonly associated with certain genes, and patients with these genes are more at risk of developing cancer. For example, patients with an altered BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene are more at risk of developing breast cancer. There are more than 100 gene variants associated with an increased risk of breast, prostate, and ovarian cancers, and genetic testing can help identify these variants. Understanding the genetics behind cancer can not only help with diagnosis, but it can also guide oncologists on deciding what cancer treatment or medicine will work best for each individual patient.
Our experienced pharmacy team has access to all established drug regimens, as well as the latest cancer drugs. Being at the forefront of these new medicines means our patients have access to targeted cancer drugs that can both treat their cancer and reduce their symptoms and pain.
Where suitable, patients may undergo what is described as adjuvant therapy, where chemotherapy medications are administered after surgery. This is designed to kill any small remaining cancer cells, significantly reducing the chances of recurrence or relapse.
Unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms, such as stomach pain or reflux, can be worrying. Unfortunately, patients with non-specific symptoms are more likely to experience delays in diagnosis and poorer health outcomes; therefore, time is of the essence when it comes to investigating symptoms. To support patients, we recently launched our non-specific symptoms pathway at Cromwell Hospital, which provides rapid assessment and diagnostic tests for patients experiencing such symptoms. Our pathway is led by a highly experienced multidisciplinary team, which includes gastrointestinal consultants, oncologists, clinical nurse specialists, and more.
We are proud to be partnered with GenesisCare, the leading private provider of radiotherapy services in the UK. Together, we provide one of the most advanced oncology care pathways in Europe.
The GenesisCare Centre for Radiotherapy at Cromwell Hospital offers some of the most advanced radiotherapy technologies in the world, working closely with leading health professionals and investing early in cutting-edge treatments that are proven to be safe and effective. GenesisCare was recently rated as Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), as well as Outstanding for being caring, responsive, and well-led.
The Centre is designed around three state-of-the-art radiotherapy machines – the MRIdian, Gamma Knife Icon, and Varian Edge – with each specifically devised to treat different and often complex cancers through evidence-based care. These technologies improve outcomes by enhancing the precision of treatment, limiting side effects, and reducing the number of treatment sessions required. Having these machines under one roof means the Centre is Europe’s most advanced radiotherapy facility.
Alongside the latest radiotherapy treatments, GenesisCare offers therapies that are proven to benefit people with cancer. Patients can access a fully equipped gym, where oncology exercise specialists prescribe exercise programmes tailored to individual needs, helping the body heal itself and improving treatment tolerance. Additionally, through GenesisCare's charity partner Penny Brohn UK, patients can also benefit from a groundbreaking approach to supporting emotional and physical wellbeing through complementary therapies.
Together, Cromwell Hospital and GenesisCare are changing the way people experience cancer treatment and care.
At our Integrated Cancer Campus at Cromwell Hospital, we are always looking for new ways to ensure we offer world-class care tailored to patient needs. That’s why we are harnessing the benefits of the latest robotic-assisted surgical technologies to help our surgeons perform complex surgical procedures with even more precision.
We offer advanced robotic-assisted surgical technologies, including the da Vinci Xi system, used for a range of keyhole surgery in urology, general surgery, oncology, colorectal, hepato-pancreato-biliary, lung, gynaecology, and head and neck procedures. The da Vinci Xi consists of highly advanced robotic arms, controlled by the surgeon from a console in the operating theatre.
The robotic arms provide the surgeon with greater precision, control, and flexibility when using surgical instruments, as well as superior visualisation and enhanced camera technologies that help to accurately plan the operation and monitor progress in real time. This technology means we can provide our patients with a more personalised surgical experience, based on their specific diagnosis and anatomy, and deliver care expertly tailored to their needs.
Our specialist Macmillan cancer counsellor, Helen Storey, offers an integral support service to our patients and their families. Helen is a qualified psychotherapist and specialist cancer counsellor, with over 20 years of experience in giving emotional support to those impacted by cancer, including both patients and their families. Helen offers a safe, confidential setting in which patients can talk honestly about their feelings and any concerns they have.
If you are concerned about your health and are considering private treatment, contact Cromwell Hospital to learn more about your options. Call +44 (0)20 7460 5700
or visit cromwellhospital.com/oncology
