Cancer patient information pack

This page provides an overview of Cancer Services at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH). It is here to help you, your family, and your carers during your cancer treatment.

We have many cancer services across the hospital campus. You might not need to visit these places or meet all the staff mentioned here. Your treatment will be planned just for you. This means you will only see the areas and people that are part of your care.

Oncology and haematology outpatient services

The main oncology and haematology services are located off the outpatient corridor on level 2, between the outpatient entrance and the main concourse area and can be approached from either direction. There is also a separate access off Robinson Way, via car park 2.

The oncology and haematology outpatient area includes:

Oncology and Haematology clinic suite

All outpatient clinics for oncology and haematology take place here. Usually, six to seven clinics run every day, led by nurses, doctors, and supported by administrators. Each week, there are about 28 sessions, seeing around 1,000 patients.

Radiotherapy department

This department treats over 200 patients daily. It offers many types of radiotherapy for people from the local area and beyond. The department has seven treatment machines called linear accelerators, two CT scanners, an orthovoltage unit (a special type of deep x-ray), and a service for brachytherapy (a type of radiotherapy for both inpatients and outpatients).
Find out more about radiotherapy.

Oncology day unit and chemotherapy suite

This unit cares for patients who come in for treatment during the day but do not stay overnight.

Cancer assessment unit

This unit helps cancer patients who need urgent care because of problems caused by their cancer or treatment.
Learn more about the cancer assessment unit.

Cancer support service pod

This is where the cancer support service is based at CUH. It provides support and guidance for patients throughout their cancer care.
More about the cancer support service.

Haematology day unit

The Haematology day unit provides care for people, who are receiving treatment as a day case. It has been specially designed to care for haematology patients who require close outpatient review. The unit is located opposite the main hospital entrance.

Inpatient areas

The Oncology and Haematology wards are located in the main ward block of Addenbrooke’s Hospital and can be accessed via the C and D lifts found off the main corridor and next to the hospital Concourse.

See the details of our most common cancer inpatient areas.

You will only be admitted to hospital if the nature of your cancer or your treatment makes it impossible for you to remain at home.

Visiting the hospital

CUH is based on a large site, and you and your family may need to visit several areas of it. There is a free courtesy bus running every 30 minutes from car parks 1 and 2, which can drop and collect you from the main entrances.

Find out more about this service on our getting here page.

Parking for patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy

Car Parks 1 and 2

Cancer patients receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy can park in the disabled bays on any level in Car Parks 1 and 2, as they are also designated for cancer patients receiving treatment.

If you are asked for evidence, please present your appointment details.

If you have any further questions, please speak to the staff at the customer service desks which are found on the ground level in both car parks.

Other disabled bays

Other disabled parking bays around the Cambridge Biomedical Campus are only available to blue badge holders.

Car park payments

You can take your car park ticket to oncology outpatients or radiotherapy reception to receive a daily or weekly stamp. The daily stamp enables you to be charged a discounted daily rate. The weekly stamp enables you to pay the discounted daily rate for a weekly ticket, in case you need to return within one week.

Take the stamped car park ticket to the customer service desks in Car Parks 1 or 2 for processing.

If you have any questions, please ask at oncology outpatients or radiotherapy reception.

For more information on visiting the hospital, see our travel and parking pages.

Patient transport service

Patients are normally expected to make their own way to and from hospital for non-emergency tests and treatments.

However, this may not be possible if you have a medical condition that prevents you from travelling any other way, such as public transport or taxis including wheelchair taxis. Where necessary, hospital transport is available for both inpatient stays and outpatient appointments.

Find out whether you are eligible for non-emergency patient transport.

Your clinical nurse specialist (CNS)

Your clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is an experienced nurse who works with the other members of the team to provide high quality medical and supportive care for you and your family.

The details and a contact telephone number for your CNS will be provided to you at your clinic appointment. You can contact them should you have any worries or need further information after your appointment. You may need to leave a message, but they, or another member of the team will get back to you as soon as possible.

In emergencies, you should ring the emergency number, not your specialist nurse, so you can talk to someone and obtain immediate advice.

Urgent advice: Emergencies include:

Having a temperature of 38 o or above
Feeling shivery or flu like
Feeling generally unwell

24-hour helpline contact numbers

Oncology: 01223 274224
Haematology: 01223 274225

CUH Cancer support service

The CUH cancer support service consists of multi-skilled professionals who work closely with your clinical team, and can assist you with a wide range of non-clinical issues that you may be dealing with, such as advice, signposting, emotional, financial or practical support.

The CUH Cancer Support Service consists of multi-skilled professionals who work closely with your clinical team, and can assist you with a wide range of non-clinical issues that you may be dealing with, such as advice, signposting, emotional, financial or practical support.

Cancer Support Advisors offer a listening ear and help you find the right information for you and your family.
Cancer Navigators provide a needs assessment if you’re feeling overwhelmed. They help create a care plan that you can refer to or share with your GP. They support you throughout your treatment and follow-up, offering emotional support when needed

The Cancer Support Service Information Pod acts as a base for the team and is located in Oncology and Haematology Outpatients on Level 2.

Opening hours

Monday – Friday, 08:00 – 16:00. Anybody can drop in, no appointment necessary.

Find out more about our cancer support service.

Rehabilitation and exercise

The Rehabilitation and Exercise during Addenbrooke’s Cancer Treatment (REACT) programme is helping people with cancer to stay active following diagnosis and throughout their treatment. REACT provides specialist rehabilitation and therapy to those experiencing musculoskeletal consequences of cancer treatment, and also offers safe, supervised exercise opportunities for patients during their treatment at CUH. The programme has enabled rehabilitation to be integrated into cancer treatments across the hospital.

Maggie’s Centre Cambridge

If you, or someone you care about is diagnosed with cancer, Maggie’s can help.

The centre is a warm and welcoming place on hospital grounds, where you can meet people who are experiencing the same things you are. At Maggie’s, you will find support groups specific to your needs and get advice and information from Maggie’s professional staff. Coming to Maggie’s can help you to make positive changes to your lifestyle. The psychological and emotional support offered has been shown to significantly reduce anxiety and depression, and includes:

Cancer and treatment information
Cancer-specific support groups
Help with understanding and claiming benefits
Exercise and nutrition groups
Relaxation and stress management
Support for family and friends
Bereavement support

For contact details and opening hours, please visit Maggie’s Cambridge website. (opens in a new tab)

Getting to Maggie’s Centre Cambridge

Maggie’s is part of the complex of flats on Puddicombe Way within Addenbrooke’s site. There is a free shuttle bus available to the centre – please ask at any reception desk for instructions.

Maggie's location

Addenbrooke's Hospital
21 Milton House
Puddicombe Way
Cambridge
CB2 0AD

Getting to Maggie's by car

You can get to the main building via Addenbrooke's Road entrance, Francis Crick Avenue. Take the first exit on the roundabout at Robinson Way and then take the first right onto Puddicombe Way. Maggie's Cambridge is in the third block of staff residences.

Cancer Patient Partnership Group (CPPG)

The Cancer Patient Partnership Group (CPPG) consists of patients and carers of varying ages and backgrounds, who work in partnership with hospital staff to improve cancer services by sharing their views and raising concerns relating to cancer care, on patients’ behalf.

You can make a difference to Cancer Services at CUH. If you have experienced cancer services, either as a patient or carer, and want to share your view and work in partnership with staff to improve cancer services, we would love to hear from you.

Find out more about CPPG and how to get involved.

CPPG success stories

Campaigning for clinic letters to be written from clinicians directly to patients, with copies to GPs
Contributing to the redesign of the Oncology Outpatients Department
Contributing to the development of a new finger-prick test for patients to detect the possibility of neutropenic sepsis
Designing and updating the contents of information packs for new cancer patients
Co-designing and contributing to the Cancer Service webpages on the CUH Website
Co-designing the content and starring in the Welcome to Cancer information videos which can be found on the CUH cancer webpages

Telephone and video appointments

We offer in-person, phone and video appointments for new and follow-up care. You’ll be given a set time and date, but your appointment may happen by phone or online instead of at the hospital.

Why has a telephone/video clinic appointment been suggested to you?

Patients often need to travel long distances to attend specialist clinics. The telephone/video clinic focuses on discussion (about progress, medication changes and management planning) rather than a physical examination. Telephone and video clinics are intended to offer you a more convenient appointment during which health issues can be discussed. As you do not have to come to the hospital, this will save you time and travel.

How does a telephone clinic work?

As with any clinic appointment, you will be sent your clinic letter with date and time in the post and/or via MyChart. During your allocated time, you will be asked to remain close to your telephone and ensure it is not in use. The phone number you will be rung on is entirely your choice, however it is recommended that you use a number which is in a location where you feel comfortable and where confidentiality can be maintained, as the content of discussions may include personal information.

Find out more about a video clinic appointments.

What if you prefer to come to a hospital-based clinic?

The choice to attend a hospital-based clinic is entirely yours. The telephone or video clinic appointment is offered to you as an alternative to a face-to-face clinic appointment. If you prefer to attend a hospital-based clinic instead of your arranged telephone or video appointment, please contact the relevant department on the number provided within your clinic letter. Please be mindful of the waiting times for the face-to-face clinic appointments, as these require booking in advance.

You are welcome to attend hospital outpatient clinics as before at any time.

Will you always be followed up in this manner?

Not necessarily. If you have no new symptoms or concerns that need action, then telephone or video clinics are ideal. If we need to see you to undertake a physical examination, tests or investigations, we will ask you to come to the clinic.

What if you are not going to be available at the date and time of the telephone or video appointment?

If you are going to be unavailable for a scheduled telephone or video appointment, it is essential that you contact the department to arrange a different appointment time that is convenient to you, and also to enable us to offer your appointment slot to another patient.

What happens if you don’t answer the telephone or attend video consultation at the time of your appointment?

If you do not answer the telephone or attend video consultation within the first few minutes of your appointment time, it will be recorded that you did not attend (DNA) the consultation.

The Cancer Patient Partnership Group (CPPG) has listed some tips on how to make the most of your telephone or video clinic appointment. You can access them here:

Making the most of your telephone / video clinic appointment.

MyChart patient portal

MyChart is the electronic patient portal at CUH which enables patients to securely access parts of their health record held within the hospitals’ Epic electronic patient record system. It can be accessed via a desktop or smartphone.

Cancer Research UK (CRUK)

Cancer Research UK (CRUK) funds life-saving research in Cambridge, united under the CRUK Cambridge Centre. The Centre brings together over 1,200 world-leading scientists, clinicians, nurses, healthcare professionals and industry partners from across the Cambridge area to tackle cancer from every angle. As a partnership between Cancer Research UK, the University of Cambridge and Addenbrooke’s Hospital, CRUK research is focused on detecting cancer at its earliest stage and treating it more precisely to improve patient outcomes.

CRUK also funds individual researchers and labs across the region, and institutes at the University of Cambridge, including the Welcome/CRUK Gurdon Institute and CRUK Cambridge Institute. The CRUK Cambridge Institute is located on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, just around the corner from Addenbrooke’s Hospital, and houses over 300 cancer scientists researching the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Find out about the CRUK research

You can find out how the research is making a difference to patients by:

In the podcast, the scientists, clinicians, health professionals and patients discuss everything about CRUK work, from how the latest advances in imaging and genomics are used to personalise treatment, to keeping fit with pancreatic cancer. You can also submit your suggestions for future episodes of the CRUK Podcast. (opens in a new tab)

How to get involved

CRUK involves patients and the public at all stages of their work from advising strategy, to shaping the research and clinical trial proposals, and to participating in clinical trials and research studies. CRUK has patient and public involvement (PPIE) groups focused on different areas of research, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, clinical trials and radiotherapy.

If you would like to find out more about the PPIE groups and join CRUK in shaping future research: Email CRUK Cambridge team.

Prescription charge exemption form (FP92A)

To apply for a medical exemption certificate, which entitles you to free NHS prescriptions, you will be required to fill the “Application for prescription charge exemption (medical)” form. Ask your GP or collect the form from the Cancer Support Information Service if you need one. Your GP or the medical team looking after you at CUH will sign the form to confirm that your statement is correct.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

If you, a family member, carer, or friend have any questions, would like more information, or have a concern about your care or treatment, please speak directly with the person providing the care or treatment in the first instance. This could be a nurse or matron, a doctor, or another health professional. They will try to resolve your concerns right away.

If you have tried speaking to a member of staff looking after you and you are still concerned, you should ask to speak to the person in charge. If for any reason you feel unable to speak with the person in charge or talking to them has not helped, please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). The PALS team will listen to you and work with you to achieve a satisfactory resolution whether you are requesting information, providing feedback, raising a concern, or needing information about making a complaint.

Contact Patient Advice and Liaison Service.

If the PALS team cannot resolve your concerns, or if you would like to register your issues more formally, you may wish to raise a complaint.

Carers

Caring often begins at home, but many people never think of themselves as carers: they are partners, spouses, children, relatives and friends.

Carers are people who care for a family member, a friend or another person in need of assistance or support with daily living.

They include those caring for the frail aged, people living with long-term medical conditions, people with a mental illness, people with a disability and those receiving palliative care.

Find out more about support available for carers.

If you have any suggestions or concerns about support provided for carers: contact Patient Advice and Liaison Service.

Food court and concourse

The food court and concourse at CUH includes eating and drinking areas, which are located on level 2 of the main hospital.

The easiest way to access the Food Court and Concourse is via the main hospital entrance.

Please enter the main hospital entrance and turn right. Go through a set of double doors and continue straight; the Food Court is located on the right. The Food Court is approximately 37m from the main hospital entrance.

Wayfinding signage is provided. Opening times may vary.

For CUH maps and additional information on getting around the campus, visit:

Finding your way around CUH campus.

Additional resources for you

If you require more information on a particular topic, or if you have any questions about cancer, please contact the Cancer Support Information Service team.

The team will be able to help you find what you need.

Cancer patient information pack

This page provides an overview of Cancer Services at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH). It is here to help you, your family, and your carers during your cancer treatment.

Oncology and haematology outpatient services

Inpatient areas

Visiting the hospital