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Enhanced Supportive Care

Living with cancer and after treatment

Enhanced Supportive Care (ESC) is holistic, active care for people living with incurable but treatable cancer. The aim is to step in early to help you maintain a good quality of life throughout your treatment.

How ESC can help

ESC supports you by:

  • managing symptoms such as pain, nausea, constipation or fatigue
  • offering emotional and psychological support
  • providing a safe space to ask questions and talk about what matters most to you

Benefits of early supportive care

Supportive and palliative care, when introduced early alongside your cancer treatment, has been shown to:

  • improve treatment outcomes
  • support both patients and their families or carers
  • reduce stress and anxiety during treatment

Working with your healthcare team

The ESC service works alongside your oncology or haematology specialists. We also coordinate with your GP and other community healthcare professionals when needed.

A holistic approach

In addition to managing physical and emotional symptoms, we can also help you access support for:

  • financial concerns
  • practical issues
  • spiritual needs

Our team and how we work

Our team includes:

  • doctors
  • specialist nurses
  • an occupational therapist
  • a clinical psychologist

We can support you and your family or carer either in outpatient clinics or through virtual appointments by phone or video.

What happens at your initial consultation?

When we meet you and your family or carers, we will carry out a holistic assessment, looking at any physical, psychological, social, spiritual and financial concerns.

We will review any medications to help manage your symptoms and may involve other services, either in the hospital or in the community, to support you further.

We can listen to your concerns about the future and help you explore and express your preferences for the type of care you may or may not wish to receive.

Your outpatient appointment can take up to 45 minutes, and we welcome a family member or carer to join you if that would be helpful.

Follow-up appointments, if needed, can be done face-to-face or virtually by telephone or video.

Key staff

  • Dr Yvonne Cartwright – Consultant in Palliative Medicine
  • Dr Tom Weetman – Locum Consultant in Palliative Medicine
  • Frances New – Clinical Specialist Nurse
  • Claire Traub – Specialist Occupational Therapist
  • Dr Katie Byron – Clinical Psychologist