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1. Can you describe what your role is?
Our role as clinical nurse specialists (CNS) is to provide support, advice and clinical expertise to patients with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer who attend the Beatson Cancer Centre. The way we deliver healthcare is ever-changing, our autonomous role allows us to facilitate these changes to best support the patients we serve.
We have many functions within our role. We:
- Discuss and coordinate treatment plans
- Coordinate clinical tests and interventions
- Assist with symptom management
- Are a contact for those who are concerned regarding signs and symptoms of disease recurrence
- Are a friendly contact for reassurance, advice and support
- Offer psychological and emotional support
- Refer or signpost to other healthcare professionals
2. How long have you been in your post?
I have been in post since July 2017 and Carolyn, associate CNS has been in post since Sept 2019.
3. What is the most rewarding thing about your role?
We are in a privileged position supporting patients and their families during very difficult times in their lives. We are awarded with positive feedback and without a doubt, the most rewarding is where patients or their loved ones express that they don't know where they would be without us. This is very humbling and keeps us striving to go that extra mile.
4. What are the most common symptoms of Ovarian Cancer?
- Persistent bloating – not bloating that comes and goes
- Feeling full quickly and/or loss of appetite
- Pelvic or abdominal pain or distension (that's your tummy and below)
- Urinary symptoms (needing to wee more urgently or more often than usual)
- Changes in bowel habit (eg diarrhoea or constipation)
- Extreme fatigue (feeling very tired)
- Unexplained weight loss
We are very privileged to be funded by the Beatson Cancer Charity. Without this funding, patients would be without an essential support service.
Tricia Flanigan, Clinical Nurse Specialist5. What stage in a patient's cancer journey do they interact with you?
We meet each patient and their families on their first visit to the Beatson Cancer Centre. Our guidance and support continues throughout their treatment and follow-up. Women with ovarian cancer often have multiple lines of treatment spanning years so we become a friendly and familiar point of contact.
6. Do you have any advice to give to someone who is going through a cancer diagnosis?
Find out who your clinical nurse specialist is, they will be a valuable contact for you and your family; an easily accessible professional to chat to, a confidant, a resource, a friend.
7. What does it mean to you to be a funded post with Beatson Cancer Charity?
We are very privileged to be funded by the Beatson Cancer Charity. Without this funding, patients would be without an essential support service. We and our team are extremely grateful to have these posts funded by the Beatson Cancer Charity and we know, from the feedback we receive from our patients, that they are equally thankful.
