Our cardio-oncology clinic looks after a wide-range of patients before, during and after cancer treatment, for care and assessment of their heart health.
This includes:
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patients who need cancer treatment but need their heart function assessed before treatment starts
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patients who are currently receiving cancer treatment and have developed a cardiac complication
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patients who are clear of cancer but are now suffering from heart problems due to previous cancer treatments.
This service supports oncologists to treat your cancer by assessing your heart function. If we find a problem on the day, your cardiologist will advise on treatment.
You have been referred to the cardio-oncology clinic by your doctor, oncologist, surgeon, anaesthetist, local cardiologist or GP as part of your oncology treatment.
On the day of your appointment
What to bring
On the day of your appointment you should bring:
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an up-to-date list of all your medication including doses (a copy of your most recent, green prescription from your GP is most preferable)
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any medication you will need during the day
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something to read for the breaks
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lunch or some money to purchase refreshments
Please don't bring anything of value with you because there are no storage facilities in the hospital.
You may have an exercise test as part of your cardiac assessment, so we recommend wearing comfortable and loose clothing and shoes, such as trainers.
You're welcome to bring a friend or relative with you for the day.
Finding the clinic
The clinic is held in the Fulham Road building located on the Fulham road, next door to the Royal Marsden Hospital.
Use any entrance to get in and make your way to the lifts, which you'll find near outpatients West. Choose the M level in the lift and turn right when you come out. Walk down the corridor to the mezzanine outpatient area, and the clinic is held there. Please let the administrator know when you arrive.
Arrival time
This depends on the time of your cardiac tests, so the administer making the bookings will let you know your start time.
Your assessment
The tests booked for you should be in the appointment letter sent to you in the post. Your tests may include:
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
This is a simple tracing of the electrical activity of your heart. You will be asked to remove your upper body clothes and to lie on a couch. Small ECG electrodes will be attached to monitor your heart beat. This gives doctors information about the electrical activity of the heart.
The test usually takes 5 to 10 minutes. Find out more.
Echocardiography and stress echocardiography
This is a simple painless ultrasound scan of the heart. It is very helpful in accessing the function and structure of heart valves and heart chambers.
Sometimes we will recommend a second stage, which involves a slow injection (infusion) of a medication via a drip into one of your veins, which makes your heart beat stronger and faster. This is called a stress echocardiography.
The test usually takes 60 to 70 minutes. Find out more.
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) scan
A CMR scan uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of your heart. It gives us information on the structure of your heart and blood vessels and how well they are working.
The test will last for up to one hour. Find out more.
Chest x-ray
This will take place in the x-ray department of the hospital, also called the radiology department, on level three.
This is a standard chest x-ray. You should not have this test if you are or think you may be pregnant.
Blood tests
You will also have a number of blood tests. Some are standard tests to check kidney and liver function and exclude anaemia, others are more specific to heart function. Blood will be taken in the traditional manner from your arm or hand.
If you have been told by your doctor not to have blood taken from your arms please contact the mezzanine outpatient coordinator on 0207 351 8095.
A small tube (a cannula) may be inserted when you arrive at the clinic to help the doctors with their tests.
Test results
After your tests you will see a consultant cardiologist in the afternoon to discuss the results of your morning tests and plan your care.
There is also the opportunity to meet one of the clinical nurse specialists who works with your cardiologist if you have any further questions about your care and treatment.
Sometimes you may need to see the cardiologist again as you undergo your cancer treatment. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you on the day and another appointment will be made for you.
Lunch and refreshments
You will have several breaks during the day. Food and refreshments are available at the hospital or you can bring food with you to your appointment.
There is a small coffee shop in Fulham road which sells light refreshments and a fafe on the ground floor of Sydney Street, close to the main entrance. For something more, you'll find the hospital canteen in the Sydney Street wing, next to the Squire day case unit on level one (the basement) of the main hospital in Sydney Street.
Research studies
During the day you might be approached by one of our doctors or research nurses inviting you to take part in one or more of the research studies currently being undertaken in the cardio-oncology department of the hospital and through collaboration with Imperial College.
Participation in these research studies is voluntary, and will not affect your medical care.
The team
The cardio-oncology service at Royal Brompton hospital is made up of:
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cardiologists
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clinical fellows
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clinical nurse specialists
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administrators and a secretary
The team will assess and, if necessary, treat you.
We often have national and international visiting doctors and nurses who may sit in on your consultations. If you would prefer they didn't sit in, please let reception staff know.
Consultants
Dr Lyon is an honorary consultant cardiologist at the Trust and heart failure lead in the cardiovascular research centre. He is the clinical lead for the cardio-oncology service.
Dr Stuart Rosen is consultant cardiologist at Royal Brompton Hospital and reader in cardiology at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London.
Clinical nurse specialists
Vicki Chambers
Hayley Pryse-Hawkins
Sue Gilmour
Contacting the team
To contact the cardio-oncology team you should contact:
the mezzanine outpatient coordinator on: 0207 351 8905
You can also contact:
Stephanie Harwood (PA to Dr Lyon): s.harwood@rbht.nhs.uk
Telephone: 020 7352 8121, ext 2396