Skin Cancer services

Please complete the Pan-London Urgent Suspected Cancer form in full, using the current version here: NHS England — London » Urgent Cancer Referrals.  
GPs should upload the referral via eRS.nhs.uk/.  
For City & Hackney GPs, please consider the Isla Teledermatology Pathway for urgent suspected skin cancer referrals that meet the criteria. For suspected melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma, go straight to USC pathway and do not use the teledermatology pathway. Also use the USC pathway if other Teledermatology criteria are not met or a viable photo cannot be taken. 
For confirmation of a GP diagnosis, consider advice & guidance before this pathway. 
The Homerton Cancer Referral Toolkit is for clinicians working in the NHS. It can be accessed by people with an NHS.net email address. This gives more detailed information for referrers, including Teledermatology criteria, to support conversations with patients about what to expect at their appointments.

Being Referred

Your GP (or another clinician) will refer you to us if they think you need checking for skin cancer.  
Sometimes they may take photographs of the lesion and send these to us. The consultant will look at the photographs. This will help them decide if you need to come to hospital. This is called Teledermatology. You can read more about this here: Teledermatology Service.  
They will not take a photo if:

• the area is on your face and could identify you
• it is an intimate part of your body
• you have several lesions that need checking 

At the Hospital 

If you come to hospital, this will normally take around 1 hour. Please try to arrive 15 minutes earlier than your appointment time. If you arrive late, the doctor may not have time to see you and you may need to rebook 
At your appointment, we may ask you to undress so we can check properly. 
We may do a biopsy on the lesion. This is where we take a small tissue sample to check for cancer. Sometimes the biopsy removes all the cancer, especially if it is small. We will send the sample to a lab (pathology) to see if you need further treatment. 
We aim to carry out all tests and give you the results within 28-days. These types of appointments are part of the NHS Urgent Suspected Cancer Pathway. You can read more about this here: Urgent Suspected Cancer Pathway.

Remember - most patients referred this way do NOT have cancer. But it is important that we check you quickly so you can get the best care, if needed.
Please try to come to all your appointments. If you cannot come, let us know as soon as possible on 020 8510 5099.  
 

If you are diagnosed with skin cancer, your clinician will talk to you about the best options for you. We will agree a treatment plan together. We must give you your first treatment within 62 days of your GP referral 

Surgery
 
Most skin cancers can be cured with simple surgery. Homerton Hospital can usually do this type of surgery. This should happen within four weeks of arranging your treatment plan.  
If you need larger or more complex surgery, we may refer you to The Royal London Hospital, Barts Hospital, University College Hospital (UCH) or Guys and St Thomas’ Hospitals.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy uses high energy radiation to treat cancer. If needed, this will take place at Barts Hospital. 
 
Immunotherapy/ Targeted therapy/ Chemotherapy

Some patients need immunotherapy, targeted therapy or chemotherapy. If so, we we’ll arrange for this to take place at Barts Hospital. 

Clinical Nurse Specialist (‘key worker’)

The Skin Clinical Nurse Specialists act as your ‘key worker’. They are your main point of contact and support while you are under the care of the skin team.  
Clinical Nurse Specialists run different clinics throughout the week. They offer:

• advice, information and support to patients diagnosed with skin cancer
• advice on treatment options
• information on any investigations
• referral to another team member
• information on local support groups information on relevant websites and charities 

The skin cancer clinical nurse specialists are: Soumya Sunny and Michelle Marshall. They can be contacted by telephone or email. 
Telephone: 07880 082 067 
E-mail: huh-tr.skincancernursespecialists@nhs.net 
Mondays - Fridays, 9am-5pm 

If you unable to contact the Clinical Nurse Specialist, you can also contact the Macmillan Cancer Pathway Navigator.
The Navigator supports the nurses in their day-to-day activities. As they are not medically qualified, they are unable to give medical advice.  
Telephone: 020 8510 8969  

Our Macmillan Cancer Information and Support service is available between 8am to 4pm, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. You will find our Information and Support Manager by the main entrance of the hospital, next to our Patient Advisory and Liaison Service (PALS).
 
Patients, their relatives and carers can also call us on 020 8510 5191. We can answer questions or direct your call to the right person.  
For more details and contact information, please visit the Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Service webpage

Cancer affects the whole person, not just the body. Cancer Psychologists talk to patients and family members about the emotional effects of cancer. 
You will need to be referred by a doctor or a nurse involved in your care, or your GP. Sometimes we have a waiting list, but we will let you know if this is the case. 
You can read more about this service here: Seeing a cancer Psychologist - Patient Information leaflet 

Financial advice is available from Macmillan Toynbee Hall Welfare Rights Service.
For telephone advice or to book a face-to-face appointment please call the helpline on 020 7392 2958. 

The Skin Multidisciplinary Team is made up of clinical experts from Homerton hospital and St Bartholomew’s (Barts) Hospital including oncologists, dermatologists, radiologists, surgeons, pathologists, clinical nurse specialists and others relevant to your care.  
Each week, other than the first of each month, the team meets to discuss patients with a diagnosis of skin cancer. They will review your information, including tests results, and recommend an individual treatment plan. This will then be discussed with you in clinic. Further investigations may be required, for example blood tests and scans.
 
Dermatology
Dr Anna Chapman 
Dr Pamela Fiandeiro 
Dr Louise Fuller 
Dr Abha Gulati 
Dr Andrew Lock 
Dr Jasmine Mann 
Dr Thomas McLeod 
Dr Mary Sommerlad 
 
Dermatology Specialist Registrars (SpRs)
On rotation from Barts Hospital (changes every 6 months) 
Dr Savitri Chandrasekaran 
Dr Emily House 
Dr Isobel Spring 
Dr Pia Tookey 
Dr Chiedu Ufodiama 
 
Dermatology Band 7 Nurse 
Ms Kunsang Dolma (Medical Dermatology and Cancer clinics) 
 
Clinical Nurse Specialists 
Soumya Sunny 
Michelle Marshall
Telephone: 07880 820 672 
Email: huh-tr.skincancernursespecialists@nhs.net 
Available: Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm