Urology Consultants

• Nic Munro – Urology Clinical Lead
• Mark Mantle – Urology Cancer Lead
• Matt Hotston – Governance Lead
• Chris Blake
• Liz Bright
• Mathi Murugesan

Oncologists

• Richard Ellis
• John McGrane
• Alastair Thomson
• Duncan Wheatley

Uro-oncology Cancer Nurse Specialists

• Debbie Victor
• Wendy Meyers
• Melanie Murray

Debbie, Wendy and Mel look after patients with prostate, testicular, penile, advanced bladder and kidney cancers. You can contact them on 01872 253143, 01872 252688 or rch-tr.Uro-OncologyCNS@nhs.net.

Urology Nurse Practitioners

• Alaina Howard
• Kathryn McCaffrey

Alaina and Kathryn look after patients who are having investigations for urological cancers and follow up with patients who have superficial bladder cancers. You can contact them at the Urology Clinic on 01872 252220.

Urology Surgical Care Practitioner

• Tim McEvoy

Tim looks after patients who have had a kidney removed and patients with early kidney cancer or superficial bladder cancer. You can contact Tim on 01872 253143 or 01872 252688.

Prostate Cancer Support Worker

• Fran Redman

Fran follows up with patients who have had prostate cancer. You can contact her on 01872 252912.

For your first appointment, you will either be offered an outpatient appointment with a urology consultant at one of Cornwall’s community hospitals, or be invited to the urology clinic at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro for investigation.

Urology Clinic

At the urology clinic, we see people for investigation and treatment of benign tumours, urinary dysfunction and cancer. Depending on why you’ve been referred, you may be offered scans or biopsies for further investigation. You can find out more about the types of investigations we do on the Macmillan website and the Prostate Cancer UK website.

Directions to the Urology Clinic

The clinic is on the second floor of the tower block at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro. The clinic is signposted, left out of the lifts and right out of the stairs.

What happens if you do have a urological cancer?

If you do have cancer, the results of your tests will be discussed by a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT), made up of relevant cancer specialists, such as Cancer Nurse Specialists, urology consultants, oncologists and radiologists. The team will make sure all available treatment options are considered and help you decide on the best course of action.

Active Surveillance or Watchful Waiting

If the cancer isn’t causing you any symptoms or problems, you may not need treatment. Instead you’ll be regularly monitored and have follow up appointments with your consultant at the urology clinic.

Surgery

If you need surgery, we will refer you to one of our partner hospitals; Southmead Hospital in Bristol, Derriford Hospital in Plymouth or the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in Exeter. You can be referred to any of these three hospitals and we’re happy to discuss your preference and help you decide which is the best choice for you.

Radiotherapy

If you need radiotherapy, you’ll come to the Sunrise Centre at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro. Patients who need brachytherapy (internal radiotherapy) are referred to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, or for low dose brachytherapy, you may be referred to Derriford Hospital or Royal United Hospital in Bath.

Hormone Therapy

If you are having Hormone Therapy, this will be managed by your GP, but you’ll remain under the care of your urology consultant and come in to the hospital in Truro for follow up clinics. You can find out more about hormone therapy on the Prostate Cancer UK website, or download a PDF.

Further support and information on prostate cancer

• Prostate Cancer UK
• The Cornwall Prostate Support Association (CPSA) runs a monthly support group in the Truro area. Please ask Debbie Victor or Wendy Meyers for more details. You can also find more information on the CPSA Facebook Page.
• Information about prostate cancer on NHS Choices

After your operation, you may need direct treatment at the Urology Clinic or at West Cornwall Hospital as a day patient.

For more complex cases, you may be offered chemotherapy or radiotherapy at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, or be referred for surgery at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth or the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in Exeter.

Further information on bladder cancer

• Fight Bladder Cancer UK is founded and run by bladder cancer survivors and their families. Their website helps you understand medical jargon, find facts and figures and find tips and stories from other people with bladder cancer.
• Understanding non-invasive bladder cancer – Macmillan leaflet [opens a pdf]
• Understanding invasive and advanced bladder cancer – Macmillan leaflet [opens a pdf]
• Information on bladder cancer on NHS Choices

If targeted biological therapy is an option for you, we’ll refer you to the Sunrise Oncology Clinic here at the Royal Cornwall Hospital. You can read more about biological therapies on the Macmillan website.

Further support for people with kidney cancer

• Kidney Cancer Support Network website
• Kidney Cancer Support Network Facebook Group
• Information about kidney cancer on NHS Choices

You may only need surveillance, in which case you’ll be regularly monitored by your consultant at the Urology Clinic.

If you need further surgery, we’ll refer you to the Royal Marsden Hospital or Royal Brompton Hospital in London.

Further Support and Information for Testicular Cancer

• It’s In The Bag – Charity that offers support for men with testicular cancer and testicular cancer survivors in the south west of England.
• Understanding Testicular Cancer – Macmillan booklet [opens a pdf]
• Information about testicular cancer on NHS Choices

Your initial biopsies and any necessary localised surgery will be carried out by the urology team here at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, but every case is discussed with the expert team in Bristol, led by Mr David Dickerson. Further surgery will usually take place in Bristol.

If you need chemotherapy or radiotherapy, you’ll have your treatment at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.

Further Support and Information

• Information on penile cancers on the Macmillan website
• Orchid – the male cancer charity
• Information about penile cancer on NHS Choices

Most patients will be looked after by Mark Mantle. Mr Mantle carries out keyhole surgery on adrenal gland tumours and any follow ups required. Occasionally patients may be referred to John McGrane.

There is further information on adrenal gland cancers on the Macmillan website.