Nurse Specialists
Fiona Andersen - Breast Care Nurse Specialist
SEN,RGN,ENB 998(Teaching and assessing certificate), Advanced Diploma in Breast care Nursing from the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, BSc in Cancer Nursing from the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. Lymphoedema certificate from the Royal Marsden Hospital in London 2002, MSc Certificate in clinical breast evaluation and client communication.
Trained in Brighton as an SEN qualifying in 1986. Conversion course in 1989 to RGN. Worked in Brighton in elderly care. Moved to Maidstone Hospital in 1987 working in orthopedics. 1988 moved to general surgical ward as SEN. During conversion course worked for a year at the Medway Hospital. Returned to surgery as an RGN and was promoted through the grades until eventually became ward manager in 1999. Have worked for the Heart of Kent Hospice, gynecology, theatres, medicine and ITU. Applied and got a part time post in Breast Screening whilst an E grade on surgical ward in 1995. Continued with both jobs and studied for the Advanced Diploma in Breast Care Nursing at the Royal Marsden obtained in 1997. Applied and got the post as Breast Care Nurse Specialist at the Maidstone Hospital in 1999, completed BSc in cancer nursing from the Royal Marsden hospital in 2000. Set up nurse led clinic for breast pain 2000, Special Professional interest include psychological morbidity in breast cancer patients, informed consent and decision making issues, sexuality and body image in the breast cancer patient.
Anna Matthews - Breast Care Nurse Specialist
Qualified 1976 Ipswich Hospital Suffolk. Currently employed joint appointment by Maidstone and Tonbridge Wells Healthcare Trust and Somerfield BMI Independent Hospitals. Lymphoedema certificate from the Royal Marsden Hospital in London 2001, Diploma in Nursing Oncology Certificate, Certificate in Breast cancer genetics,
Background. 1982 Appointed Nurse in General Surgery Somerfield Hospital, 1992 Appointed Radiology Nurse Somerfield Hospital, 1995 Completed Breast Care Nursing Course Royal Marsden London, 1995 Appointed Breast Care Nurse Somerfield Hospital, 1997-1998 Completed Diploma in Nursing Studies Canterbury Christchurch University, 1998 Completed ENB 237 Oncology Course, 1998 Appointed Oncology Nurse Specialist Somerfield Hospital, 1999 Breast Care Nurse Specialist joint post Maidstone and Somerfield Hospitals, 2000 Completed Lymphoedema Course Royal Marsden London. Set up nurse led clinic for family history 2000 (currently held 1st Friday each month at Maidstone Hospital.)
Fiona and Anna's role is to give support and information to women with breast cancer starting from the time of diagnosis for as long as we (or you) feel we are needed. We have both been trained in breast cancer and cancer care. You can expect to see us at the time of you diagnosis, when you have had your surgery (as we will visit you at least once on the wards) and when you come back for your initial follow up appointment to discuss any further treatment. Please note that we do not see patients admitted for day surgery only but if you are a day patient and have any concerns, the day ward staff can bleep us for you. We will give you any information you need each time we meet you. We automatically send out a health questionnaire eight months after your diagnosis to see how you are coping. We also contact patients monthly when having chemotherapy, once during radiotherapy and once during noe-adjuvant.
Research Nurses
The Research Team Nurses co-ordinate a fundamental area of caring for women with breast cancer. The research nurses facilitate all patients participating in clinical trials. It is common practice that women with breast cancer are approached to discuss recruitment into clinical trials. The Research nurses will support the process of informed consent through diagnostic screening, treatment therapies and follow up. With over 40 clinical trials studying not only breast cancer but other site specific disease, in the neoadjuvant, adjuvant and metastatic setting we are able to challenge conventional treatments and co-ordinate patients participating in early phase trials undertaking new and innovative treatments.
Treatment administered within trials that have been successfully completed at the Kent Oncology Centre in collaboration with the Maidstone Breast Unit have benefited many patients and resulted in publications and presentations at major international conferences.
The research nurses work closely with all members of the multidisciplinary team specifically the surgeons and oncologists, breast care nurses, pharmaceutical staff and chemotherapy and radiotherapy staff.
