Your visit

Collage of three images. The first image is on a nurse, the second shows a doctor and nurse in consultation with a patient, and the third shows a clinical nurses specialist.

Personalised care

Being told that you have cancer can be a shock and difficult to cope with. You may have concerns about how it will affect your day-to-day life, including losing your independence, your work, your finances and your family members.

Personalised care puts you in control of your care, with help from your specialist cancer team. They will support you to make choices and decisions about your care and how it is planned and delivered.  This will include identifying any areas of concern for you, your family and your carers and gaining an understanding of your physical, emotional and social support needs. Your team will also provide you with information on managing your lifestyle, treatments and therapies available.

The key areas of personalised care are:

Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA)

This is a simple tool specifically designed to help support you. It helps us to identify your greatest needs and concerns. It ensures that your physical, practical, emotional, spiritual and social needs are discussed and addressed. You will be offered a HNA at key points during your care. Once completed a member of your team will then discuss your answers and work with you to develop an individual care and support plan.

Use this link to visit the Macmillan website (opens in new tab) and find out more about an HNA.

Treatment summaries

Your treatment summary will be completed by your clinical nurse specialist (CNS) or doctor. It will outline the treatment you have received, such as chemotherapy or surgery. It will detail any potential outcomes or consequences, as well as cover any signs or symptoms to look out for that may need further investigation. It will also give details of follow up and how to contact your CNS teams. A copy of your treatment summary will also be shared with your GP. This will help them to better support you.

Patient Initiated Follow Up (PIFU)

Your team will advise you if you are suitable for Patient Initiated Follow Up (PIFU), which allows you to arrange appointments as and when you need them. Your team will tell you the signs and symptoms to look out for and how to contact them to make an appointment with any concerns. This helps you to manage your own condition.

Patient Stratified Follow Up (PSFU)

This ensures that at the end of treatment you get the follow-up care that you need. This will depend on a number of factors including the type of cancer that you have, the effects of treatment and if you have any other health conditions. For some patients it may mean that they are supported to self-manage their care with fewer unnecessary appointments, with access to clinical support if there are any concerns.

Wellbeing events

Our teams offer wellbeing events that can help you, your family and friends get the support you need during and after cancer treatment. Your team will tell you when these events are due to take place.

The Fountain Centre is an independent charity based in Royal Surrey Cancer Centre. They look after the wellbeing of anyone affected by cancer, from diagnosis, through treatment and beyond. They can signpost to benefits advisors, as well as provide emotional and holistic support. Use this link to find out more about The Fountain Centre and how they can help you.