{"id":664,"date":"2026-05-07T11:48:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T10:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/?page_id=664"},"modified":"2026-05-07T11:48:43","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T10:48:43","slug":"our-care-pathway","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/our-care-pathway\/","title":{"rendered":"Our care pathway"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Every patient\u2019s journey is individual. The timeline below provides a general overview of what often happens when you are referred to the Gynaecological Oncology service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Referral and first clinic appointment<\/h2>
\n

You are referred to the Gynaecological Oncology team because of symptoms, scan findings, or test results that need specialist assessment. A referral to our team does not always mean you have cancer; sometimes we are asked to see patients as they needed specialist surgery or management. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At your first appointment, the surgical gynaecological oncology team will:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Review your symptoms and previous tests<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • You may be examined in this appointment, which can include a vaginal examination and biopsies as necessary<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Discuss what is already known and what is still unclear<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Plan further investigations if needed<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • This appointment is about working towards a clear diagnosis<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Investigations and diagnosis<\/h2>
    \n

    Further tests may be arranged, such as scans, blood tests, or biopsies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    These investigations help us understand:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Whether cancer is present<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • The type of cancer<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • How far it has spread<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Results are reviewed carefully and discussed by the specialist team<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Multidisciplinary team discussion<\/h2>
      \n

      Your case is discussed at a specialist multidisciplinary team meeting. This brings together surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and specialist nurses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The team agrees:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • The most appropriate treatment options<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Whether surgery is recommended<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Whether other treatments (such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiotherapy) should be involved<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Treatment planning appointment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        You will be seen in clinic to discuss the results and recommended options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        At this appointment, we will aim to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        • Explain the findings in clear terms<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Talk through treatment options, including alternatives<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Discuss risks, benefits, and expected recovery<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Answer your questions<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Decisions are made jointly with you. There is no one-size-fits-all approach<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

          Preparing for surgery (if surgery is planned)<\/h2>
          \n

          If surgery is part of your treatment, preparation may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          • Assessment by the anaesthetic team<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Input from dietetics or prehabilitation services<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Ongoing support from your Clinical Nurse Specialist<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Coordination by the administrative team<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • This stage is focused on optimising safety and recovery<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

            Surgery and hospital stay<\/h2>
            \n

            On the day of surgery:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            • You will meet your surgical team<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Consent will be confirmed<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • The planned procedure will be carried out (although rarely we do have to cancel a planned procedure because you are not fit or do to emergency work that needs to take priority)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • After surgery, you may spend time in recovery, on the ward, or occasionally in a high-dependency unit, depending on your needs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

              Recovery and pathology results<\/h2>
              \n

              Tissue removed during surgery is examined by specialist pathologists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              These results:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              • Often take several weeks<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Are discussed again at a multidisciplinary team meeting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

                Follow-up and next steps<\/h2>
                \n

                You will be seen after surgery to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  \n
                • Discuss the pathology results<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Review your recovery<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Agree whether any further treatment is recommended<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Plan follow-up care<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Throughout your journey<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
                  \"picture<\/figure>
                  \n

                  At every stage:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                  You will have access to a Clinical Nurse Specialist, ask questions and raise concerns and your preferences and priorities are central to decisions<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

                  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                  Every patient’s journey is individual. The timeline below provides a general overview of what often happens when you are referred to the Gynaecological Oncology service. At every stage: You will have access to a Clinical Nurse Specialist, ask questions and raise concerns and your preferences and priorities are central to decisions<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":354,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/widewidth.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"class_list":["post-664","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"simonlloyd","author_link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/author\/simonlloyd\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":false,"rttpg_excerpt":"Every patient’s journey is individual. The timeline below provides a general overview of what often happens when you are referred to the Gynaecological Oncology service. At every stage: You will have access to a Clinical Nurse Specialist, ask questions and raise concerns and your preferences and priorities are central to decisions","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/664","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/354"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=664"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/664\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1150,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/664\/revisions\/1150"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=664"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=664"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}