Research areas
- Early diagnosis
- Inequalities in cancer outcomes (individually and intersectionally)
- Cancer as a chronic condition: Influence of cancer treatment on people, informal carers, parents, siblings and other family members, including dependent children. Specific interests include:
- Symptom assessment and managment
- Psychological support needs
- Decision making
- Multi-morbidity
- Survivorship
- End of life care.
- Patient reported outcome and experience measures
- Optimising teamwork and patient care
- Digital health/connected health, supportive technologies and web-based programmes to support mental and physical health for people with cancer
- Improving access and equity in cancer care
- Cancer care system policy.
Research methodologies
- Participant co-design
- Mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative)
- Development and evaluation of complex interventions
- Film technologies
- Creative arts based approaches
- Research Priority Setting Partnerships
- Questionnaire design and validation approaches
- Data linkage, statistical and machine learning
- Intersectionality and transformative methods.
Please follow us on twitter for updates on our activities/ publications: @CancerAtSurrey. Please contact Dr Katriina Whitaker (Cancer Lead at Surrey) for further information: k.whitaker@surrey.ac.uk
Surrey Cancer Research Institute Cancer Care Members
RSCH Supportive and Palliative Care Team
Dr Andrew Davies MBBS, MSC, MD, FRCP
Clinical Director of Supportive & Palliative Care Royal Surrey County Hospital
adavies12@nhs.net
01483 571122 ext 6758
http://www.surrey.ac.uk/healthsciences/people/visiting/andrew_davies.htm
http://royal-surrey.net/consultants/d
Dr Kath Webber MBBS, MRCP, PhD
Consultant in Palliative Medicine Royal Surrey County Hospital
kwebber1@nhs.net
01483 571122 ext 6758
Dr Shuchita Patel BMedSci BMBS MSc MRCP(UK)
Clinical Research Fellow
Shuchita.patel@nhs.net
01483 571122 ext 4188
The Multinational Society of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) has defined Supportive Care as "the prevention and management of the adverse effects of cancer and its treatment. This includes management of physical and psychological symptoms and side effects across the continuum of the cancer experience from diagnosis through anticancer treatment to post-treatment care. Enhancing rehabilitation, secondary cancer prevention, survivorship and end of life care are integral to Supportive Care".
The Department of Supportive & Palliative Care provides a comprehensive service for patients receiving treatment for cancer and other serious illnesses at the Royal Surrey County Hospital (incorporating St. Luke's Cancer Centre).
The Supportive and Palliative Care Team (SPCT) consists of two consultants in Palliative Medicine, one StR in Palliative Medicine, 6 Clinical Nurse Specialists in Palliative Care, one Clinical Research Fellow, and associated administrative staff. The Clinical Director of the SPCT is Dr Andrew Davies (Consultant in Palliative Medicine; Visiting Reader at the University of Surrey).
Current research projects include:
- A cluster randomised trial of alternative forms of hydration in cancer patients in the last days of life
Sponsor: University of Surrey || Funder: Research for Patient Benefit Programme (NIHR): £227,583 - The prognosis in Palliative care Study II (PiPS2) Sponsor: University College London || Funder: NIHR Health Technology Programme
- An observational study investigating the prevalence and impact of alcohol-related problems in cancer patients and their non-professional caregivers Sponsor: Royal Surrey County Hospital || Funder: Alcohol Research UK
- An observational study of diagnostic criteria, clinical features and management of opioid - induced constipation (OIC) in patients with cancer pain
Sponsor: Royal Surrey County Hospital) || Funder: Alcohol Research UK
PhD Students
- Dr Shuchita Patel
A feasibility study of the use of actigraphy to determine prognosis in patients with advanced cancer. Dr A Davies, Prof Derk-Jan Dijk
Find out more at:
http://www.royalsurrey.nhs.uk/Palliative-care
Recent Publications
Cancer Care Research Group
Associated Website
Key Contact: Dr Katriina Whitaker
Senior Lecturer and Lead in Cancer Care
k.whitaker@surrey.ac.uk
01483 68 4622
Our mission is to improve cancer care for all. We work with experts from a diverse range of disciplines, including technology, science, engineering and psychology. We work alongside NHS professionals, Government, patients and their families, from the very young, to the very old. When we work together, we create innovative ways of being diagnosed quicker and living well, with and beyond cancer. Our work helps optimise cancer outcomes and impacts positively on experiences of care.
Research interests
Evidence shows that people with cancer have unmet needs, particularly at the point of diagnosis, end of treatment and longer term. Whilst some people feel well, others are struggling with the consequences of cancer treatment, creating a burden of illness that impacts on quality of life, patient outcomes and family life. Early diagnosis is considered a cornerstone of improving cancer survival- and is importantly related to improved patient experience and quality of life.
Our work focuses on changing the way we diagnose and support people with cancer – and families managing cancer – in order to meet increasing demands and care needs. We work across the age span and disease course - from diagnosis to survivorship and palliative care.
Recent publications
Follow our associated website for a list of all publications.
