Plastics

Consultants:

	Professor F Fahmy FRCSI (Plast)
	Mr A Siddiqui FRCS (Plast)
	Miss A Breahna FRCS (Plast), EBOPRAS, MSc, PhD , BSSH and Eur. Dip. Hand Surg
	Mr H Sharma MB BCHIR, MA Hons CANTAB, MRCS(ENG), FRCSI (Plast), Clinical Lead for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Specialist nurses:

Angela Hurst – plastic surgery CNS
Karren Hepworth – plastic surgery skin cancer CNS
Hendesha Patrick - plastic surgery skin cancer CNS

Clinical support worker:

Annemarie Facer

Specialist features of department include:

Elective

Skin Cancer: diagnosis, treatment and follow up
Skin cancer telephone clinic for results
Skin Cancer Clinical Nurse specialist support
We work closely with the Histopathology, Dermatology and Maxillofacial departments in the Countess and with the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and Whiston Hospital/St Helens in order to provide our patients with the most appropriate care
Complex skin cancer surgery
Nurse led plastic surgery dressing
Breast surgery/Reconstruction clinic
Hand Surgery, hand clinic follow up.
General Plastic Surgery.

Emergency

Emergency Trauma Plastic surgery
Combined surgical cases with other specialities (orthoplastic /reconstruction)

Skin cancer

If you have recently been referred or diagnosed with a skin cancer, the information on this page may be of further support for you. The most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma (BCC), Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and Malignant Melanoma MM).

If your GP suspects you have a skin cancer they will refer you to Dermatology or Plastic Surgery via the FastTrack pathway, which means you, should be offered an appointment within two weeks of the referral. When you come to your appointment in the Plastic Department the doctor will ask you questions about your skin and your medical history the skin will be assessed and if a skin cancer is still suspected, then a plastic surgeon may decide to remove (excise) or take a small sample (biopsy) of the area that is of concern. The lesion will then be examined under the microscope by a histopathologist. If a cancer is diagnosed, it is important to remove the malignant cells along with a good area of healthy tissue around the cancer, called a “margin”. Sometimes it may be difficult to stitch the skin edges back together in a straight line. Therefore tissue can be used next to the area of skin (skin flap) or from another place elsewhere in the body to cover the wound (skin graft). The plastic surgeon will discuss this with you in more detail.

If the histopathologist confirms you do not have a skin cancer, then you will usually be discharged. If you do have a skin cancer you may or may not need further treatment and follow-up depending on the type of skin cancer. All scars should be moisturised daily this will help to stop scars becoming lumpy or skin becoming tight around this area.

A diagnosis of skin cancer can bring about concerns, worries and anxiety, these maybe practical, emotional and/or financial. Depending on the type of skin cancer you may need to be followed up for a specific amount of time under a specialist skin cancer nurse who works closely with your named consultant. The nurse will perform full skin checks, lymph node assessments, complete Health Need Assessment (HNA), to support you with any emotional and psychological support. An end of treatment summary will be completed to provide advice and guidance to help identify specific needs and get the best help and support in moving forward with your treatment and dealing with diagnosis

Patients are also encouraged to wear a high factor sun cream, to not get burnt or use sunbeds, and cover up in the sun. Any new or changing lesions on your skin it is strongly advised to contact your Consultant, specialist nurse or GP and to seek further advice.

Below are some contacts that you may find useful for further information and support.

Macmillan Support and Information Centre, Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 01244364948.
Macmillan Cancer Support 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week 8am – 8pm
Melanoma focus
British Association of Dermatologist (BAD)
Cancer research UK
Skcin
Wirral holistic care services
Teenage and young adult cancer services
Maggies
Nhs Sunscreen and Sun Safety
Melanoma patient conference.

If you have previously worked in the armed forces before 6th April 2005 and have a diagnosis of skin cancer you may be eligible for compensation GOV.UK website or contact 0808 191 4218

The Countess of Chester provides a HOPE programme for patients living with cancer, for more information please contact the Macmillan Support and Information centre on 01244 364948

For more information on living well including exercise, diet and how to quit smoking www.nhs.uk/live-well/

The team also work towards improving the plastics surgery service we offer, by listening to patient feedback and acting on any ways that we can enhance the care you receive within our department.

The Countess Charity helps us provide more for our patients her at the Countess of Chester Hospital and Ellesmere Port. For more information please google Countess Charity.