Patient booklets

After your CT contrast/dye injection [PDF, 103 KB]

After your CT contrast/dye injection, we will ask you to wait in the department with the cannula in your arms for 15 minutes. We keep the cannula in place in case we need to give you some medication if you have a reaction.

You can also read this information in an accessible format on our After your CT contrast/dye injection page.

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) [PDF, 101 KB]

Enterobacteriaceae are bacteria that usually live harmlessly in the gut of humans. However, if the bacteria get into the wrong place, such as the bladder or bloodstream, they can cause infection.

Some strains of these bacteria are resistant to some antibiotics – so if you are infected with these bacteria, we will need to treat you a little differently to stop the bacteria spreading.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) [PDF, 101 KB]

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a non-invasive method used to assess the performance of the heart and lungs at rest and during exercise. This leaflet covers when you might need a CPET and what this involves.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: information for patients and carers [PDF, 144 KB]

This leaflet explains what cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is, how decisions about CPR are made, and how you will know whether CPR is relevant to you.

Care of your central venous catheter [PDF, 1,421 KB]

This booklet contains information about central venous catheters (CVC). These are sometimes called long lines or Hickman® catheters.

The first part of the booklet describes what they are and how they are put in. Please make sure you read all this section before you have your line inserted. The second part of the booklet tells you how to care for the line and answers some frequently asked questions.

Cervical (neck) lymph node dissection [PDF, 145 KB]

The surgery you are going to have is a cervical lymph node dissection or clearance. This means removing the lymph nodes or glands from one or both sides of the neck. There are various types of surgery to remove neck lymph nodes. It is major surgery and is carried out under a general anaesthetic.

Changes to your voice during and following radiotherapy [PDF, 114 KB]

Radiotherapy can result in a dry, sore and swollen throat. Radiation to the larynx will affect your vocal cords, producing changes to your voice. This leaflet covers how you can protect your voice, and what treatment the speech and language department at The Christie can offer for this.

Checking your blood glucose levels [PDF, 116 KB]

A booklet outlining how and why the nurse checks your blood glucose levels.

Chemo-radiotherapy to the head and neck: swallowing difficulties [PDF, 103 KB]

Swallowing difficulties are common after chemo-radiotherapy to the head and neck, as movements to the structures essential for swallowing, such as the tongue and larynx (voice box), may be impaired. This leaflet covers some of the difficulties you might face, and what treatment a speech and language therapist can offer for this.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell (CAR T cell) Therapy [PDF, 94 KB]

CAR T cell therapy is a new treatment. It involves using your own body’s immune system to treat your cancer. Our immune systems monitor for unhealthy cells or foreign invaders such as infection or viruses. It uses several kinds of blood cells to destroy anything unfamiliar by recognising the unique protein (antigen) and identifying them as foreign.

Cholangiogram [PDF, 109 KB]

This leaflet tells you about the procedure known as a cholangiogram. It explains what is involved and what the benefits and risks are. It may make you think of things you would like to discuss with your doctor.

Clinical trials at The Christie [PDF, 135 KB]

The Christie is an international leader in cancer research and therefore you may be approached to take part in a research study or clinical trial. All information will remain entirely confidential, and you will always be approached directly to take part in a clinical trial.

Clonazepam 1mg/1ml injection (Rivotril®) [PDF, 112 KB]

Clonazepam is used to treat pain that is difficult to control. The possible benefits of treatment vary; your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist will be happy to answer any questions you have about your treatment.

Clonazepam tablets [PDF, 112 KB]

Clonazepam is used to treat pain that is difficult to control. The possible benefits of treatment vary; your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist will be happy to answer any questions you have about your treatment.

Coeliac plexus blockade [PDF, 104 KB]

Your doctor has suggested that you may benefit from this procedure. It is a specialised type of nerve block that is usually used to treat cancer pain arising from the organs of the upper abdomen.

Collecting peripheral blood stem cells [PDF, 109 KB]

This information is written to guide you through each stage of the stem cell or bone marrow collection process. The clinical apheresis unit forms part of the haematology and transplant day unit and is run by specially trained nurses who will co-ordinate and carry out your stem cell collection.

You can also read this information in an accessible format on our Collecting peripheral blood stem cells page.

Colon transit X-ray examination [Word, 180 KB]

A colon transit examination is used to find out how long it takes for food to pass through your colon (large bowel). You will have 6 capsules to take over 3 consecutive days.

Colonic stent – your procedure explained [PDF, 567 KB]

This leaflet tells you about the procedure called a colonic stent. It explains what is involved, and the benefits and risks. It may make you think of things you would like to discuss with your doctor.

Colorectal and peritoneal oncology centre [PDF, 133 KB]

This leaflet cover things you need to remember when you’re discharged from The Christie after abdominal surgery, including recovery time, wound care and when you can expect to be able to walk again.

Colorectal cancer and cytoreductive surgery with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) [PDF, 118 KB]

Surgery has traditionally not been used with the intention of curing the cancer when it spreads to the peritoneum. However, there is evidence that if the size and spread of the cancer is limited then a special surgical technique called 'cytoreductive surgery' that removes all the visible disease can be helpful.

Coming to the proton beam therapy centre at The Christie [PDF, 2,751 KB]

Proton beam therapy is a type of radiotherapy. Protons are small particles found in the middle of atoms. They can be used to give carefully calculated doses of radiation to treat diseases. This means the dose to the tumour can be given very accurately and there is little or no dose to normal tissue past the tumour.

You can also read this information in an accessible format on our What happens when you are approved for proton beam therapy at The Christie page.

Complementary health and well-being [PDF, 785 KB]

A guide for patients and their carers to the complementary health and well-being service at The Christie.

Complex discharge team [PDF, 100 KB]

Most inpatients will be given a predicted discharge date soon after their admission to hospital. This is widely recognised as good practice and improves the patient’s experience, helping them to feel more in control.

Concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy for sarcoma [PDF, 136 KB]

Radiotherapy is used with chemotherapy to reduce the number of cancer cells, which could be circulating around your body and to shrink your cancer prior to radiotherapy. This leaflet covers what happens when you’re receiving both treatments for sarcoma.

Consultation with a fertility doctor [Word, 162 KB]

Your breast care nurse, breast surgeon or doctor will have already told you that some treatments for breast cancer are likely to affect your ability to have children naturally (your fertility). Because of this you have been offered a consultation with a specialist fertility doctor at St Mary’s Hospital.

Contrast Enema [Word, 97 KB]

In a contrast enema, contrast dye is injected through a tube and series of X-rays are performed to examine your lower bowel.

Cortisol day curve [PDF, 103 KB]

This is an information sheet about the coristol day curve to check how much cortisol a body is producing.

CT colonography scan [PDF, 85 KB]

This information tells you about CT colonography. This is a test to look inside your abdomen and bowel for any abnormality. This leaflet explains how the test is done, the risks involved and what to expect.

Cystectomy and Anterior Pelvic Clearance for women [PDF, 154 KB]

Cystectomy is the medical term for removal of the bladder. Cystectomy is sometimes referred to as a radical cystectomy or may be a component of a larger operation called an anterior pelvic clearance where additional structures are removed.

Cystectomy for men [PDF, 195 KB]

Cystectomy is sometimes referred to as a radical cystectomy, a cystoprostatectomy or a cystourethrectomy. A cystectomy and a radical cystectomy involve the removal of the entire bladder and the prostate gland (see diagram below). A cystourethrectomy involves the removal of the bladder, prostate and urethra (water pipe).

Cystogram [PDF, 110 KB]

This leaflet tells you about the procedure known as a cystogram. It explains what is involved and what the benefits and risks are. It may make you think of things you would like to discuss with your doctor.

Day-to-day pathway for colorectal and peritoneal oncology centre patients [Word, 212 KB]

The following information describes the pathway when you come to The Christie for surgery for a peritoneal tumour beginning with the visit to the pre-operative assessment clinic, admission to the ward, what happens on the day of surgery, on the oncology critical care unit, return to the ward and going home.

Having a colonoscopy [PDF, 607 KB]

Your doctor or nurse practitioner has recommended that you have a colonoscopy. This is a procedure to look at the lining of your large bowel.

How to give a compliment, raise concerns or make a complaint [PDF, 277 KB]

At The Christie, we welcome any feedback that you can give us – good or bad – about any aspect of your contact with the hospital. We need to know if we are not providing you or your relative or friend with a good service. We also like to know when we are getting things right.

You can also read this information in an accessible format on our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) page.

Information about your cardiac scan [PDF, 143 KB]

A cardiac scan or cardiac ventriculography is used to evaluate the function and efficiency of your heart, especially the left ventricle which pumps blood around your body. It provides moving images of the blood flow through the heart which we can see on a gamma camera.

Information for patients about carbapenemase-producing enterobacteriaceae (CPE) screening [PDF, 101 KB]

Enterobacteriaceae are bacteria that usually live harmlessly in the gut of humans. However, if the bacteria get into the wrong place, such as the bladder or bloodstream, they can cause infection.

Information for patients with Clostridium difficile infection [PDF, 106 KB]

Clostridium difficile (also known as C.diff, CDI), is a bacterium that can cause infections in the bowel. The symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and sometimes fever.

Information on central venous catheters [Word, 322, KB]

This advice for district nurses covers what you need to know if your patient has had a tunnelled central venous catheter (Hickman® line) inserted recently, and what care you’ll need to give.

Managing anxiety about COVID-19 [PDF, 156 KB]

We are being asked to take unusual measures to reduce the rate at which COVID-19 spreads in the population. A near-constant stream of news reports about an outbreak can cause anyone to feel threatened.

The complex and recurrent gynaecological oncology (CAReGO) service [PDF, 101 KB]

The CAReGO service supports patients with gynaecological cancers. You may be referred to The CAReGO team for specialist support with managing your disease. We can help you at any time before, during or after your cancer treatment.

Use of the CADD Solis VIP pump at home [PDF, 530 KB]

The CADD Solis pump is an electronic pump designed to administer your treatment whilst you are at home. You may also have a Baxter infusor pump attached containing normal saline to ensure your line doesn’t block between treatments. This leaflet covers how the machine works and how to deal with any alarms that might go off.