Miss Rachel Rolph

Written by a NHS patient at Princess Anne Hospital

After many appointments at Rachel Rolph's breast clinic since having the lump imaged and biopsied in December 2021, starting neoadjuvant endocrine treatment in February 2022 and two surgeries in June and July 2022, I'm reflecting on how comparatively calm the whole journey has been so far. It's even more surprising considering this is the first time in my life I've had a health problem that required a hospital visits and my first ever surgery! From the first appointment I've found that Rachel Rolph has a rare combination of great sensitivity, diplomacy and absolute honesty when breaking news, good or bad, also when discussing treatment options, and answering my questions. Rachel Rolph brings a lot of attention to detail in her explanations, and also when answering questions, which has often dissipated my confusion and given me the courage to search the internet and find out more. She also has great listening skills which has given me a sense of safety in the numerous decisions I've had to make recently. In fact, I don't think I've ever felt so closely guided and supported in making decisions before! I was also touched to find that Rachel Rolph talked to me just before going into the theatre and just after I just woke up from the anaesthetic, still groggy and incoherent. Although I'm not an expert in that area, I believe Rachel Rolph's surgery skills must be great too because I never needed fluid to be drained from the wounds neither after the first operation: a mastectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy, nor after the second operation: an axillary lymph nodes clearance. I remember Rachel saying that because my armpits were so small (I'm a 5 foot 2" slim woman) she was hoping to get a few lymph nodes out but it would not be easy, in reality, in that second surgery she got 9 lymph nodes out! I did not need to take pain killers anymore a week after each operation. My scars now look neat and the area of the mastectomy feels smooth and flat. It's now five weeks after the second operation and the mobility of my left arm is nearly all back bar a little bit of "cording". I also feel grateful for the thorough approach Rachel Rolph and the team have taken with looking at this cancer with every possible angle, with ultrasound scans, mammograms and several biopsies in December 2021 and then, running an MRI scan in January 2022 because despite being post-menauposal, my breast tissue still being a bit too dense to see the cancer clearly on the mammograms. Even now that I have had the surgeries, the team has ordered Oncotype DX test to check how actively growing the cancer cells were when I was first diagnosed, before discussing further treatment options. This standard of care makes me feel safe that whatever treatment follows will really be the right one to minimise the risk of recurrence while also minimising toxicity and side effects.

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Listening

Written by a NHS patient at Princess Anne Hospital

Ms RAchel Rolph has been extremely conscientious, thorough, constructive and thoughtful whilst determining and effecting treatment of a suspect lump in my breast. As the second time around with potential breast cancer I cannot but praise her skill as a clinician, nor as a surgeon. Unfortunately (probably due to it being summer holidays) final results from the Path Lab were not available on our last appointment but I have confidence in her diagnosis that this time it was a group of non-invasive, non-cancerous cells. We await the final diagnosis, but I am not concerned about the outcome.

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Listening

Written by a NHS patient at Princess Anne Hospital

Carry on doing exactly what she is doing. She explains everything clearly and does not rush through the appointments.

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Listening

Written by a NHS patient at Princess Anne Hospital

I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and introduced to Miss Rachel Rolph as the surgeon. We met, discussed the diagnosis and recommended surgery, and I was able to ask questions at that first meeting, and before and after the surgery itself. Rachel took a great interest in the whole process, and in me as the patient, and I felt that I had exceptional care from her, and from the rest of the team at the Princess Anne hospital.

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Listening

Written by a NHS patient at Princess Anne Hospital

After being diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time I was honoured to be allocated to Rachel Rolf as my consultant breast surgeon. Rachel’s bedside manner is second to none, she was sympathetic and empathic in her approach to me as a person. Having been through this before I cannot speak highly enough of Rachel, she makes you at ease straight away. Nothing was too much trouble for Rachel and she spent a lot of time explaining my options and giving me what ever time I needed to come to my decision and ensuring I was happy with my choice. Every time we met she always greeted me cheerfully as a person and not just another patient. My mastectomy went very well with a very neat scar and undertaken in such a way to make it easier for me should I decide on reconstruction at a later date. My husband, who attended meetings with Rachel and myself fully endorses my sentiments. He thought that Rachel fully explained all aspects of the treatment and subsequent surgery and it was communicated to us on a person to person level rather than on a consultant to patient level. Rachel is a great ambassador for the breast care unit at Princess Anne Hospital and the whole of the team at the unit are simply the best - thank you for your care during my treatment.

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