A primary cancer refers to where a cancer has started. The cancer type is usually named after the part of the body where it first started to grow. For example, a cancer that starts in the lung is called a primary lung cancer.
Introduction
Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) means that your doctor is not sure where the cancer started. They have found a secondary cancer but have not been able to find the primary tumour at this stage. This is when the Cancer of the unknown primary team will become involved in your care. We are a specialist team that will help to try and identify where the primary cancer may have started. This is usually by carrying out further investigations such as specialist blood tests, further scans or by trying to obtain a tissue diagnosis (carrying out a biopsy).
Once these further investigations have taken place, we can usually locate the primary cancer and you will then be referred to the team that looks after that type of cancer. Sometimes, despite us carrying out these additional investigations, we are still not able to find the primary cancer. In this case, you will remain under the care the CUP team and they will discuss with you any treatment options that may be available and provide further support.
The CUP team are here to support you and can offer:
- Information about your cancer, investigations, treatment options and future care.
- Support for you and your family
- Referrals to the neighbourhood nursing team, palliative care team and other teams that can offer advice and support including information on finances
We will keep you updated throughout but should you need any further information/ support, below are our contact details:
Contact details
Sinead Kelly – Clinical Nurse Specialist/Key worker
Leah Leslie – Acute Oncology/CUP service co-ordinator
Dr Rachel Cooper – Consultant
Dr Andrew Viggars – Consultant
Dr Gemma Dart – Specialty Registrar
Urgent contact information
If you need urgent advice outside office hours (Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm) please ring the switchboard on 0113 243 3144 and ask for the oncology bleep holder. It may take a few minutes to be connected.
Useful organisations and contact numbers
Maggie’s Centre
Maggie’s is a warm, welcoming place where you can meet people who are experiencing similar things to you. They run a number of support groups and you can access advice and information from the health professionals that work there. You don’t need an appointment to call in and all support is free.
