How we keep our information up to date

This page sets out our review policy. It includes information about:

• who reviews our content and when

• reader contributions to Cancer Research UK patient information

• our reviewers

• a glossary of abbreviations

Who reviews our content and when?

Cancer Research UK has a Patient Information Web team. This team develop all the patient information on the site. They then regularly revise it to keep the information up to date.

New content

The Patient Information Web team write and check all new information. Up to two expert reviewers then read all new sections and pages before they go on the website. They make changes and additions to the text. The Patient Information Web Team then implement these changes.

Expert reviewers include specialists in the subject area such as:

• doctors
• specialist nurses
• other allied health care professionals

Our reviewers are listed below.  

Reviewing existing content

For existing content, we have a rolling review programme. We aim to review each section every 2 to 3 years. For most sections on the site, we carry out alternate internal and external reviews.

The Patient Information Web team carry out most internal reviews. Or members of the Cancer Research UK Information Nurse team might do an internal review. Our specialist reviewers carry out the external reviews. They comment on the section and answer questions. The Patient Information Web team then implement these updates.

The team also updates the content between reviews. For example, if there are:

• new National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) or Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) drug guidance
• new drug licensing
• updated treatment guidelines
• major clinical trial results

We also have a team of people affected by cancer (lay reviewers). They review as many sections of the site as possible. 

Reader contributions to Cancer Research UK patient information

Please contact us if you are interested in reviewing a section for us if you:

• have had cancer yourself
• are a close friend or relative of someone who has had cancer

There are guidelines for lay reviewers that you can look at. These give you an idea of what we need and how you can help.

Our expert reviewers

Below is a list of the health professionals that help us review our information. The list includes some past reviewers who still kindly help answer occasional questions, as well as current reviewers.

Xianne Aguiar, lead CNS and service manager for the National Gestational Trophoblastic disease service, South East London Cancer Alliance (SELCA) 

Clare Akers, Clinical Nurse Practitioner, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Victoria Akhras, MBBS (Hons), BSc (Hons), MRCP, Consultant Dermatologist, St. George's University Hospitals Foundation Trust, London

Mr William Allum, MBChB, MD, FRCS, Consultant in General Surgery, Royal Marsden Hospital (Sutton)

Dr Carmel Anandadas, Breast Consultant Clinical Oncologist, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

Miss Amrit Atwal, Haematology/Oncology Pharmacist. University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Lewis Au, FRACP MBBS BMedSci, Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute and The Skin and Renal Units, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

Professor Simon Bailey, MBChB PhD FRCPCH, Professor of Paediatric Neuro Oncology and Consultant Paediatric Oncologist, Great North Childrens Hospital and Newcastle University

Dr Matthew Banks, PhD, FRCP Associate Professor (Hon), University College London

Mr Sanj Bassi, MB ChB FRCS(Eng) FRCS (NeuroSurg), Consultant Neurosurgeon, King's College Hospital, London

Ms Julie Beckerson, Oncology dietitian, Hammersmith Hospital, London

Dr Sam Behjati, BMBCh, PhD, MRCPCH, Honorary Consultant Paediatric Oncologist, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Professor Alison J Birtle, FRCP FRCR MD DipLCM, Honorary Clinical Professor & Consultant Oncologist, Rosemere Cancer Centre, Royal Preston Hospital

Dr Janine Blaney, PhD, BSc Hons Physiotherapy, MCSP, Lymphoedema Advanced Practitioner Physiotherapist, Cancer Centre, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast

Ms Lynda Bramham, Specialist Nurse in travel health, National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC)

Dr Michael Braun, MBChB, FRCP, PhD, Honorary Senior Lecturer in Medical Oncology, Christie Hospital, Manchester

Professor Bernadette Brennan, MBChB, MD, FRCPCH, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist, Clinical Director of Research Governance for Manchester University Foundation Trust, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital

Dr John Bridgewater MA, FRCP, PhD, MBBS, Consultant Oncologist, University College London Hospital

Dr Emma Brown, MBBS MRCP MD, Consultant Medical Oncologist, University Hospital Southampton

Mr. Silviu Buderi, MB ChB, MSc, FRCSEd C-Th, Consultant Thoracic Surgeon, Royal Brompton Hospital

Professor Leslie Bunt, MBE, BA, PGCert.Ed, LGSM(MT), PhD, FAMI, FRSA, Professor in Music Therapy, University of the West of England, Bristol

Dr Amos Burke, MB ChB, PhD, MA, FRCP Edin, FRCPCH, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge. Associate Lecturer at the University of Cambridge.

Miss Josie Cameron, Pg Dip Radiation Oncology, Pg Cert Health Leadership & Management, BSc Radiography (Therapy), DCR(T), Breast Advanced Radiographer Practitioner, Edinburgh Cancer Centre

Dr Dawn Carnell, MBBS BSc MRCP FRCR consultant clinical oncologist head/neck/sinus cancer University College Hospital London

Mr Walter Cazzaniga, MD, FEBU, FRCS, Consultant Urological Surgeon, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London

Mr Vikas Chadha, MS, FRCS, FRCOphth, Consultant Ocular Oncologist, Scottish Ocular Oncology Service, Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology, Glasgow

Mr Manish Chand, MBBS, BSc, FRCS, FASCRS, MBA, PhD, FHEA, Consultant Robotic Colorectal Surgeon and Associate Professor at University College London

Dharmisha Chauhan, MPharmS(IP), Clin Dip Pharm, mBOPA, Oncology Pharmacist, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London

Dr Onima Chowdhury, BMBCh, DPhil, MRCP FRCPath, Consultant Haematologist, Oxford University Hospitals 

Professor Robert Coleman, MBBS, MD, FRCP, FRCPE, Emeritus Professor of Oncology, University of Sheffield

Professor Charlotte Coles, MBChB, MRCP, FRCR, PhD, FMedSci, Professor of Breast Cancer Clinical Oncology, NIHR Research Professor, Honorary Oncology Consultant, University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals

Dr Pippa Corrie, PhD FRCP, Consultant in Oncology, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge

Lucy Cox, MPharm, PG Dip GPP Specialist oncology pharmacist CRUK information lead

Dr Tom Crosby, MBBS, MRCP, FRCR, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Velindre Hospital, Cardiff

Professor Ramsey Cutress, MB BCh MA PhD FRCS, Consultant Surgeon and Professor of Breast Surgery, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton

Pamela Dalrymple, BSc(dist), NMP, Post Grad Cert Advanced Practice, Advanced CNS Lung Cancer, Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Greenock

Dr Ron Daniels, BEM, MBChB, FRCA, FFICM, FRCPEd, Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Professor Brian Davidson, MBChB, MD, FRCS, Consultant HPB and liver transplant surgeon, Royal Free Hospital, London

Elizabeth Davies, BSs (hons) PG Dip, IP, Consultant Pharmacist Haematology, Manchester university NHS Foundation Trust

Catrina Davy, Cancer information specialist, University College London Hospital (UCLH)

Dr Claire Dearden, BSc MBBS MD FRCP FRCPath, Consultant Haematologist, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, and The Institute of Cancer Research 

Mr Debasish Debnath, MS, DNB, FRCSGlasg, FRCSEd, FRCSEng, MD (Aberdeen), PGCertMedEd (Dundee), FHEA, FRCS Gen, Consultant Oncoplastic and Reconstructive Breast Surgeon, First Trust Hospital, Preston, UK. Honorary Clinical Lecturer, University of Liverpool

Dr Nigel Dowdall, Head of Aviation Health Unit, West Sussex

Dr Theodoulos Drousiotis, MD, BSc (Hons), MRCP, Senior Clinical Fellow, St John’s Institute of Dermatology at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Mr Nick Duncan MRPharmS, Haematology Pharmacist, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham

Dr Amy Eccles, MA MB BChir (Cantab), FRCR, PG Dip. Consultant Radionuclide Radiologist, Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

Helen Eftekhari, MRES, MSC (ANP), NMP, BSC (Hons), RGN, British Heart Foundation PhD nurse fellow UHCW & University of Warwick 

Dr Gemma Eminowicz, MBChB, MRCP, FRCR, MD(Res), Consultant Clinical Oncologist, London

Mrs Sarah Evans, Make up artist 

Dr Rob Finch, Chief Executive, The Royal College of Chiropractors, Reading

Ms Jane Fior, Development Coordinator, Cancer Counselling London

Malene Fischer, MD, PhD, DMSci Senior Clinical Lecturer and Honorary Consultant, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences KCL, St Thomas' Hospital.

Mrs Laura Foster, Bsc radiotherapy, Advance Practice Radiographer- PDT specialist at The Christie Hospital 

Dr Daljit Gahir, MBChB, MRCP, MSc, FRCR, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Royal Stoke University Hospital

Dr Mark Gaze, MD, FRCP, FRCR Consultant clinical oncologist, University College London Hospital

Mr Ajith George, Consultant Head and Neck Surgeon, Senior Clinical Lecturer Keele Medical School, Medical Director endoscope-I Ltd

Mr Craig Gerrand, MBChB, MD, FRCSEd, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, RNOH, Stanmore, Middlesex

Dr D Gilligan, BSc, MB, BChir, MRCP, FRCR, Consultant Oncologist, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge

Professor Vincent J Gnanapragasam, BMedSci, MBBS, FRCS FRCSEdUrol, MA, PhD, Professor of Urology, University of Cambridge 

Professor Larry Goodyer, Head of the Leicester School of Pharmacy

Dr John Graham, MB ChB, FRCP, FRCR, Lead Consultant Oncologist, Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton

Dr Andrew McGregor, BSc (Hons), MB ChB (Hons), PGCert Clin Ed, PGDip Genomic med, MRCP (UK), FRCPath. Consultant haematologist, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Patricia Grocott, Reader in Palliative Wound Care, King's College London

Ms Lorraine Grover, RGN, DipPST, Clinical Nurse Therapist in Sexual Well-being, London

Professor Richard Grundy, Professor of Paediatric Neuro-oncology and Cancer Biology, University of Nottingham

Mrs Angie Hack, Senior Lecturer, London South Bank University

Rebecca Hallam, MSc, HEE AP,  BA(Hons) Nursing , Advanced Clinical Practitioner in BMT and IEC, University Hospital Bristol and Weston NHS

Dr Angela Halley, MBBS BSc MSc MRCP, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Royal Marsden Hospital

Professor C Harrison, BM, BCh, MD, FRCP, FRCPath, DM, Professor of myeloproliferative neoplasms, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Ms Trina Herbert, Therapy Radiographer, Royal Marsden Hospital

Ms Caroline Hoffman, Clinical and Research Director at The Haven, London

Professor Beverley Hunt, Professor of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Guy & St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London

Dr Wendy Ingram, Consultant Haematologist, The University Hospital of Wales

Dr Helen Innes, BA MD FRCP Consultant Medical Oncologist, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre

Dr Sarah Jefferies, BSc, MB BS, MRCP, FRCR, PhD, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Cambridge

Professor Robin L Jones, BSc, MB, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Royal Marsden Hospital, and Institute of Cancer Research

Dr Claire Forde, MB Bch BAO, MRCP, Consultant in Clinical Genetics, Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine. 

Miss Sonali Kaushik, MD FRCOG, Consultant in Gynaecological Oncology, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Christian Kelly-Morland, Consultant Radiologist, Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, Department of Cancer Imaging King’s College London School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Science.

Dr Jonathan Kennedy, MBBS, BSc, MRCPCH, Clinical Research Fellow, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton

Ms Clare Lait, BSc(Hons), MCSP, Specialist MSK Oncology Physiotherapist, Berkshire Healthcare Foundation NHS Trust

Dr Kate Lankester, BM BCh FRCR PhD Consultant in Clinical Oncology, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton

Professor James Larkin, MA MSc PhD, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Royal Marsden Hospital, London

Professor Jonathon Lederman, BSc MD FRCP, Professor of Medical Oncology, University College London Hospital

Professor Siow Ming Lee, PhD FRCP. Consultant and Professor of Medical Oncology, University College London Hospital and CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, London.

Dr Caroline Leek BSc MSc PhD FRSA. Director and Founder of the Fruitfly Collective

Dr Mark Lewis, MBBS MRCS FRCR, Consultant Interventional Radiologist, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS trust

Mr Eric Lim, MB ChB MSc MD FRCS, Consultant Thoracic Surgeon, Royal Brompton Hospital, London

Ms Nicola Lister, Bone MarrowTransplant Coordinator, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham

Professor Simon Lloyd, BSc(Hons), MPhil, FRCS(ORL-HNS) Professor of Otology and Skull Base Surgery, University of Manchester, and Consultant Otologist, Skull Base Surgeon and Auditory Implant Surgeon, Central Manchester NHS Foundation Trust and Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Guy Maissis, DClinPsy, Service lead clinical psychologist, Royal Free Hospital, London.

Dr P Mahendra MD FRCP FRCPath, Consultant Haematologist, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

Dr Wasat Mansoor, MBChB, MRCP, PhD, Consultant Medical Oncologist, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester

Dr J Marsden, FRCP, Consultant Dermatologist, Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham

Dr Mary McCormack, BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD, MBBS, FRCR, Consultant Oncologist, University College London Hospital

Dr C McNamara, FRACP, FRCPA, FRCPath, Consultant Haematologist, University College London Hospital

Ms Kim Meeking, Therapy Radiographer, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

Dr ARL Medford, MBChB BSc(Hons) MD FRCP FRCPE FCCP FAPSR FEFIM FHEA PgDip(EBUS) Dip(Clin Risk Mgt), Consultant & Honorary Senior Lecturer in Respiratory Medicine, North Bristol NHS Trust

Zoe Merchant,MSc MRCOT (Specialist Occupational Therapist), AHP Clinical Lead for the Greater Manchester (GM) Prehab4cancer and recovery programme, GM Targeted Lung Health Check Programme Manager, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Mr Nigel Mercer, MB ChB, ChM, FRCS (Eng.), FRCPCH, FFFMLM, LLM, FRCS (Ed. ad hominem), Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, 58 Queen Square, Bristol

Dr Rowan E Miller, MA MBBS MRCP PHD, Consultant Medical Oncologist , University College London and Barts Hospitals 

Mr D Mirza, MS FRCS (ED), FRCS (GLASGOW), Consultant Hepatobiliary Surgeon, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham

Dr Claire Mitchell, MBBS, MRCP(UK), PhD, PG Dip. Consultant Medical Oncologist, Christie Hospital, Manchester.

Dr John Moppett, Consultant Paediatric Haematologist, University Hospitals Bristol, NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Francis Mussai, MA (Oxon) BM BCh DPhil MRCPCH, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Paediatric Oncology, Cancer Research UK Clinician Scientist Fellow, Birmingham Children's Hospital and the University of Birmingham

Amanda Naylor, DipHE Adult - Macmillan Head and Neck Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Milton Keynes University Hospital.

Alia Nizam, MPharm, PG Dip GPP, Darzi Fellow, Specialist oncology pharmacist CRUK information lead

Professor Simon Noble, Clinical Professor Palliative Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff

Professor Christopher Nutting, BSc, MBBS, FRCP, FRCR, Hon FRCSLT MD, PhD, FIPEM, FRSB, FInstP, FBIR, FMedSci, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Royal Marsden Hospital  

Dr Catherine Oakley, PhD, Mphil, MSc, BSc, RGN, Nurse Consultant, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London

Ms Ingela Oberg, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge

Joy Odili, MBChB MD FRCS(Plast), Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Honorary Senior Lecturer, Skin Cancer Clinical Lead, St Georges University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Kai Ren Ong, MBBChir, MD, MRCP, Consultant in Clinical Genetics, West Midlands Regional Genetics Service, Birmingham Women’s Hospital

Dr H Pandha, MB, ChB PhD MRCP FRACP, Consultant in Oncology, St George’s Hospital, London

Jo Parkes, MRPharmS, PgClinDip, IPresc, MSc of Science – Advanced Clinical Practice. Lead Specialist Pharmacist Practitioner - Oncology and Chemotherapy Education and a Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Oncology, Worcestershire Acute NHS Trust.

Mr Arie Parnham MBChB, FRCS(Urol), Consultant Urologist and Andrologist, The Christie Hospital, Manchester

Dr N Parry-Jones, MD, MRCP, MRCPath, Consultant Haematologist, Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny

Ms Poonam Patel, MRPharmS, PG Dip GPP, IP, Lead Pharmacist – Private Care, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London

Dr Piers Patten, MB, ChB, MRCP, FRCPath, PhDClinical, Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant Haematologist

Sam Penry, MA, PGCert, BSc(Hons), FHEA, MAcadMEd, Lecturer in Diagnostic Imaging and Senior Diagnostic Radiographer - City, University of London​​​​​

Hazel Pennington, Lead Operational Radiographer - Protons, Christie Hospital, Manchester

Mr Matthew Perry MD BSc FRCS (urol), Consultant Urological Surgeon, St George's Hospital, London

Professor Sanjay Popat, BSc MBBS PhD FRCP, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Royal Marsden Hospital, Professor of Thoracic Oncology, Institute of Cancer Research

Mrs Susy Pramod, PGCert CliRes, BSc, RGN, Lead Nurse Tissue Viability, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester

Professor Guy Pratt, MB, BChir, MD, FRCP, FRCPath, Consultant Haematologist, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Dr John Ramage, MD, MB BS, FRCP, Consultant Physician in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London

Francesco M.G. Riva, MD, FRCS, Head and Neck & Reconstrucitve Associate Specialist, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London

Dr Clare Rowntree, Consultant Haematologist for the University Hospital of Wales.

Dr Antonio Rullan, PhD, Postdoctoral Clinical Research Fellow, Head and Neck Research Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

Professor Mandeep S Sagoo, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Moorfields Eye Hospital & Barts Health NHS Trust, 
London, UK

Dr Mark Saunders, MBBS, MRCP, FRCR, PhD, Consultant Oncologist, Christie Hospital, Manchester

Dr Matthew Seager, MBChB, MRCS, FRCR, EBIR, Consultant Interventional Radiologist, King’s College Hospital, London.

Mr Michal Sladkowski, MPharm, PG Dip, IP, Advanced Oncology Pharmacist, Cancer Care Centre - York Hospital, York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Mr Myles Smith, MB BCh BAO (NUIG, Ireland), PhD (UCC, Ireland), FRCSI, FRCS, Consultant Surgical Oncologist and General Surgeon, Royal Marsden Hospital, London

Dr Louise Soanes BSc MSc DNurs, Teenage Cancer Trust Nurse Consultant, University College London Hospital

Dr Andrea Stevens, MBBS, MRCP, FRCR, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham

Ms Jan Stewart, Co-Chair, Confederation of Registered Essence Practitioners (COREP), London

Mr Dirk Strauss, FCS(SA), M.Med.(Surg), FRCS (Gen Surg), Consultant Surgeon Sarcoma/Melanoma Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Jacqui Stringer, PHD, BSc, RGN, MIFPA, Clinical Lead for Supportive Care Services, Christie Hospital, Manchester

Dr Santhanam Sundar, MBBS, MRCP, MSc, FRCR, Consultant Oncologist, Nottingham

Joanna Thomson, Registered Nurse, Lower GI oncology clinical nurse specialist. Guys Hospital, London

Dr Alexander L. Tournier, BSc Cantab PhD LCHE RSHom, Executive Director, Homeopathy Research Institute, London

Professor Maxine GB Tran, MBBS PhD FRCS (Urol), Professor in Urology and Honorary Consultant Urology Surgeon, UCL Department of Surgical Biotechnology

Ms Jeanne Trill, BSc (Hons), MSc, Medical Herbalist and Reflexologist, Surrey

Mr George Ttouli, ALIA (dip), MSFA, Independent Financial Advisor, London

Professor Deborah Tweddle, BSc (Hons), MB ChB (Hons), PhD, FRCPCH, Professor of Paediatric Oncology & Honorary Consultant in Paediatric & Adolescent Oncology, Newcastle University and Great North Children’s Hospital, Newcastle

Professor Dame Valerie, J LUND DBE CBE MBBS MS FRCS FRCSEd DMHon FACSHon, Professor Emeritus in Rhinology, UCL & Honorary Consultant ENT Surgeon, UCLH

Ms Margaret Vance, Nurse Consultant in Gastroenterology, St Mark's Hospital

Professor Ajay Vora, MBBS MD FRCPath FRCPCH, Consultant Paediatric Haematologist, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London

Dr Mary Wain, BSc (Hons) MBBS (Hons) MD FRCP, Consultant Dermatologist, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital

Dr L Wall, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Edinburgh Cancer Centre, Edinburgh

Maxene Wickwar, Support and information nurse specialist, University College London Hospital (UCLH)

Jan Turner-Wilson, Oxygen and Respiratory Nurse Specialist, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

Michele Wood, Art Therapist at Marie Curie Hospice (Hampstead) and co-ordinator of the Special Interest Group (SIG) of the British Association of Art Therapists

Glossary of abbreviations