Cancer Clinic - Information in English

The Cancer Clinic is located at the centre wing of the building Gastrosenteret at St. Olavs hospital.

Visiting address:
Prinsesse Kristinas gate 1
7030 Trondheim

Telephone: 
+47 72 82 58 10

E-mail address:
kreftklinikken@stolav.no

Head of Clinic:
Turid Lund

Our clinic consists of an out-patient clinic, a ward, a radiotherapy department,​ a palliative care department, and a department for research and education.

Our approach to cancer treatment is multidisciplinary and involves cooperation between physicians, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, clinical dieticians and clergy.

We treat most cancer diagnosis in collaboration with other hospital departments. Children under the age of 18 are mainly treated at the Children's Clinic.

Drug cancer treatment includes chemotherapy, immunnotherapy, hormonal treatment and a variety of symptom-relieving drugs. These treatments are given in a variety of combinations, and specific information about your course of treatment will always be provided by your physician and/or nurse.

In general, it is normal to experience some side effects from drug treatment. Many of them are temporary and possible to treat, such as nausea and constipation. Some drug types causes hair loss, this will usually cease after treatment is completed.

You should always notify your pysician if you experience any of the following side effects:

• Fever: If your temperature rises to 38 Celsius or more after receiving chemotherapy, contact the hospital immediately. Chemotherapy can in some cases lead to a low count of white blood cells, in which case you will need to be admitted for treatment.
  
• Nausea and vomiting: Contact physician if nausea limits your food intake for several days, or if you vomit more than three times per day.
  
• Bowel movements: Contact physician if you are experiencing diarrhea more than four times per day, blood in your stool and/or constipation.
  

Before starting radiotherapy treatment, you will be scheduled for a planning session, including a CT scan. The radiation therapist marks the area to be treated on your skin, this is to ensure precise positioning.

For most types of radiotherapy to your brain or the head and neck area, you will wear a mask during treatment to hold your head and neck still. The mask fits tightly, but should not feel uncomfortable. 

Each radiotherapy treatment takes 10-30 minutes, and is painless. You will hear noise, but feel nothing. The number of treatments varies, but is usually delivered in a series of daily sessions Monday-Friday for several weeks.

During the treatment series you will be followed by an oncologist and a nurse who will monitor your progression and evaluate side effects. Most side effects are limited to the area treated, such as skin reactions, but you can also experience other side effects, like tiredness and hair loss. If you receive chemo- and radiotherapy simultanously, you are more likely to experience side effects.

Most side effects can be treated, it is therefore important that you speak to your physician or nurse if you experience any discomfort. To better tolerate radiotherapy, it is important that you get enough nutrition and stay hydrated. You should not attempt to lose weight during radiotherapy treatment, and smoking is strongly discouraged.

Download more information about radiotherapy​

​Our department of palliative care consists of an out-patient clinic and a ward, and focuses on symptom control and other challenges that patients and their families experience​ during cancer disease.

We meet most of our patients at the out-patient clinic, often involving a multidiscliplinary team. Doctors and nurses at the department are specialists in palliative care, however other professionals are available when needed, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, clinical dieticians, social workers and religious services.

Patients who are unable to come to the hospital, are offered home visits if they live in nearby municipalities. If the patient experience a worsening of symptoms, he/she can be admitted to the ward for symptom-relieving treatment.

Download information from the palliative care department

• Information from the Norwegian Cancer Society
• Information from the Norwegian Health Services