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Cancer Clinic - Information in English

Welcome to the Cancer Clinic at St. Olavs hospital. We are a regional university clinic, focusing on patient treatment, research and education of patients and health care personnel. Our treatment options are chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal treatment, symptom relief and palliative care.

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.

Patient information

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.
Some side effects can be long-lasting or permanent. If you experience late side effects that are limiting your everyday life for a long time after treatment has been completed, such as severe fatigue, neuropathy e.g., please contact your GP.

During drug treatment it is important to be as physically active as possible, in order to maintain muscle mass and to tolerate treatment as good as possible. Sufficient food and drink intake is equally important. If you struggle with food intake, there are several courses and diets available that might help.

If you receive chemotherapy, you need to be considerate of your personal hygiene. Waste products from treatment are present in your body fluids 2-3 days after treatment. It is therefore important to be mindful of toilet hygiene, hand washing and cleaning textiles that are in contact with body fluids. For the same reason, use of condom is recommended during sexual activity for the first 2-3 days after chemotherapy.

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

Opening hours:
  • Monday - Friday: 09:00 - 19:00
  • Saturday: 1000 - 1400

Phone 73 86 42 00

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Last updated 9/10/2024