Useful information

If you have been newly diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer or are looking for a second opinion, you can make an appointment via the secretariat on +32 16 34 66 70. Your GP or attending specialist can also make the appointment for you.

Our hospital has two large car parks, ‘Oost’ and ‘West’. Which of the two is the most appropriate for your appointment can be found on your appointment letter. You received this on paper or you can view it via the ‘MyNexuzHealth’ app.

For your consultation appointment or a specific examination, you register at either of the hospital's main entrances. Here you will find both a registration desk and registration machines. As soon as you arrive on the hospital campus, you can also register via the ‘MyNexuzHealth’ app on your smartphone.

For your appointment at the day ward, you can register directly at the reception desk of the day ward. For these appointments, you cannot register via the ‘MyNexuzHealth’ app.

Certainly not. You are always welcome to come to our consultation for a (second) advice. Some treatments can also simply be given in a hospital near you. This is the case for the standard treatments that are approved and reimbursed in Belgium. In the future, you are still welcome to come to our consultation for advice or questions related to your illness or treatment. At each visit, we will check again whether you would be eligible for any ongoing clinical trials.

Some specific treatments, e.g. study treatments, or certain (surgical) procedures are only possible in our hospital. So you cannot get these closer to home. This will always be discussed with you. A treatment option closer to home will also always be discussed, if available, and you will always be free to choose your own treatment.

If you give permission then the physicians can access your medical record via e-Health. Unfortunately, not all information can always be found in e-Health. Some hospitals (especially in Wallonia, Brussels or abroad) share little or no information. It is therefore better that you provide us with all medical data, including all scans, in advance. Before sending this information, it is adviced to discuss the best way to do so with our secretariat (+32 16 34 66 70). It is important that we have the data in advance so that we can study your file properly and propose the right treatment or study to you.

As we are a teaching hospital, at a general consultation you will usually first be seen by an assistant (a junior doctor), a specialised nurse, or a co-assistant / trainee (a student in training to become a doctor). This person will first have a general conversation with you, in which your symptoms and state of health are verified, and perform a clinical examination. The findings will then be checked with the supervisor, after which the decision will be discussed with you. At important discussions, the supervisor will be present. If you come for a private consultation, the supervisor will always be present. Supplements are sometimes charged for a private consultation. Please refer to the UZ Leuven website for details.

As a foreign patient, you must register via a specific form on the hospital's website (https://www.uzleuven.be/en/consultation-and-admission/admission/international-patients). Through this form, you can provide us with all necessary details about any previous investigations and treatments. After checking your file, an appointment will be scheduled and you will be notified accordingly. The first contact, including (radiological) examinations and discussion at the team meeting, is always at the patient's expense. You should therefore check in advance with your health insurance company whether it will reimburse the cost of your appointment.

Using the ‘MyNexuzHealth’ app or website, you can view your future appointments and find the information letter with more information.

The Gynaecological Oncology consultation, consultation 12, mainly takes place in the orange street, gate 2, floor 0. Some appointments take place at consultation 7, in the red street, gate 4, floor 1. You will always find the correct location on your appointment letter.

At the general consultation, you will first be seen by an assistant (doctor-specialist in training to become a gynaecologist), a specialised nurse, or a co-assistant/trainee (student in training to become a doctor). They will first have a general conversation with you, in which your symptoms and state of health are verified, and perform a clinical examination. They will check the findings with the supervisor, after which the decision will be discussed with you. In important discussions, the supervisor will be present. If you come for a private consultation, the supervisor will always be present. Supplements are sometimes charged for private consultations. Please refer to the UZ Leuven website for details.

If you are eligible and interested in a clinical study, you will also be seen by a study coordinator who will go over the practical aspects of the study with you.

If necessary, you will be seen by the nurse at the end of the consultation for a blood sample and/or to schedule a new consultation or any additional tests.

No, you do not normally need to be sober for your consultation appointment. However, if this would be expected, you will be informed separately and clearly.

You may be accompanied by one or two adult companions during the consultation. What can I expect when I come to the consultation?

A port-à-cath facilitates blood sampling and should also be used on a regular basis (once every 12 weeks) to prevent blockage. Therefore, during follow-up consultations, your port-à-cath can generally be used to perform a blood draw. However, if your port-à-cath is still used on a regular basis, e.g. for an ongoing treatment, blood sampling at the consultation may still be done through your arm. The reason for this is twofold: on the one hand, each puncture of your port-à-cath carries a risk of infection. On the other hand, the silicone cover of your port-à-cath has a lifespan of about 2,000 punctures and we do not want to put unnecessary strain on it.

For the start of standard treatments, the doctor you saw at the consultation will request an appointment at the day ward. Afterwards, the day hospital staff will contact you for this purpose. You will find that you will be given a whole series of appointments so that your schedule for the coming months/weeks is clear. If you have any further questions about this, please contact the secretariat of the day ward on +32 16 34 88 66.

Before starting treatment in a clinical trial, your study coordinator will make an appointment at the day ward and inform you of this. If you have any further questions about this, you can contact the study coordinator directly on the number you have been given or via the general number +32 16 34 74 19.

If additional tests are needed, they will be requested by the doctor who saw you at the consultation. Afterwards, the nurse will schedule them. If you have any further questions about this, please contact the secretariat on +32 16 34 66 70.

If you are participating in a clinical study, appointments will be scheduled by your study coordinator. If you have any questions about this, please contact this person directly on the number you have been given or on +32 16 34 74 19.

Clinical trials on our service are conducted on patients to find new treatments or improve existing treatments. All clinical trials are strictly regulated and are reviewed and approved by the government and an independent ethics committee before they can start.

New products go through three major phases of a clinical trial before they can reach the market:

- Phase I: the safety and efficacy of a new drug is tested on a small group of patients. There is an intense follow-up of these patients to monitor the absorption, distribution and degradation of the drug in the body and to verify whether there are any immediate side effects. Different doses of the same drug may be tested in this phase to ascertain the optimal dose. Because the safety of the new drug is closely monitored during this phase and sometimes the right dosage is also being sought, patients cannot simply participate. The company provides places (‘slots’) that can be taken by candidate patients. If all available slots are occupied, new candidates must wait until previously started patients have been treated and followed up for a certain period of time before new slots become available. When and how many slots become available is very difficult to predict as it depends on the reactions seen in already participating patients, in hospitals worldwide.

- Phase II: the drug will be administered to a slightly larger group of patients (20 to 100). In this phase, side effects and the dosing schedule will be further investigated, as well as a first look at whether the results are in line with the expectations.

- Phase III: in a large group of patients (>100), it will be seen whether the drug produces the expected results and whether there are any rare side effects. In some cases, the treatment will be compared with a standard treatment or, if no good alternative is available, a placebo (fake product). This is done to get an objective result on the drug's efficacy. So in a phase III study, it is not always certain that you will receive the drug which is studied.

- Phase IV: after completing the previous phases, the company can apply to market the product. Once the medicine is approved and freely available, further studies are sometimes carried out to see what the long-term results are and if any very rare side effects appear.

Clinical studies must always be approved by the government and an independent ethics committee before they can start. The ethics committee assesses for each study whether the benefits of the new treatment outweigh the risks involved. However, you should not take the approval of the clinical trial by the government and the ethics committee as an incentive to participate as your personal assessment of the benefits and risks may be different.

No, participation in a clinical trial is always a free choice. In addition to the study, we will always discuss with you what our treatment would be if you do not participate in a study. If you choose not to participate in a study, this will not affect your relationship with the medical team or your further treatment.

Be sure to take your time to think about the possible participation in a clinical study. Our doctors and study coordinators are ready to answer all your questions. Therefore, never hesitate to ask them. When discussing a clinical trial, you will always receive an information brochure with the necessary contact details.

If you choose to participate, you may also stop your participation at any time. Taking part in a clinical trial sometimes means that you will have to come to hospital more often. The doctor may also perform extra examinations or take blood samples a little more often, for example. This requires an extra effort from you. Think about this carefully in advance.

You have the right to stop your participation in the clinical trial at any time. This can happen before treatment has started, during treatment or during the follow-up period after treatment. You can communicate your decision at your next visit to our centre or contact the responsible study coordinator. If the contact details are not available to you, you can always reach the study team on the general number +32 16 34 74 19.

Clinical trials investigate new drugs for their efficacy and safety. Taking part in a clinical trial therefore means you have a chance of getting new medication before it is on the market. Treatments that we currently consider ‘standard care’ were also investigated through clinical trials in the past. So by participating in studies, you too can help advance cancer research and new treatments and make a difference for future patients. However, keep in mind that not all treatments work for all patients. This is also the case for study medication.

Additionally, you will be monitored very closely by the study staff, so any problems or discomforts can be detected and addressed more quickly.

Every new treatment carries a certain risk of, hitherto unknown, side effects. The foreseeable risks are minimised and weighed by an ethics committee. The doctor will go over these risks with you before you decide to participate in a clinical trial.

During a clinical trial, you may need to come to the hospital more often than usual, for additional check-ups or investigations, for example. You may also have to stay in hospital longer than usual to be followed up for a certain period of time after your treatment. Furthermore, additional guidelines may be imposed from the study for some visits, such as to come sober or at a certain time. Your doctor and study coordinator will discuss this with you before you decide to participate in a clinical trial.

This is not a problem, as it is your own free choice whether or not to participate in a study. You may indicate at any time that you do not wish to participate. This may happen when the doctor first mentions the trial, during the practical explanation or during your reflection time at home. If you have already signed the informed consent brochure, you also still have the right to stop your participation. Your decision not to participate in the proposed clinical trial will not affect your relationship with the medical team or your further treatment.

You can communicate your decision to the doctor or study coordinator who informs you about the study or via the contact details of the responsible study coordinator given to you on the informed consent brochure. If the contact details are not available to you, you can always reach the study team via the general number +32 16 34 74 19.

The necessary appointments for follow-up or start-up of standard treatment will be made for you.

All examinations and treatments carried out specifically as part of the study will be reimbursed by the company or project conducting the study, so you will not be billed for these.

Treatments and investigations that you would also receive if you were not participating in the study, so-called ‘standard care’, will be billed to you and your health insurance company as usual. So, participation in a clinical study does not mean that all expenses are borne by the company or project running the study.

If you have any questions about this, you can always contact your study coordinator. If the contact details are not available to you, you can always reach the study team via the general number +32 16 34 74 19.

No, you will not be paid for your participation in a clinical trial. However, an expense allowance is often provided for, among other things, your transport costs. This is specifically mentioned in the study's information brochure.

If you receive the proposal to participate in a clinical trial, this indicates that the medical team expects that you may have a potential benefit. However, another choice is always possible, depending on your situation. The medical team will discuss these with you so that you can reflect about the benefits and risks and make an informed decision. Participation in a clinical trial is always your own free choice. The decision not to participate will not affect your relationship with the medical team or your further treatment.

You can always contact your study coordinator. You can find this person's contact details on the informed consent brochure. Never hesitate to ask your questions or pass on your comments or concerns. If the contact details are not available to you, you can always reach the study team on the general number +32 16 34 74 19.

A clinical trial is extensively evaluated by the authorities and an independent ethics committee to check that all risks are minimised. However, unexpected problems during the course of a study can never be ruled out. Therefore, a ‘faultless’ liability insurance is mandatory for every clinical study. Any damage you might incur as a result of your participation in a clinical study is thereby always compensated, without having to prove fault. However, this insurance does not cover costs caused by the natural course of your disease, side effects of standard treatments or investigations or problems that are clearly independent of your participation in the study.

The Gynaecological Oncology day ward, day ward 5, can be found on the yellow Street, gate 4, floor 2.

You can register directly at the day ward and therefore do not have to pass by the hospital registration desk. A visit to the day ward counts as a day admission, which means you will have an identification bracelet on your wrist. Therefore, you cannot register via the ‘MyNexuzHealth’ app.

Parking ‘West’ is best suited if you are coming to the day ward.

On arrival at the day ward, you will be assigned a place or asked to take a seat in the waiting room for a while. In either case, you will first be seen by a nurse. This nurse will check how you have been, take your blood pressure, temperature and weight and take your blood sample. Allow at least 1.5 hours for the results of your blood test to be known.

An assistant (doctor-specialist in training to become a gynaecologist), a specialised nurse, or a co-assistant/intern (student in training to become a doctor) will examine you clinically and discuss any symptoms and changes in your home medication. If you are participating in a clinical study, you will also be seen by a study coordinator.

The assistant or trainee will discuss your file with the supervisor. Once your blood results are known and no problems are noted, your therapy can be prescribed. After validation by the supervisor, the pharmacy receives the prescription and can start preparation. If abnormal values are shown on your blood test, your treatment may have to be postponed or adjusted, your home medication may have to be adjusted or additional tests may have to be carried out. The doctor will discuss this with you.

Allow at least 1 hour for your medication to be prepared at the pharmacy. Certain products have a longer preparation time. Once the medication is finished and arrived at the day room, the treatment will be started by nurses. If you are given a drip, some post-treatment flushing will be done. After the end of your treatment, if you feel well and no other examinations are planned, you can normally leave for home. Some therapies require you to stay in hospital for a certain time after administration for observation. Some clinical trials may also require you to stay longer, for observation or to carry out additional blood tests or investigations. If it is necessary for you to stay longer in the day hospital after the end of your treatment, the doctor will discuss this with you in good time.

More information can be found in our brochure ‘Oncology day care hospitals welcome brochure’: https://www.uzleuven.be/en/brochure/700773.

No, normally you do not need to be sober for your appointment. If this is nevertheless necessary, the doctor or study coordinator will discuss this with you timely.

During your visit at the day ward, you may be accompanied by 1 adult companion.

This depends very much on the treatment you receive and any unforeseen investigations or circumstances. We can never tell you for sure in advance when you will be able to return home. Be sure to provide a book or magazine to spend your time with us.

More information can be found in our brochure ‘Oncology day care hospitals welcome brochure’: https://www.uzleuven.be/en/brochure/700773.

Tumour markers are not stable values; they fluctuate depending on certain circumstances. For example, an infection or a recent operation will increase your tumour marker. Testing your tumour marker too often shows small fluctuations, while only the overall picture of stabilisation or a steady rise or fall is important.

The main way to monitor the evolution of your disease is a radiological examination, such as a CT or MRI scan. The tumour marker is considered an indicator to check in between whether a treatment seems to be working. It is also used during follow-up to assess whether the disease is still under control. However, decisions are almost always made on the basis of a scan.

You will find the Gynaecological Oncology hospitalisation ward, hospitalisation 9, on the red street, gate 4, floor 3.

Parking ‘West’ is best suited if you are coming to the hospitalisation ward.

You can register for your planned hospital admission at the hospital registration desk. This can be found both at the main entrance via the ‘West’ and ‘Oost’ car park.

You will not be able to register via a registration kiosk or the ‘MyNexuzHealth’ app because you will have to sign an admission statement and get an identification bracelet round your wrist.

If you should need to register for a scheduled admission outside the registration desk's opening hours, you may go directly to the hospitalisation ward. Nursing staff will then do the necessary there.

Visits to the ward are allowed between 4pm and 8pm for a maximum of 2 hours in total. A maximum of 3 people may be present with you at the same time during the visit. During the weekends visit is allowed from 2pm onwards.

If you are participating in a clinical trial, you can always contact your study coordinator for more information. If you do not have contact details available, you can always reach the study team via the general number +32 16 34 74 19.

If you are not participating in a clinical study, you can always contact us for more information on +32 16 34 46 34 (during working hours).

If you are admitted to another hospital during your participation in a clinical trial, you or someone close to you should contact your study coordinator as soon as possible. If the contact details are not available to you, you can always reach the study team via the general number +32 16 34 74 19. The study team should report information about your admission to the relevant company within 24h.

If you are not participating in a clinical study at the time of your admission, your treating physician will contact our medical team if necessary. If you wish to contact us yourself, you can always do so by calling +32 16 34 07 98 (during working hours).

No, normally you do not have to be sober for your examinations. However, if this is necessary for e.g. an ultrasound, CT or MRI scan or a particular blood test, the doctor or study coordinator will discuss this with you timely.

If you are participating in a clinical study, you can always contact your study coordinator. If the contact details are not available to you, you can always reach the study team via the general number +32 16 34 74 19.

If you are not participating in a clinical study, you can always contact us on +32 16 34 46 34 (during working hours).

You will always find the correct internal ‘address’ of the department on your appointment letter. This ‘address’ always consists of the colour of a street, a gate number and a floor number, possibly followed by a sequential letter.

First, use the signposts to get to the right street. Once there, follow the signs to the right gate. Use the stairs or lifts at that gate to get to the floor where your appointment is. There, use the arrows to go to the right department.

If in doubt, never hesitate to speak to a volunteer or hospital staff member.

All reports of your visits to the consultation or day ward and your examinations, including blood tests and biopsies can be found in the ‘MyNexuzHealth’ app or via www.mijngezondheid.be. Reports and examination results become available only after validation by the supervisor.

Yes, for a gynaecological cancer MRI scan, it is always necessary to drink pineapple juice and be sober, even if this is not always mentioned on your appointment letter. You should remain sober 3 hours before the start of the scan. Two hours before the start of the scan, you should start drinking 1 litre of pineapple juice to ensure sufficient contrast in your intestines. You can collect a bottle of pineapple juice from the radiology department (yellow street, gate 2, floor 0). This can be done either on the day of your appointment, in which case you must be present 3 hours in advance, or in advance, in which case you can start drinking at home and must be present 45 minutes in advance. You can also buy a bottle of pineapple juice yourself in any shop, in which case you can also start drinking at home and must be present 45 minutes in advance.

Both examinations have their own advantages and limitations. Follow-up of your disease is done with a CT scan whenever possible. The dimensions of your lesions can be monitored in the easiest way with a CT scan. An MRI scan will be performed if your lesions are not sufficiently visible on a CT scan or to verify whether you are eligible for surgery.

Even if you have already had one or more biopsies or surgeries in the past, a new biopsy may still be needed. There may be several reasons for this. Additional research may need to be done on tumour tissue to check whether you are eligible for a particular new treatment or clinical trial. In case insufficient tissue is available or in case it was collected too long ago, it may be necessary to perform a new biopsy. Also, if there is doubt about the character of a particular lesion and radiological studies are inconclusive, a new biopsy may be appropriate to ensure that you receive the best possible treatment.

In this case, it is best to go to the hospital's emergency department. If you cannot come to UZ Leuven, you can always go to an emergency department of a hospital near you.

If the symptoms are serious but insufficient to go to the emergencies immediately, or if you are worried, you can always contact us for further advice. If you are participating in a clinical trial, it is best to contact your study coordinator. If the contact details are not available to you, you can always reach the study team via the general number +32 16 34 74 19. If you are not participating in a clinical study, you can always contact us on +32 16 34 74 19 (during working hours) or +32 16 34 07 98 (outside working hours).

The possible side effects you may experience depend very much on which treatment you receive. You will always be informed about them in detail by the doctor before your treatment starts. During the course of your treatment, you can always ask the nurse, the doctor or, if you are taking part in a clinical trial, the study coordinator for additional questions about side effects.