Celebrating National Cancer CNS Day at King’s

16 March 2026 - Today is #NationalCancerCNSDay and we are celebrating the incredible work of our Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs).

The brilliant Cancer CNSs who are part of Team King’s provide vital care and support to cancer patients. As the main point of contact, they provide a wide range of support for patients’ physical health and mental wellbeing.

Lisa Barrott, Senior Head of Nursing for Haematology and Cancer at King’s, said: “Our CNSs provide vital personalised care to patients during some of the most stressful periods of their lives. Cancer pathways are complex and navigating them can be difficult; CNSs are there throughout to assist with understanding treatment options and ensuring patients get access to holistic support. The CNS role is always adapting to patient and service needs, and many CNSs now also run their own clinics and services.

“With the new NHS Cancer Plan recently published, with far-reaching ambitions for cancer care, the role of the CNS is more important than ever. I would like to thank our CNS workforce for everything they do, every day for our patients and to say to any budding CNSs out there to come and talk to us about how to develop the skills to join this incredible workforce.”

We spoke to a few King’s Cancer CNSs about why they love their work and the difference they make to patients:

Sam Taylor-Brown, Myeloid Clinical Nurse Specialist explained that she wanted to become a cancer CNS nurse to make a difference to patients’ lives. She said: “Being a CNS means being an advocate for that patient when needed. Being able to explain their journey and the next steps and explaining and breaking down information they may have missed after speaking with the consultants. Being that first point of contact for the patients and their relatives. Being there when they receive bad news but also the good news.”

Sarah Birchett, Chemotherapy Day Unit Manager, told us: “I became a cancer nurse for many reasons, first, because it’s so interesting, it’s a fast-paced discipline where research brings new treatments pretty much all the time. This helps to bring hope to our patients. It is a career where we have deep connection with our patients, where we know we can make a difference, and that is incredibly rewarding.”

Samantha Golding, Senior Staff Nurse, added: “The reason why I became cancer/chemotherapy nurse was because my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was treated at King’s, and I wanted to be able to give back the love and care that she received.”

Kristina Manua, Chemotherapy Staff Nurse, told us her role is challenging, but extremely rewarding. She said: “I chose this path to make a difference in patients’ lives, helping them feel cared for and never alone. Although each shift can be physically and emotionally exhausting, I end the day feeling fulfilled knowing I’ve supported patients through one of the hardest times in their lives.”

Sandra Anteh, Anthony Nolan Post Transplant Clinical Nurse Specialist, explained: “I became a cancer nurse after completing my final student placement in a Teenage and Young Adult cancer unit. During that time, I cared for young people whose lives had been suddenly and profoundly disrupted by a cancer diagnosis. I wanted to support them and their families through such a frightening and uncertain period.”

 

Nataleen Grant, HPB Oncology CNS, added: “Being a cancer nurse means advocating for patients, helping them understand their diagnosis and treatment, and supporting them both physically and emotionally throughout their journey. It involves listening to patients’ concerns, addressing their fears, and ensuring they feel heard, respected, and supported at every stage of their care.”