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A new dawn for gynaecology
Through her NHS practice at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust and her private practice at HCA Healthcare UK’s The Harley Street Clinic, Ms Fani Kokka commonly sees female patients with concerning symptoms.
“I regularly treat patients from a variety of medical backgrounds, including those considered high-risk. The types of cancers I often see in clinic include suspected or confirmed cases of cervical cancer, ovarian or fallopian tube, uterine, vulva and vaginal. Surgical options are discussed at multidisciplinary meetings and can include open, or the more minimally-invasive laparoscopic (keyhole) or vaginal approach, depending on the condition and stage the patient is at.”
“The gynaecological conditions I treat in clinic vary, but have included lower genital tract disease which can affect the cervix, vagina and/or vulva. As a certified colposcopist, I also regularly treat women with abnormal cervical screening results, HPV infections, vulva complaints or symptoms indicating cervical dyskaryosis – all of which require extensive tests before a treatment pathway can be decided upon, but which can include cone biopsies or LLETZ treatments.”
The ‘one-stop’ clinic on Harley Street
“The symptomatic patients I review in clinic are often particularly vulnerable because of their comorbidities – they sometimes have understandable reluctance or fear of seeking help, or their busy lives get in the way. It’s even more important in these cases to progress their treatment in a timely manner to ensure the best outcomes.”
Expanding her practice to the new Women’s Health Centre at 27-29 Harley Street will open access to a range of resources for Ms Kokka and her patients. The new six-floor outpatients and diagnostics facility houses consulting, treatment and ultrasound rooms under one roof, enabling blood tests, GP-led health screening, same day consultations, DEXA bone density scans, and access to 3T MRI machines.
Ms Kokka is confident that being able to review her patients and refer them for tests or scans on the same day, in the same location, will reduce the number of separate visits needed, save time and potentially change outcomes for the women in her care.
Gynaecological symptoms have traditionally been “overlooked and underestimated” according to Ms Kokka. Yet, she says, women often feel intimidated about seeking help. “Anything I can do to lower anxiety for patients who are already incredibly concerned is of paramount importance,” she says. “Physical health goes hand in hand with mental wellbeing, so reducing the stress and disruption can only be a good thing.”
It has long been argued that preventative medicine and early intervention is key when it comes to cancers of the female reproductive system. This autumn, consultant gynaecologist and subspecialist in gynaecological cancer, Ms Fani Kokka, who firmly believes this assertion, expands her HCA UK practice to the new Women’s Health Centre, where a multidisciplinary, one-stop approach offers new opportunities for women.
The earlier, the better
Ms Kokka firmly believes that preventative medicine is the future. “The earlier we investigate, the sooner we can provide reassurance, or put those women affected in touch with the right people,” she says.
“We want to get women back to enjoying their lives. The faster something is identified, the better it can be managed – we must encourage women to come forward and have those conversations sooner. Being able to access expert diagnostics on the same day at HCA UK’s new centre of excellence, with its expert multidisciplinary teams, will allow us to make great strides in this direction.”