Hello, my name is Angie Williamson and I am the Neuroendocrine tumour (NET) Cancer Nurse Specialist based at the Freeman Hospital.
NETs were once rare but are now more prevalent thanks to greater awareness and patients being diagnosed incidentally.
I am absolutely devoted to providing support and the best possible care to NET patients and their families and putting patients at the centre of their care. The Net service looks after patients from right across the region and beyond.
My role
As a Clinical Nurse Specialist I am the patient’s key worker, being their advocate from the point of diagnosis, throughout their journey of many scans, tests and wide range of treatment options.
Thankfully, once diagnosed many patients can live with their cancer for many years – I feel privileged to support them, gaining trust and building strong relationships with them and their families.
To be a successful Clinical Nurse Specialist you need to be dedicated, passionate, empathetic and understanding – I think it’s a great honour and can’t imagine doing anything else.
Nursing career
My main interests have always been in palliative care and I completed a palliative care degree in 2009.
My nursing career started at St Oswald’s Hospice where I was an auxiliary nurse for 7 years and I then worked in the community for 9 years before moving into a managerial role as a care manager for patients with complex needs.
When my mam was diagnosed with a Neuroendocrine Tumour in 2006, I became very knowledgeable and passionate about this rare type of cancer. In 2014 I was lucky enough to be appointed the NET Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Newcastle Hospitals.
I work as part of a wider MDT here in Newcastle, and work closely with other nurse colleagues across the North East.
One of my greatest achievements is being part of this team and helping them become European centre of Excellence in 2019.
My other interest is supporting/fundraising for the NCUK charity and with their support I run a support group every other month for people living with NET in the North East.
