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Cancer-associated thrombosis and palliative care: an interview with Simon Noble


Simon Noble speaks to Sebastian Dennis-Beron, Commissioning Editor: Simon Noble is Clinical Professor in Palliative Medicine at Cardiff University and honorary consultant at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport. His main research interests are in the management of venous thromboembolism in advanced cancer, quality of life effects of venous thromboembolism and their therapies, clinical decision-making in venous thromboembolism management and the patient journey. He is involved at a national level in the delivery of evidence-based thromboprophylaxis for hospitalized patients through the All Party Thrombosis Group and sits on the NICE Guideline development group for thromboprophylaxis. He is a Medical Director of Thrombosis UK and is currently chairing the All Wales HAT Prevention Steering Group. Internationally he sits on the ISTH Cancer Scientific Sub Committee and American Society for Hematology Cancer Associated Thrombosis Guidelines. He has published over 100 original papers.

Q Can you tell us about your career? How did you become involved in cancer palliative care?

I am currently a Clinical Professor in Palliative Medicine and I have been qualified for 23 years. I became very interested in palliative care long before I qualified as a medical student on a general practice attachment. On one of the days it was arranged for me to go to a hospice. At this point I was a bit jaded in my medical career – I had lost my way a bit – so when I went to this hospice I found it pretty life changing. I thought to myself, here is where you can be a good general physician, you have got time for the patients, the family and I really liked the holistic approach.