Dr. Olga Oikonomidou

Dr Oikonomidou is an exceptional doctor as well as an amazing person. She is a leader in her field and with no doubt one of the big ”figures” in breast cancer both nationally and internationally. She looked after my mother for 9 years during her metastatic breast cancer journey. My mother would have gone years ago if it wasn’t for Dr Oikonomidou doing everything above and beyond not only to keep her alive but to also to help her maintaining a great quality of life. And when the time came to stop all the treatments she cared for her in such a kind and empathetic way that I would always remember and be grateful to her. If breast cancer comes to your way what you need is a positive attitude and a great clinician like Dr Olga. We couldn’t have asked for anything more! She is a brilliant woman! Thank you Dr Olga for everything! We will never forget your smile and kindness!!!

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I have had and am still having wonderful and caring care from this doctor . Everything about my treatment was explained clearly and to the point therefore made easy to understand what was about to happen. I trust Dr Oikonomidou completely .

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Dr.Oikonomidou is a fantastic doctor she always knows what I need,if a treatment fails she is right there with a new plan and treatment. Olga listens to my concerns and always always reassures me. Her whole team work great together so I just want to say a big thankyou to you all fir keeping me here the past 7 years. Sharon.

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25th August 2024

I consider myself very fortunate to have been a patient of Dr Olga Oikonomidou for the past two years after I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer following breast surgery. Her reassurance and compassion as I entered the various courses of treatment has been outstanding. She has always explained in detail the various treatment that I would be having plus any changes that have been necessary.

Dr Oikonomidou’s communication skills convey genuine concern. Her sympathetic answers to my many questions have made it easier for me to follow her medical advice and adhere to the treatment plan.

In addition, her professional rapport with her colleagues, be they doctors or clinical nurse specialists, has made me trust that I being well looked after. Her willingness to allow my husband to be present at the consultations is much appreciated.

In conclusion, I’ll be forever grateful for her outstanding medical knowledge and her excellent advice which have enabled me to have a decent quality of life.

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23rd August 2024

I first met Dr. Oikonomidou in May 2023, after being diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. Right from the start, she was a huge support, helping me navigate the best treatment options for my specific type of cancer. Dr. Oikonomidou’s approach is always based on the latest evidence, and she worked closely with my NHS team, advocating for me to ensure I got the right treatment and care.

Every appointment with her has been a positive experience. She always listens carefully and responds to my concerns with compassion and empathy. I have complete confidence in her knowledge and expertise, and it’s reassuring to know she is both a scientist and a practitioner. This means she stays up to date with the latest treatments for my type of cancer, so I know I won’t miss out on any new developments or trials.

Dr. Oikonomidou’s advocacy has been a huge help, especially when I felt let down by other professionals. She fought for me and always put my interests first. Beyond being a great professional, Dr. Oikonomidou has a human side that makes you believe you can get through this, endure the tough treatment, and come out on the other side. She gives you hope, but in a way that’s realistic.

As someone who likes to understand everything, Dr. Oikonomidou has adapted her communication to suit my needs, giving me all the information I need without making me feel overwhelmed. I feel incredibly lucky to have her in my corner, not just during treatment but for the years ahead. Now that my treatment is done, I can focus on living my life, knowing that she will keep me informed, meet with me regularly, and remind me of what I need to do. This is especially comforting, as it can sometimes feel like you’re left on your own after treatment ends in the NHS. Dr. Oikonomidou‘s continued support has made a world of difference, and I’m so grateful to have her by my side.

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1st August 2024

I met Olga in January 2024 when I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. My first impression of Olga was that she is extremely professional, to the point and explained everything very clearly and in a calm manner. Olga had a way of pausing at the right time so as information could be absorbed before moving on. Olga answered every question I had, I never felt rushed and she would always be looking for solutions.

This first impression did not change.

After each appointment I knew exactly where we were and what was coming next. People say that you shouldn’t worry about your cancer and that you should focus on the things you can control such as your diet and general health and the oncologist to worry about your treatment plan. I was able to do this with Olga as I had every faith in her. This made my journey so much easier.

Olga 100% made the right decisions for me (although I did absolutely have a say, I just had so much trust in her) and reduced my lesion by over 98% before surgery. An incredible lady who I was very fortunate to have and I will never be able to thank enough.

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24th April 2024

I am a man with Breast cancer. After first class and very rapid surgery at NHS Borders, I was referred to Olga due to her specialist knowledge of breast cancer treatment, and in particular her knowledge of, and experience with, a progressive new ‘post treatment’ drug, not currently available on the NHS.

Olga organised a package of Chemo, radiotherapy and follow on hormone therapy for me, tailored to my medical needs and my wellbeing. Olga is extremely approachable and a good listener. She totally understands the issues involved and immediately personalises her thoughts, questions and treatment and makes the patient feel very comfortable and reassured. Nothing is too much trouble for Olga.

Olga exudes confidence, experience and professionalism, and has a very calm manner which at a time of personal concern and worry is extremely reassuring. Her detailed knowledge is clearly enormous, and I have to say that everything she has said has been correct, and everything has worked and happened as she said it would. I have total trust in Olga. Having confidence in someone who is looking after you at a worrying time is extremely reassuring.

I don’t think one could wish to be looked after and treated by anyone more expert, professional or caring, and all with a ‘5 star’ personal touch.

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17th April 2024

I met Olga in Oct 2022, when I was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. I was also grieving the sudden loss of my 26 yr old son. Not only did Olga deal with my cancer options and treatment, but was genuinely caring and concerned for my mental wellbeing during the ongoing grieving process. I look forward to each visit, and so appreciate her straight- talking manner. She has literally saved my life, and I am so grateful.

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18th July 2024

I am receiving exceptional care from Dr Oikonomidou – from the get go, she has been on the case with my treatment. When my treatment needed to change at the very start, she clearly explained what was happening and why, I feel very fortunate that she is my oncologist. I feel listenend to, valued and respected, I know I’m in safe hands and am appreciative, and will continue to be appreciative of all she is doing for me.
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18th March 2024

Olga came into my life in April 2023, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer at a very young age. When we first talked on the phone, I immediately felt at ease. Olga is a patient -centric doctor, who takes time to explain her plans and answer all questions. She takes accountability for her patients and provide updates even when out of hours. I can’t recommend her enough, she inspired me great confidence and she managed to give me a treatment that worked amazingly, ended up with a pathological complete response and cancer free. Even now that my treatment is over, I feel that she’s there for me and I really thank her for that. Five stars!

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17th March 2024

I always had the highest confidence in Dr Olga Oikonomidou’s advanced medical knowledge and that she genuinely cared about my well-being throughout my 15 months treatment and ongoing checks. I appreciated that she shared her direct contact details and I always felt able to contact her whenever I had a concern, and loved her no-nonsence approach to answering any questions I had. I appreciated her focus on keeping things manageable so could continue to enjoy a quality of life, such as enabling us to have a much-needed holiday, and pacing the introduction of hormone reduction treatement to lessen the accumulation of side effects. And finally, the treatment she prescribed was very effective even by the time of my first mid-treatment scan, giving me great confidence in having a positive outcome – thank you.

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11th March 2024

Professional, confident, knowledgeable, caring, intelligent, highly skilled and safe.
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27th February 2024

Meeting Olga for the very first time in 2021 I was truly inspired by her knowledge and caring attitude.

I was offered twice yearly scans and the opportunity to start a new drug after a clinical trial had come to an end. The scans were very reassuring to me as this was not offered on the NHS and I am forever hopeful the new drug has kept any future cancer away. She is a very dedicated and compassionate oncologist, who goes over and above – I needed to contact Olga when I was on holiday with a concern I had. After one email to her, I was given a date and time to see Olga on my return.

Nothing is ever too much bother for her, and she always takes time to listen and discuss any concerns whether it’s through zoom, face-to-face or telephone. What a fantastic oncologist she is, my husband, family and I are forever grateful.

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27th February 2024

Olga gave me so much information about my cancer, the treatment plan, and statistics. There was no delay – the treatment started immediately, and she was always available to chat through my questions and concerns via e-mail, telephone, and facetime as well as face to face appointments in the Clinic. Olga asked questions about my family and suggested ways in which I could help my autistic son to understand Mum’s ‘medicine’. She told me I would get ‘The Gold Standard’ of treatment for my cancer and that is exactly what I am getting. I consider myself extremely lucky to have Olga as my Oncologist. My friends know her as, ‘the ‘Madonna’ of Oncologists’ because that is how I described her to them! Thank you, Olga! X
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23rd July 2023

Following a delay in getting a cancer diagnosis and seeing an oncologist, I was put in touch with Dr Oikonomidou. She set up a meeting immediately (while she was on holiday) and got things moving quickly.

She is professional, straight-talking and caring. I always feel that I can contact her with my concerns and that I will be listened to. She responds quickly to questions and explains things well. When I had side effects from the chemo, these were addressed immediately and my treatment regime adapted to make me as comfortable as possible.

Throughout my treatment I have felt that I am treated as a person, as well as a patient. I have full confidence in her abilities and am grateful to be under her care.
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17th October 2022

Living through cancer treatment is tough but it is made much easier when you are treated with professional kindness and understanding. I have been treated by Dr Oikonomidou for almost 4 years and she is the same at every appointment – expert in her knowledge, warm and positive in her manner and honest in her assessments. She treats me with dignity and respects any questions or views I may have. I never feel rushed and have felt totally involved in the decision making. She has explained all steps of my treatment clearly. I have always understood the treatment route we have followed and what to look out for whilst I have been receiving treatment. I have felt supported every step of the way. I am able to contact her at any time if I have a problem and know that if anything was to change or worry me, I only have to reach out. I have utmost confidence in her and that also helps set my mind at rest. I know she has given me the best chance I can get and has ensured that I have been referred to get the most appropriate future preventative treatment. I am not left wondering (or worrying) about anything. I consider myself very lucky to be treated by Dr Oikonomidou as I feel I am being treated by the best in the field, and not only the best of doctors but the best of humans.
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1st November 2020

I was really quite surprised – but grateful – to have a way of contacting Dr Oikonomidou directly. It was so re-assuring to know I could e-mail her or phone her if I needed to. She obviously listened to what I told her about me, as another doctor referenced something I’d told her about my son being about to sit his Highers when I was about to start my treatment.

She looked for the best way to organise my treatment. When part of it wasn’t covered by my health insurance, she moved that element of my treatment smoothly back into her NHS clinic.

At such a traumatic time in my life, she has been a calm & re-assuring presence. But I also know that she has been honest with me throughout my treatment.

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31st March 2022

Olga has been outstanding since the first day we met her when I was diagnosed with Breast cancer. During the clinics she communicates clearly and honestly and always takes time to listen to me and allows me to be involved in decision making by asking my opinion and thoughts. Olga provided me with her work e-mail address in order for me to contact her directly with any questions which is very reassuring and personal. Olga goes above and beyond to provide a professional friendly service to her patients and has been a truly wonderful support to not only myself but to my husband through this particularly distressing experience which she has made into a positive experience. I am in safe hands with such a wonderful top Consultant who is caring and compassionate and I am honoured to be under her care
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31st March 2022

I cannot thank Dr Oikonomidou enough for the way she looked after me. Not only was she most professional in her treatment of me, she was inspirational and without her positive attitude to my illness I doubt if I would be here today to write this. She explained my treatment in such a way that I felt that she would do everything to ensure a positive outcome, her manner and her sheer presence gave me complete faith in her ability.
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30th March 2022

CANCER TREATMENT: Dr Olga Oikonomidou has been my primary cancer doctor since the beginning of 2017. Her expertise and care have been exemplary, and I remain forever grateful that I am her patient. She has repeatedly adapted my treatment to my condition, securing the most appropriate medication and advising me on self-care and support. She addresses concerns with thorough discussion, tests and diagnoses. She understands the anxiety caused by cancer, and acts to eliminate risk and to reassure.

HOLISTIC APPROACH: Dr Oikonomidou intervened to ensure that I had emergency surgery during chemotherapy to sort the recurrence of a previous medical problem, despite the incident being out of hours and outside her discipline. Throughout the Covid pandemic, when it proved impossible to contact a general practitioner, Dr Oikonomidou correctly diagnosed my diverse symptoms, referring me to specialists and following up on their response.

PATIENT CARE: Dr Oikonomidou’s patient care is consistent, her availability is constant and her communication is faultless. She has a complete knowledge of my health concerns and I have total confidence in her care. She keeps both my GP and myself fully informed. I believe that Dr Oikonomidou’s treatment is world-class and I am fortunate to be its beneficiary. Five years after my cancer diagnosis, I remain cancer free. I owe my life, and my quality of life, to Dr Olga Oikonomidou.
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30th March 2022

Olga has looked after me since my breast cancer diagnosis in August 2018 and I have felt throughout that time that I have been in very safe hands.

I had concerns about the impact of chemo on my plans to have a family and Olga ensured that I was given access to fertility preservation at EFREC pre chemo and also took the time to liaise with the fertility head, Dr Thong at EFREC to offer a chemotherapy regime that would be as kind as possible to me from a fertility perspective. I was also given Zoladex during chemo to protect my ovaries.

Since finishing active treatment in November 2019 Olga has remained in contact and arranged regular mammograms, MRIs, consultations and check ups – even throughout the early days of lockdown – which has been hugely appreciated and reassuring.

I have Olga’s email address and she has been very good at picking up emails and addressing any concerns or queries directly – usually with the offer of a follow up meeting (in person or now via Zoom if appropriate). I know that Olga is very busy and hugely appreciate her time. It is also excellent to have a direct email for her – as a comparison my experience of the assisted fertility unit at EFREC is the opposite and I find the lack of a direct dial and email address for them very impersonal, unhelpful – and at times – the cause of frustration and stress – especially when I had to pay £5,000 to do fertility preservation pre chemo.

Olga has gone above and beyond her oncology role in offering up her time and knowledge in assisting us with our fertility journey over the last 1.5 years – including opening up the option of fertility advice and treatment in Greece if required. Olga has been very supportive in guiding us through this and was supportive of me stopping my medication to allow us to (hopefully) have a family.

In conclusion, Id like to thank Olga for saving my life and recently for being a huge support on our fertility journey.
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29th March 2022

The care I have received under Dr Oikonomidou has been excellent from my initial diagnosis right through to the end of treatment and now for my annual checks. Dr Oikonomidou explained in detail all the different stages I would go through in my cancer journey and gave me the reassurance and support which I most definitely needed as she knows I am a worrier! If I have any concerns/questions I can email her and she always comes back to me promptly and is happy to see me in clinic and will refer me to another specialist if required. I couldn’t have asked for a better Oncologist and I am so grateful and thankful for all Dr Oikonomidou has done and is still doing for me.
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25th March 2022

Olga has been outstanding since the first day we met her when I was diagnosed with Breast cancer. During the clinics she communicates clearly and honestly and always takes time to listen to me and allows me to be involved in decision making by asking my opinion and thoughts. Olga provided me with her work e-mail address in order for me to contact her directly with any questions which is very reassuring and personal. Olga goes above and beyond to provide a professional friendly service to her patients and has been a truly wonderful support to not only myself but also to my husband through this particularly distressing experience which she has made into a positive experience. I am in safe hands with such a wonderful top Consultant who is caring and compassionate and I am honoured to be under her care.
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1st November 2020

Dr Olga has been my oncologist since my first diagnosis with primary breast cancer in 2017, I have since been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2018. She really goes above and beyond, I trust her implicitly with my care, and know that she will do everything she can to get the best possible treatments available for me. Her knowledge on the drugs that are about to be made available, is astounding, giving me hope for the future. I seriously don’t know when this amazing woman gets sleep, as even out with her normal working hours, she heads so much research, and is there for her patients always. Well meaning friends always try to tell me what alternative drugs etc I should try, and my answer is always the same “I have complete trust in my oncologist, it is her job to tell me what I need, to fight this cancer”. There is no other person I would rather have to fight my corner, and on top of all of this….she’s just a lovely person too. If Carlsberg did Oncologists…..

Thanks Dr Olga, for everything you do. Nina

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11th October 2020

Olga was fantastic. She just made me feel safe and reassured me.The care I was given was excellent and I felt listened to. I completely trusted Olga and she was very direct and didn’t use a lot of words I didn’t understand to get her message across. I felt that she was very approachable and so knowledgeable about breast cancer. I didn’t feel spoken down to or condescended, as I felt was the case with other oncologists.

She remembered me and always came across as if she had all the details fresh in her head about my case.

I was discharged after 5 years but I feel I could contact Olga any time if I had any concerns.
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24th October 2019

Dr Oikonomidou has been my oncologist for the last 3 years. I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer back in 2016 and this was the most devastating moment in my life so far. I was a young mother full of dreams for my future which were completed blown away the minute I was told about my diagnosis. Things have changed though since then and Dr Oikonomidou made me see my disease with different eyes and most importantly she gave me my hopes back. She is a lovely doctor that listens to my concerns, spends lots of time with me in clinic, explaining everything in great detail. She has never made feel less important because I am a foreigner. She is on the top of things, extremely knowledgeable and up to date with all advances in breast cancer. I feel extremely lucky having her as my treating clinician. Thank you Dr O for being there for me, for giving me back my dreams and hopes. Thank you for being such a great doctor!
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15th October 2019

I was diagnosed with bc in 2017 ,at our local Clinic .then ,onto western general in edinburgh . I then was honoured to meet my oncologist Dr olga ,who ,was the most amazing woman ive Ever met .she listened to my fears ,but ,gave me Nothing but positive outlooks .i saw her last friday And she is amazed how well i am ,and ,my treatment Is now over .i thanked her for my most amazing Gift ,the gift of life .to olga ,i will always be grateful And ,to our wonderful nhs cancer unit ,where the nurses Are angels .thank you olga .ellen
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5th April 2019

Olga is an outstanding oncologist, and has supported me throughout my treatment, post initial diagnosis, during chemo and radio, and currently as I continue with hormone treatment. She is extremely patient, caring and professional – and I too believe that I am privileged to be able to access such an inspirational consultant here in Edinburgh, via the NHS. We are lucky to have such a leading practitioner at the WGH.
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26th February 2019

Dr Olga Oikonamidou is an exceptional doctor and an inspirational woman. She is dedicated to her patients offering not just the best of care but huge support through the difficult time of diagnosis and treatment. She is very kind with a positive attitude and very knowledgeable. She went above and beyond by applying for a treatment for me which was not available through NHS and would offer me a better benefit when compared to standard treatment. I got this very expensive treatment and had a great response and I will always be grateful to Dr Olga for this.
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2nd January 2018

Dr oinkonamidou explained everything to me about my treatment . She was clear and consise,yet still extremely caring. I felt she was listening when I spoke and answered all my questions. I only saw her on 3 occasions one of which when I had been admitted to hospital during chemotherapy. As someone who always felt like I might be wasting the hospitals time – she made me feel I did the right thing in calling the help line and the hospital was the best place for my recovery . When I saw her again four months after this hospital stay she remembered me (which I was not expecting) . I think she is a superb oncologist and we are so very fortunate to have her at the Western General Hospital.
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