Category Archives: Events

Events in Nottingham

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9780957412217

Nottingham Cancer Patients &

  Carer’s

Support Group 2013

Meet in the ‘A’ Floor Classroom,

South Block Queen,s Medical Centre
We open at 5.30pm to commence at 6pm
On the 3rd Tuesday of Every Month.
Meetings are Free    ALL WELCOME.

April 16th 

The next meeting of the Nottm Cancer Support Group is on 16th April when we have Chris Geiger as our speaker. I would welcome as many friends and colleagues as possible  coming to support this meeting.which is in the Afloor Class room School of Nursing Qmc Freda see details below
 
 
6:00 PM
A Floor Classroom, School of Nursing, South Block QMC, Derby Road NG7 2UH
Chris Geiger will be talking about his survival from cancer and the inspiration behind his book. To reserve a seat or to find out more about this event, please call Freda Ingall on +44(0)115 931 3541.

May 21st   

Understanding the Diagnosis,
Management  &  Treatment of Sarcoma’s
Nicola Wilshaw Clinical Nurse Specialist

June 18th 

Understanding  the Methods to Relieve and Control Pain.
Lindsay Hall Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist Palliative Care.

We would welcome calls or E.mails from Professionals in cancer care willing to come along as guest speaker to the group as I  am beginning to look for speakers for 2013 .  Thank You.       Freda Ingall  Group Leader.
Contacts :
Freda Ingall 0115 931 3541
Email  fredaingall@aol.com
Marjorie Wirt-Green 0115 9267070
Alison Clark  Email  a.clark@nottingham.ac.uk

Stand Up 2 Cancer

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English: Gwyneth Paltrow at the 2011 Venice Fi...

YOU made a difference

 

Cancer Research UK have announced that they raised

£6,483,995

 

from their recent TV Show.

However, they are still having donations coming in, ” so we can’t say exactly how much we have raised, we only have the amount raised from the Friday show”.

 

Television, music and film stars came together in a national fundraising event to get us all donating in the fight against cancer.

The nice thing about organisers Cancer Research UK (CRUK)  is that they say thank you – see this video they have released:  http://supportus.cancerresearchuk.org/campaign-pages/2012-annual-update/?utm_campaign=Annual_Update_120912&utm_content=45157586552&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Emailvision

What you can still do

CRUK need YOUR support.   Unlike in the States, they haven’t the funds to pay for massive advertising to alert everyone to what is happening.

You can do your bit by

  • getting your local Pub to run a fund-raising evening to watch the Telethon on the 19th
  • get your office or workplace to organise a collection
  • get friends together to fundraise

and this will help CRUK raise a record amount to zap cancer on the head.

What’s happening

Bringing together a unique mix of entertainment, science and fundraising, a super-sized group of celebrities will come together to show their support for SU2C UK, including: The Simpsons, Tom Daley, Kylie Minogue, Leona Lewis, Cheryl Cole, Jonnie Peacock, Emeli Sande, Jenson Button, JLS, Jimmy Carr, Jack Whitehall, Anna Friel, The Cast of 8 out of 10 Cats, The English National Ballet, Martin Freeman, Miranda Hart, Simon Bird, and David Haslehoff in a mixture of live appearances and specially recorded messages.

Alan Carr revealed: “Pretty much everyone will be affected by this disease in their lifetime, and that’s the very simple reason why I’m honoured to be involved with this campaign. Like so many people, I’ve seen exactly how destructive the big C is. I’ve lost two people already this.

Since Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) began in the USA in 2008, it has raised more than £100 million for cancer research.

WHAT you can do

Start to plan ahead for the Telethon next year.

Ask you local Pub if they will host an evening nexg year.

As Gwyneth Paltrow says: “Like so many people all over the world, I know what it’s like to lose a loved one to cancer; it took my Dad in the prime of his life. Stand Up To Cancer has the power to revolutionise the way we fight this disease, by uniting doctors, scientists and patients in groundbreaking research. This special broadcast will mark a wonderful milestone as SU2C evolves into a true global movement.”

Dr Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, says: “It’s not just technology or knowledge that we need to win our fight to beat cancer – it’s funding – and every pound we raise is a step closer to achieving our goal to beat this disease.

We are entering the ‘golden age’ of cancer research – but each and every one of us can stand up and make a difference right now to come together to raise vital funds for clinical research, accelerate progress and ultimately save more lives.”

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National Cancer Outcomes Conference

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National Cancer Intelligence Network

 

The N.C.I.N. organised this conference, which was held at Birmingham’s N.E.C,.

This was a brave attempt at involving patients and professionals equally.  However, it did prove that medical professionals may pay lip service to ‘involving’ patients, but often, in reality, have difficulty in addressing this issue.

Paying lip service
The aim of the conference was laudable;  patients were to be treated as equals.  In fact, we were even given free accommodation and free travel if we were a genuine patient.

However, the professionals were still being condescending, and not quite up to sharing information equally.

But patients are used to this, and we all got useful information from the event.  Out of around 500 delegates, probably one fifth were patients, so we weren’t overwhelmed!

Speakers were generally excellent, and as other delegates confirmed, they didn’t ‘talk down’ to us. They spoke enthusiastically, and didn’t use too much jargon!

Opening
Ray Murphy, Chairman of the National Cancer Partnership Forum kicked off with the chilling statement :

“we needed to save 5,000 liver patients’ lives a year just to keep up with Europe”.

Dr. Mick Peake, from the N. C.I.N. said there was a need to enthuse doctors to use cancer data to change clinical practice as it is currently.

As Dr. Natalie Blencower stated, when she gave an excellent presentation about outcomes and why they are important to patients AND surgeons, a recent survey had found that “patients were still not receiving enough information”.

What’s happening in Europe?
Proving that the N.C.I.N. are not only concerned about the EU’s better cancer outcomes, but were keen to do something about it – a major session saw Dr Jane Hanson, Lead Advisor for Cancer, Welsh Government & Head of Cancer National Specialist Advisory Group Core Team, introduce a session entitled  ‘Towards a European cancer information system; the EUROCOURSE project and beyond”.

This was followed by presentations from Harry Comber, Director, Irish National Cancer Registry on ‘ Cancer survival in Europe’: “first results from the EUROCARE-5 study.

Dr Roberta De Angelis, Senior Researcher, National Centre of Epidemiology, Italian National Institute of Health talked about ‘The International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership (ICBP),  and Dr Martine Bomb, Programme Manager, Cancer Research UK  gave the UK perspective.

These were all excellent speakers, but one couldn’t help wishing that more time had been allotted, to enable the very interested audience to have an opportunity to ask questions and get a good dialogue going.  A packed room was filled with delegates eager to ask questions – but sadly not enough time to get them out.

One piece of information that was flashed onto the screens was a slide showing where  research was being carried out in Europe:

10 work packages have been produced, covering

  1. WP1 Exchange of knowledge about national programmes
  2. WP2 Ethical conduct of research
  3. WP3 Tools for improving the quality, coverage and use of cancer registration data in Europe
  4. WP4 The development, harmonization, analysis and exchange of European cancer registry data
  5. WP5 Interface of cancer registries with cancer screening programmes
  6. WP6 Interface of cancer registries with clinical care
  7. WP7 Interface of cancer registries with biobanks
  8. WP8 Dissemination of findings and training
  9. WP9 European cancer control summit
  10. WP10 Coordination of EUROCOURSE activities

Perhaps next year there might be more time to discuss these work packages, and a hand-out giving contact details?

Poster Displays

Whilst browsing this very interesting and colourful display, I came across Marina Raime, the lively founder of Betterdays cancer care.  Marina went to the States and took one of their Patient Navigation courses, and is now running a programme in London – supported by Lambeth, Southark and other NHS offices.  Let’s hope this programme receives a lot of support, as we could certainly do with the survivorship assistance that seems to be the norm in the U.S.A.  www.betterdays.uk.com or at King’s College:  www.selbreastscreening.org.uk 

Hotel

It is not acceptable in this day and age for the catering at a conference dealing with cancer, to go against al the advice to eat healthily, organically, etc.

At breakfast, a casual remark to the waiter “are the eggs free range?”, bought out
an embarrassed, “no, we don’t serve free-range eggs any more.

It was difficult during the main meals to find free-range chicken meat either – instead there were bland palid looking main dishes – which cried out for herbs.

Neither is it acceptable in this day and age for the Maintenance crew to spend more time in guests’ bedrooms than the paying guest.  The final straw in my room, where I had almost got used to sharing the room with the friendly maintenance man, was to have to call the poor man yet again as water was dripping loudly on my carpet and soaking the area.

I can’t help feeling that a professional organiser might be usefully employed – ordinary delegates to professional conferences demand better facilities and services for their payments – but when a charity or the NHS is picking up the tab – perhaps standards are allowed to drop.  Even though, from comments from staff, it didn’t seem that this conference had got any cheap deals.

Certainly a normal ‘business’ hotel wouldn’t get away with charging £15 PER DAY for Internet access in a delegate’s room.

On Friday evening after the conference was over, a local friend took me to a superb hotel near-by: Hampton Manor, to show me what could be done for the same basic costs.  She works in conference and exhibition organising, so knows what’s what.

Hampton Manor provided a superb meal – and I noticed all the a la carte menu prices were less than those in the Hilton’s main restaurant.  Yes, organisers would have negotiated a cheap deal but basic prices are ones which to work from when negotiating.

Prices at this hotel were a rack rate of £150 per night – although they had special deals
from £85.  Sadly it would be too small for a major conference, but if they can do it – why
not search for other hotels that can deliver same superb service?

But as usual Virgin Trains had come up with excellent deals, and speaking to others with disabilities, we had welcomed the way there always seems a cheerful staff member on hand to help with luggage – much appreciated!

The next Cancer Outcomes Conference will take place on the 13th and 14th June, 2013..

National Cancer Intelligence Network  (NCIN)

18th Floor, Portland House,

Bressenden Place

London

SW1E 5RS

Phone: 020 8282 6258

Fax: 020 7869 8191

E-mail: enquiries@ncin.org.uk

 

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It's Strawberry time!

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Hold a Strawberry tea

Fragaria × ananassa 'Chandler,' a short-day co...

Yummy ( Wikipedia)

for Charity

 

In Britain, it’s a fun and easy way to support Breast Cancer Care.  An idea that can be copied anywhere.

Who doesn’t love strawberries, especially as they look so colourful. So why not organise a Strawberry Tea?

What about having a Tea in your hospital Reception? Then everyone can have fun – patients, visitors and staff!!

Or organise a tea at home.  With a Strawberry Tea, you have the perfect excuse to catch up with old friends and tuck into delicious treats, all the while raising money for a great cause. And it doesn’t matter if you raise £20 or £200 because every penny helps charity continue to support anyone affected by breast cancer.

Somehow the word ‘strawberries’ grabs everyone’s attention!  Get together with friends and family, buy or bake some cakes, add some strawberries, put the kettle on and away you go

Last year thousands of people teamed up with Breast Cancer Care and held Strawberry Teas across the UK – in back gardens, at work or in town halls.

How to raise money from your event

It can be as simple or as elaborate as you like.

Have a tea break at work – bring a smile to your colleagues’ faces by bringing in baked goodies and putting the kettle on.

Get your club involved – if you are member of a sports club, you could have a Strawberry Tea in the pavilion or club house.

Craft – are you good with a pair of knitting needles? Then you could create items to sell or raffle at your Strawberry Tea.

School – children love an excuse to get messy, so why not get them baking or making decorations for your Strawberry Tea.

Charge for cake – people are always happy to pay for a slice or two.

Spread the word – why not Tweet about your event? #StrawberryTea

See http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/fundraising-events/events/strawberry-tea-2012

Join us – find out what everyone else is up to for their Strawberry Tea via Breast Cancer Care’s Facebook page.

Sell tickets or charge an entry fee to your party.

Run a raffle – ask guests or local businesses to donate prizes.

Play the game – use the Strawberry Tea game or Afternoon Tea quiz in our resources section.

Guess the weight of the cake – this classic game is always popular and the winner takes the cake home!

Boss’s tea round – ask your boss to be on tea making duty for the day, with donations given for each cup.

Market stall – a craft, cake or plant stall can be held almost anywhere.

Sell Breast Cancer Care pin badges – you can order some from their resources section.

visit our ideas section for some great tips.

Have a look at our celebrity recipes section?

We have a host of resources and materials in our resources section to make your Strawberry Tea as simple and successful as possible.

Crafty Tip

To make strawberries taste old-fashioned, sprinkle them with Cointreau or any orange liqueur.  I learnt this at the Ritz Hotel in Paris (as one does);  complimenting them on the really intense taste, just like I remembered the fruit as a child, they let me into the secret that they used a tablespoon or two to soak them!   You can buy a miniature of Cointreau for about a couple of pounds.
Classic Victoria sandwich cake
Who can resist this Great British favourite especially when filled with softly whipped cream and home-grown juicy strawberries?

Serves 8

Strawberry Cake created and photographed by &q...

Strawberry Cake ( Wikipedia)

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time: 20 minutes

 

For the Victoria cake

175 g (6 oz) butter, at room temperature

175 g (6 oz) caster sugar

Grated rind of 1 lemon

175 g (6 oz) self-raising flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

3 medium eggs, beaten

 

Filling

150 g (5 oz) strawberries, hulled, sliced

3 tablespoons strawberry jam

150 ml (1/4 pint) double cream

4 strawberries to decorate, halved, hulls left on

Little strawberry sugar, see tip or caster sugar

1      Preheat the oven to 180oC/350oF/Gas Mark 4.  Lightly brush the base and sides of 2, 20 cm (8 inch) Victoria sandwich tins with a little oil then line the bases with 2 circles of non-stick baking paper the same as the base of the tins.

2      Cream the butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl with a wooden spoon or in an electric mixer until light and fluffy then stir in the lemon rind.

3      Sift the flour and baking powder on to a plate. Gradually beat alternate spoonfuls of beaten egg and flour into the creamed butter mixture until smooth, continue until all the eggs and flour have been added.

4      Divide the mixture between the tins, spread level with a round bladed knife then cook on the middle shelf in the oven for about 20 minutes until well risen, golden brown and the cake springs back when lightly pressed with a fingertip. Allow to cool for a few minutes then loosen the edges of the cakes with a round bladed knife and turn out on to a large wire rack. Peel off the lining paper then turn cakes back up the other way and leave to cool completely.

5      Mix the sliced strawberries with the jam, if the jam is very set, warm briefly in the microwave before adding the strawberries. Softly whip the cream. Transfer one of the cakes to a serving plate. Top with spoonfuls of the cream then the strawberry jam mix. Carefully lift the top cake in place, arrange the halved strawberries on top and sprinkle with sugar. Serve cut into wedges.

Cut throats!

As kids we grew up on Devon/Somerset borders, and there we always called scones and cream Cut Throats (I suppose after the blood-red strawberry jam!).  The only variation we were allowed was to cut open a scone, spread with cream, then top with real strawberries rather than jam.

 

Baby strawberry mousses

Serves 8

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time: 5 minutes

Chilling time: 3-4 hours

625g (1 lb 6oz) strawberries

3 limes, grated rind only

3 tablespoons runny honey

4 tablespoons water

3 teaspoons powdered gelatine

250 ml (8 fl oz) double cream

250 g (8 oz) low fat natural yogurt

Extra small strawberries to decorate plus tiny biscuits, optional

1      Puree 225 g (8 oz) of the strawberries then press through a sieve and reserve for decoration.  Puree the remaining strawberries, sieve then mix the puree with the lime rind and honey.

2      Add the water to a small heatproof bowl, sprinkle the gelatine over the water so that the water absorbs all the powder. Leave to stand for 5 minutes heat the bowl in a small saucepan of simmering water until it is a clear liquid.

3      Whip the cream until it forms soft swirls. Fold in the yogurt, pureed strawberry and lime mix then the gelatine in a thin trickle. Pour into 8, 120 ml (4 fl oz) small liqueur glasses or coffee cups. Chill for 3-4 hours or until the mousses have set.

4      To serve, stir the reserved strawberry puree then pour a little over the top of each mousse. Decorate with tiny strawberries and serve with dainty biscuits, if liked.

Have Fun!

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Cancer Outcomes Conference

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PATIENTS AND CARERS GO FREE

 

Where:  Cancer Outcomes Conference

When:  June 14th and 15th

Venue:  Birmingham’s Metropole Hotel, served by Birmingham International Station, Birmingham Airport and Motorways – with largest hotel swimming pool (see right).

How to apply – see below

Why go?   Look below and find plenty of reasons, including

Parallel Sessions where patients and carers will be able to make their voices heard

 

Reason 1

The conference programme

Day one – 14th June

09:00    Registration and exhibition
10:00    Opening plenary session

Then comes a series of Parallel Sessions:  you choose one to attend, ensuring you have a chance to air your voice:

Reason 2.  AM Parallel sessions:

  1. Screening, prevention and early diagnosis
  2. Patient experience and reported outcomes
  3. National cancer registration and data processing
  4. Cancer audit

Using clinical information to improve services and outcomes plenary session

PM Parallel sessions

  1. Survivorship
  2. Staging
  3. Less common cancers
  4. Going beyond cancer

Supporting commissioning plenary session

19:30    Conference dinner

Day two – 15th June

09:00    Research plenary session
AM Parallel sessions

  1. Health economics
  2. International focus
  3. Co-morbidity and risk adjustment
  4. Recurrence and late effects

PM Parallel sessions

  1. Information for the public and data visualisation
  2. Inequalities in cancer
  3. Primary Care
  4. Ethics and consent

Closing plenary session

15:30    Close of conference

To register  go to: www.ncin.org.uk/conference  When you click through hit REGISTER.  This takes you to a page that needs careful study, and you HAVE to say what sessions you are going to take part in (even though you may not know yet – just hit any of titles!)  When it comes to registration, hit GUEST – and this takes you through to organisers who will approve if you have a free Bursary.

Cost

Day delegate (Day one) NHS / Acad   £100
Day delegate (Day one) Industry £150
Dinner – end of Day one £50
Day delegate (Day two) NHS / Acad £100
Day delegate (Day two) Industry £150
Full (Day one, accommodation, Day two) NHS £300
Full (Day one, accommodation, Day two) Industry £350
Full (Day one, accommodation, Day two) Bursary Free
Accommodation and dinner pre-event £135

There are Bursaries which are Free for Patients and Carers   and include accommodation and meals

Please ensure you press CONFIRM at the end of the registration process, this will finalise your registration. Once this is done you will receive an email to the address you submitted. If you have NOT received an automated confirmation within 24Hrs, please contact Eventpro UK as you may have not successfully registered.

On-line registrations & attendance payments must be received by 1st June 2012. Please note that receipts are only sent out if requested.

Location:

Metropole Hotel

Hilton Birmingham Metropole, NEC, Birmingham, B40 1PP

This hotel has one of the biggest hotel swimming pools in Britain (kept at a sensible temperature of 31°), and next door is The Ocean Rooms Spa, a very comprehensive spa with excellent facials.  There they have four therapists who have had training in looking after our ‘cancer problem’ skin.  They give the most gorgeous treatments, and the lovely surprise at the end is that treatments cost way below London prices.

There is a shuttle bus from outside Birmingham New Street station which collects guests at the white bus stop stand next to the taxi rank.

There is chargeable (expensive)  WiFi in the rooms and free WiFi in the Lounge area.

Travel

 Virgin Trains have Lead in return Advance standard fares are as follows:

Euston to Birmingham £15.00

Glasgow to Birmingham £45.00

Don’t forget if you stay over the weekend Virgin has very inexpensive First Class fares.  And they offer free WiFi in First Class.

www.virgintrains.co.uk

What to see and do in Birmingham

See http://healthspanews.com/short-breaks/

Information:  www.visitbirmingham.com

 

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Europa Donna

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EUROPA DONNA MEETS IN VIENNA

 

 

 

More than 3,000 breast cancer specialists and advocates attended the 8th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-8) in Vienna, Austria from 21-24 March.

Topics such as survivorship and the benefits of lifestyle interventions also took the floor. EUROPA DONNA  in partnership with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and the European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists (EUSOMA) hosted the conference, where physicians and advocates alike heard the latest findings on best practice in mammography screening, specialist breast unit implementation and accreditation, imaging techniques, surgical and drug therapy, lifestyle measures, and specific populations such younger women, older women and those with metastatic disease.

What is Europa Donna?

EUROPA DONNA (ED) – The European Breast Cancer Coalition, is an independent, non-profit organisation whose members are affiliated groups from countries throughout Europe. ED works to raise public awareness of breast cancer and to mobilise the support of European women in pressing for improved breast cancer education, appropriate screening, optimal treatment and care and increased funding for research.  Member countries currently number 46, from Albania to Uzbekistan.

EUROPA DONNA Past President Bettina Borisch reminded participants of the need for further advocacy for mammography screening and breast unit implementation: “We know that in breast units, team work is essential, but it is not easy. A European specialist breast unit accreditation scheme must be implemented so that patients know where they can go for optimum care.”

Prof. Borisch also mentioned “professional tribalism”, i.e., the reluctance of some professionals to work together. Lesley Fallowfield, of the University of Sussex, emphasised the importance of a well-functioning, communicative multidisciplinary team, for the benefit of the members and their patients.  In Britain we find that David Cameron and Andrew Lansley constantly echo that cancer treatment is better in some European countries, but there are no plans to open wider co-operation across the English Channel.

Dutch Research

Presenting the 20-year results from the Dutch national breast cancer screening programme, which now includes women aged 50-75, Jacques Fracheboud from Erasmus Medical Centre said that the programme has contributed to a decrease in breast cancer mortality, and that its benefits outweigh all the potential negative effects. A study presented later by his colleague Rianne de Gelder estimated that in 2008, adjuvant treatment reduced breast cancer deaths by almost 14%, while biennial screening reduced deaths by almost an additional 16%.

Survivorship

In a first ever session dedicated to “survivorship”, Julia Rowland of the U.S. National Cancer Institute described how advocacy in her country led to the creation of the Office of Cancer Survivorship, of which she is the director. With the growing population, and the fact that due to early detection the vast majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer can expect to live beyond 5 years, research and attention must be focussed on the issues concerning this population. She added that the transition to recovery can be stressful for both the woman and her family, and long-term effects of treatment such as fatigue need to be addressed. ED members Mojca Miklavi and Ingrid Kössler then gave moving accounts of their personal experience with survivorship and advocacy.

There was also promising news for younger women. Hatem Azim of the Jules Bordet Institute presented trial results showing that pregnancy is not only safe after breast cancer, it might have a protective effect.

Lifestyle factors

In a well-attended, early morning ED Teaching Lecture, Isabelle Romieu, Head of the Section of Nutrition and Metabolism at the International Agency for Research on Cancer, covered the lifestyle factors that could help in preventing breast cancer. She said that research is now targeted at identifying the subgroups of breast cancer types that could benefit from certain lifestyle interventions.

She reiterated that minimal alcohol consumption, avoiding obesity, eating a low-fat, high-fibre diet and avoiding sweet drinks could help to reduce breast cancer risk. Many of these are the messages of ED annual Breast Health Day campaign, which was outlined by Susan Knox, ED’s Executive Director. Lifestyle was also the topic of a lively Oxford Debate.

A further study presented by Dutch experts indicated that cognitive behavioural therapy and physical exercise can have beneficial effects on treatment-induced menopausal symptoms. In an additional study presented by Jennifer Ligibel from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, women who were overweight or obese at the time of diagnosis were found to have a higher risk of recurrence and a shorter survival than their leaner counterparts.

Metastatic Breast Cancer

A ED session focussed on advocating for the unaddressed needs of women with metastatic breast cancer, who often feel marginalised in current breast care facilities. A panel discussion followed regarding the metastatic setting content to be included in the next edition of the European Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis.

The next conference

EBCC-9 is to be held 19-21 March 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland.  Make a date to go to this, as delegates will be able to hear from a similar group of experts, many of whom have much to offer cancer care and survivorship in Britain.

More information on the conference is available through the European Cancer Organisation (ECCO), and the conference abstracts are available online.

EUROPA DONNA – The European Breast Cancer Coalition
Piazza Amendola, 3
20149 Milan, Italy
Tel: +39 02 3659 2280
Fax: +39 02 3659 2284
Email: info@europadonna.org     Website: www.europadonna.org

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LINk – What is it? and what's in it for me?

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LINk stands for Local Initiative Network

 

Kensington and Chelsea residents prove it works!

 

Mind you, it is all down to the organising team.  Once your support network is set up, enthusiastic locals make it  work.

Our LINk comes under the efficient umbrella of HESTIA, a local housing organisation, and as their website says, “Kensington and Chelsea LINk is an independent network for members of the local community, who share a passion for improving health and social care services”.

LINks have been granted powers outlined in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act, 2007.  Although there have been murmurs they might be disbanded, our LINk will be hard to hold down!  From ‘little’ campaigns to improve care for those who have chronic but overlooked conditions such as polio, which can impact on cancer treatment, to a successful campaign to appoint Cancer Screening Ambassadors to improve screening take-up amongst minority communities.  The whole network buzzes – but then we are lucky to have a very supportive team with HESTIA.

As cancer survivors, four of us met to talk about what WE needed in our area.  Now our Cancer sub-group has increased to around 24 members, of whom about 12 – 20 turn up at each meeting.  Each meeting we have a cancer charity come to talk to us, or a local cancer hospital such as the Royal Brompton (justly famous after James Martin upheld the standard of their food on his TV programme).  Sometimes these meetings can be hilarious:  Mark Davies talking about Bowel Cancer won’t be forgotten in a hurry, and he is coming back again to an event we are busy organising for March 26th.

The best thing about LINk is that local people can actually call for better cancer services.  An official letter from LINk about a service HAS to have a reply – it can’t just be ignored or passed over to PALS!

Come along on March 26th and see what our LINk is up to!

More details on http://www.rbkclink.org/2012/02/23/cancerwellbeingevent

Or http://after-cancer.com/category/a-wellbeing-day/

 

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Nottingham AGM celebrates 25 years of support for cancer survivors

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exterior, Council House, Nottingham

Nottingham Council House  Wikipedia

Nottingham Cancer Patients &

 

Carers

 

All over the world support groups meet to give fellow survivors support and help. Research has proven cancer survivors who make use of support centres can have a better survival rate.  So these groups are doing a marvellous job.

Recently, those who belong to the Nottingham Cancer Patients and Carers Support Group celebrated their 300th monthly meeting. 

This meeting commemorated what must be Britain’s second oldest support group, as it completed 25 years of assisting  people who’s lives have been affected by cancer.  Paul’s Cancer Support Centre (was known as the Cancer Support Centre) in Battersea is probably the oldest, as it is a couple of years older.

Aims

To welcome Patients, Carers and the Healthcare Professionals who provide services to people with cancer, an opportunity to share experience, knowledge and skills, to promote a positive approach to cancer, whilst working towards OPTIMUM HEALTH & WELLBEING for all.

Twenty-five years ago many people were not fully informed about their cancer diagnosis or the treatments being offered to them, but over the years there has seen the growth of information and support they could access through the local and national support groups.     Also, there has been rise in the quality of aids to diagnosis, improved treatments, more cures and far longer survival, with improved quality of life for patients.

From the outset the patients and carers have been the driving and working force within the Nottingham group, helped and at all times supported by the Staff and the Management Team of the Queen’s Medical Centre, the Nottingham University School of Nursing and the Post Graduate Education Centre, who have all enabled us to continue to hold all our monthly meetings free on this campus.

Comment during AGM

Freda Ingall, their tireless Group Leader, gave everyone an update on what had happened during the last quarter century, and in her speech said

“We are most grateful to our guest speakers who volunteer to come along to share their knowledge and skills with us, often after they have had very long demanding and tiring working day.     We appreciate their dedication and skill in treating people with cancer also their generosity in using their precious free time coming along to support our thirst for knowledge, which is helping us, and others to cope with cancers.

Our dear friend and member of this group, Alison Clark, has been a tower of strength since she came along to join us in January 2000, enabling our skills and confidence to grow and our influence to spread.     In 2002, Alison offered Patients and Carers from this support group an opportunity to help her develop the “Talking Cancer” sessions with third year student nurses here in the   Nottingham University School of Nursing. Since 2002 we have completed thirty-eight, half-day “Talking Care” workshops, and all have been greatly appreciated by the students and the members of this group.

Co-operation between survivors and nurses is show by the fact that this group welcomes student nurses who come along to meetings (would that other groups could rely on such support).

Freda went on to say they were indebted to Glennys Fletcher, who developed her knowledge and IT Skills as a medical librarian, and who designed and maintains our web page.      Despite having problems with having to change our Service Provider, we are now running smoothly again on (www.Nottcancergrp. info), sees also (canceractive.com).        Many patients and healthcare professionals now use our web page to access our contact details.     All this work, Glennys does voluntarily and unpaid.    With help from Glennys we developed our own Patient Library Trolley, then Glennys identified the need for a Patients Library Trolley in the Chemo Therapy Out Patients Department at City Hospital.     As a group we joined Glennys in buying and presenting a very sturdy Library Trolley and Glennys presented this in memory of her husband Tom Fletcher who was a member of this group and had been sensitively, and skilfully cared for by all the Staff Chemo Clinic at City Hospital.

We must not forget Elaine Wilson who when Nurse and Acting Director of  Mid Trent Cancer Network  invited us in June 1999 to attend the first Mid Trent Cancer Network Conference, and with her support and training alongside the specialist doctors, nurses and allied providers of cancer services, we all worked to improve care to people affected by cancer.    I believe that our greatest achievement was, helping Elaine to design the ‘Patient Information Prescriptions’, which are now being developed across the UK, with Elaine still helping to guide and manage this process.    You may remember twelve members of this group helped Elaine and other professionals to develop and design the first six  ‘Patient Information Prescriptions’ which are helping cancer services across the UK to improve services to people being treated for various forms of cancer. We all know that having personalised, meaningful,  accurate information reduces patient anxiety and can help to identify ways patients can promote their own response to treatment.

Our monthly meetings and social gatherings continue to be well supported.     We recorded an overall attendance of 234 people attending the monthly meetings here in 2011.     We have a very lively telephone and e-mail service, with requests from patients, carers and healthcare professionals, based locally and other parts of the UK, all requesting information or advice.  We have patients and carers from the group who reach out to support the development of local and national care services.
Glenis and Denis continue to involve us with the Nottingham Maggie’s Cancer Centre, which many of us went along to see the officially opening on   Wednesday 2nd November 2011. A most memorable occasion.
On 13th December Alison and Susan represented the group at the Annual Britain Against Cancer Conference at Westminster. Alison gave us a brief over view at our December meeting and Susan has agreed to give us the patient’s perspective this evening.

Back in November, Ken prepared our Programme for 2012 and it has been so pleasing to receive Emails and messages from a number of   people offering to come along as Guest Speakers at our monthly meetings this year.  In fact our programme for 2012 is almost complete in record time.
Many of our social events are also now booked with the event and dates listed at the bottom of the 2012 programme.   These are the Annual Trip on the Trent 4th July, The Radcliffe Singalong Concerts in 25thMay and 30th November 2012,    The Brett Wales Organ Concert on 10th August. (Raffle prizes to Marjorie or Freda please).   The Talking Cancer Sessions in the Nottingham School of Nursing will be on 9th and 23rd of February please record your availability with Alison.

A big ‘Thank You’ to Margaret who continues to bring along the Monthly Tombola, which is enjoyed by many members, she does appreciate receiving any small-unwanted gifts you may like to donate and this continues to help us provide refreshments free at our meetings.
Also a Big Thank You to Darren and Sharon who brought along the Bran Tub of Gifts for everyone at the Christmastide meeting.

In fact A Very Big Thank You to Marjorie our Chair, to all our Key members and whose who come along to help and support the M0nthy Meetings and Social Events, for without your help, support and enthusiasm there would no Nottingham Cancer Patients and Carers Support Group.  Over the years we have been blessed with a wealth of ongoing support from people within the NHS, our local community and support network, people who care and so generously make a conscious effort to help and support the ongoing Life of this group.

Thanks

As a cancer survivor, we all owe a great debt to Freda and fellow hard-working committee members, and I am continually wanting to publicise events that might be useful.

If any other Cancer Support centre committee members want to attend these, I will see what I can do to obtain free train tickets, if they would like to contact me and tell me which is their train operator from their town to London.  I can’t promise, but have found train companies are often very helpful.  Contact me at verite@greenbee.net or 020 7351 4434.

 

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Cancer Survivors' event to be held in London

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CANCER WELLBEING AFTERNOON

 Monday, March 26th 2012

 Kensington and Chelsea Town Hall, Small Hall

 3 – 7 pm

 Cancer Survivors often speak of feeling  ‘abandoned’ once they leave hospital.  This Event aims to show survivors that there are organisations, services and people out there willing and ready to offer help and advice’  improving quality and wellbeing of life for survivors after cancer.

This is a FUN event with a serious purpose – to show cancer survivors, carers, nurses, medical staff, doctors etc. just what is available in the Borough.

Local Companies have donated spot prizes and raffle prizes ~

first was Chelsea FC Foundation with a football signed by their players

 

Stalls on :

-       Rare Cancers         Prostate Cancer     Breast Cancer         Cancer Support centres

       Free Prescription information stall     Financial advisory stalls  -   Welfare Benefits department (DWP)

-       Citizens advice bureau            Macmillan               Cancer champions

-       Advocacy advisory groups (e.g. Age concern, Advice now, RBKC, Welfare directory)

-       Travel Insurance           Skin care products          Cook and taste demonstration session- Nutritionist

-       Reflexology         Equipment specialist          Lingerie           Health trainer and exercise advice

 -       Medical Tattoos. Wigs  – and more.    (Warning – due to other commitments if a stall can’t participate, we have others to take their pla

Organisers:  Verite Reily Collins,   Paula Murphy, Ijeoma Igwama, Gaenor Holland Williams

Information : http://www.Rbkclink.org or www.after-cancer.com

English: Kenneth Ferrie's golfbag, detail: Flo...

Daffoidils spell Spring Wikipedia

Or contact; Ijeoma Igwume at http://www.kclink@hestia.org

 

0208 969 4852

 

Or :  Verite Reily Collins 020 7351 4434  verite@greenbee.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Cancer Support in Northern Ireland

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Cancer Information Days

in Cookstown

 

 

As part of the Ulster Cancer Foundation’s ongoing commitment to take care services out into the community, the charity has joined forces with Life is for Living after Cancer (LILAC) in Cookstown.

Together, the charities will be hosting monthly information days for cancer patients, their families and anyone concerned about cancer.

The sessions will be held at LILAC premises at 14 Union Street, Cookstown  from 2pm – 4pm and will cover a range of topics from the emotional impact of a diagnosis of cancer to healthy eating and nutrition and how to access benefits.

The sessions are :

•    Tuesday 17th January – Healthy Eating and Nutrition. Speaker: Trudy Barnes, Degree/Masters in Nutrition and Health.
•    Tuesday 21st February – Talking to your children about your Cancer. Speaker: Rachel Smith, UCF Family Support worker
•    Tuesday 20th March – Safe use of Complementary Therapies After a Diagnosis.  Speaker: Bernie Hanna, Complementary Therapist at LILAC.

 

Each session is free of charge, and light refreshments will be available.

As numbers for each session are limited, those wishing to attend should register in advance by calling:
Leonne Morrison at 028 9066 3281/028 9068 0751 or e-mail
leonnemorrison@ulstercancer.org

LILAC Chairperson, Marie McLernon said, “Many people have questions or concerns about the future after a cancer diagnosis.  Some people want help to process the information they have received, others want advice on how best to tell their children, others are concerned about finances.  These information sessions are tailored to help with all these issues.”

Liz Atkinson, Head of Care Services, Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) said, “These new information sessions give people in the local area a chance to discuss issues that are relevant and important to them.  It underlines UCF’s commitment to provide easily accessed services across Northern Ireland.

“The new sessions are in addition to the Support and Information service that we provide at LILAC’s Union Street premises in Cookstown on the 3rd Tuesday of every month.”

For further information please contact:
LILAC on 028 867 66866

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