C3 Autumn Winter 2011 - Clatterbridge Cancer Centre

C3magazine
Autumn/Winter 2011
Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology
INSIDE
Ricky Tomlinson drops in to spread
some cheer and help patients and
staff celebrate the opening of the
refurbished Conway Ward
FREE Please take me home
Welcome to the first
edition of C3 magazine
This issue
Contents
04 Alison celebrates
06 Estates news
Complementary Therapies Room
Mould Room
Delamere waiting area
New overnight facilities open
New Nuclear Medicine scanner
Hydrogen peroxide vapour cleaning
The new name of the magazine represents the continued growth and
achievements of the Trust. We are an accomplished cancer treatment
Centre, we now operate a comprehensive network of Clinics, and our
Charity has gone from strength-to-strength.
Novalis Tx treatment system
3 C’s. Centre, Clinic, Charity.
08 A day in the Macmillan Information Centre
10 Foundation Trust news and stories
11 Ricky raises a smile
12 Focus on technology
We want the hospital community to stay up-to-date with the many exciting
projects and successes at the Centre. Whether a patient, a member of staff or the
Foundation Trust, all our news will now be brought to you in this one magazine.
2011 has been a landmark year for us, distinct in the opening of our new
radiotherapy treatment centre in Liverpool on 14th February. Valentine’s Day, was a
fitting occasion to launch this new service as the project has been a labour of love
for all involved and we couldn’t be more delighted with the finished result. It was
with great pleasure that we welcomed HRH Prince Edward to officially open the
new centre.
The efforts of our loyal supporters never cease to impress, and they helped
reach a poignant milestone when we hit our first £1m fundraising target earlier
this year. This additional income is going a long way to help us achieve our vision
to provide outstanding cancer care through excellence in treatment, research,
education and training and I would like to thank you all for your continued support.
Pages 6 & 7 showcase just a few examples of how fundraising is helping our
patients.
Looking forward, we are committed to continue to deliver the high quality
services and standards we are recognised for. The Trust is in a strong financial
position, which given the current financial climate, is testament to the dedication
and continued team spirit of our staff.
Now, we want to hear from you too – we want you to tell us about your
experience of the hospital, share your good news stories or tell us what you think
of the services so we can continue to improve. Look at our new letters page on
page 19 to see how you can get in touch and share your Clatterbridge chatter!
Andrew Cannell
Chief Executive
14
15
16
.04
Blue lights for ambulance department
Meet Consultant Nicky Thorp
Research round up
Acute oncology one year on
17 The Mark Gorry Foundation
18 Eating right
20 Your views
.15
.14
.12
A patient’s journey
A patient’s journey
A reason to celebrate
From shock to surgery, Alison Davies has been on an incredibly brave journey... and is now on the road to recovery
At 17 years of age, Alison was told by her
GP that her stomach pains could be due to
the fact she was pregnant. An ultrasound
scan however uncovered something a
bit more unexpected for the Tattenhall
student.
The news that her stomach pains were due
to a large tumour on her right ovary set her
life on a whole new course. Alison underwent
emergency surgery to remove the 20 x 16cm
metastatic germ cell tumour in June and is
currently receiving an intensive course of
chemotherapy at the Centre’s Teenage and
Young Adult ward (TYA). This is her story:
“I had stomach pains that were just getting
progressively worse, my GP diagnosed a
water infection or a grumbling appendix,
but when the pains persisted I returned for
a second opinion and was told that I could
in fact be pregnant. They booked me in for
an ultrasound the following Monday, and I
spent that weekend with my boyfriend Craig
looking for a house! I was convinced I was
pregnant so just wanted to find a home
for myself and Craig to start our family.
Being told I wasn’t pregnant was bitter
sweet, instead of a baby inside me, I had a
tumour – and they didn’t know what it was.
“They kept me in overnight for tests and
discharged me the following afternoon asking
me to return in two weeks for a biopsy on
the tumour. But the pains got so bad I was
rushed to A&E at The Countess of Chester
the following day, the tumour was diagnosed
that afternoon and then the very next day I
was transferred to the Liverpool Women’s
Hospital for an operation to remove it. It all
happened so quickly - it didn’t seem real.
“The surgeons successfully removed the
tumour - it was wrapped around my right ovary.
And they confirmed that no damage had been
caused so I can still have children in the future,
something I hadn’t ever really thought about,
but was suddenly all I could think about.
“That was in June. I completed my first
course of chemo, which wasn’t one of the
best things – but I got through it. Then me
and Craig moved into our new house so I
was busy concentrating on that. And after
a six week break in my chemo course, they
did some scans in September… and the
results came back clear. The cancer had
gone. So I didn’t need to have the second
round of my chemo. It was Craig’s 21st
birthday the weekend that they told me the
good news so we had double the reason to
celebrate. I’ll be back at Christmas time for
more tests, but until then, no more chemo –
I’m just going to make the most of that!””
Alison’s consultant, Dr John Green, added:
“Alison is a young woman with a great future
ahead of her, she has coped very well with
three months of tough chemotherapy for a rare
form of advanced cancer. We are hopeful this
will leave her free of disease with a promising
outcome. She worked extremely well with the
team of professionals at the Centre and also
had tremendous support from her family.”
Alison’s mum, Val Davies, added:
“Everyone at the Centre has been fantastic.
The TYA team are simply amazing. We’re all
very positive. This hasn’t ruined Alison’s life,
it’s simply put it on hold for a short while.
Alison turns 18 in December, we’re all looking
forward to having a huge party to celebrate!”
Fundraising events held by Alison’s family
and friends have helped raise a fantastic
£4,000 for the Centre’s charity.
“...they confirmed that no damage had been caused so I can
still have children in the future, something I hadn’t ever really
thought about, but was suddenly all I could think about.”
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5
Estates news
Estates news
The makeover
continues
We are two thirds of the way through our £4.8m capital investment programme to upgrade all
inpatient facilities at the Trust. Comedian Ricky Tomlinson officially opened the newly refurbished
Conway ward in the summer – you can read about it on page 11. With vital fundraising support
we continue to make estate improvements to enhance the hospital environment and make it as
comfortable as possible for our patients and their families.
New overnight
facilities open
for relatives
The Trust officially opened a new Relatives’ Room
last month, with the generous support from two
of our fundraising partners.
The listeners of BBC Radio Merseyside raised a fantastic
£50,000 towards the development and our friends at The
Mark Gorry Foundation added a further £15,000 to create a
two-bedroom facility with shared kitchen and bathroom.
The rooms have been designed to offer relatives’
accommodation during the difficult times of their loved ones’
illness. Large corner sofas, modern decor and soft furnishings
have helped create a calming and tranquil space away from
the ward environment, where family and loved ones can
take a few hours to rest or stay overnight if necessary.
Head of Nursing Judi Ebbrell said: “The large corner sofas
turn into sofa beds – so relatives can use the rooms to rest
their eyes for a few hours or sleep overnight. We’ve worked
closely with the nurses and patient groups to come up with
a concept that will be functional and fully utilised, but most
importantly we wanted the rooms to look and feel completely
different from anywhere else in the hospital so patients’
relatives can get some space from the clinical environment.”
The Mark Gorry Foundation was set up by husband and
wife Mark and Leah Gorry, shortly before he sadly passed
away in 2009, aged 24, after being treated for testicular cancer
and three brain tumours. Leah has been closely involved with
the interior design of the rooms. She added: “When Mark
was really ill in hospital, and taken off the ward for treatment
or scans, it would have been so nice to take an hour out, rest
myself and just have some peace and quiet. We got involved
in the fundraising for this room as I know first hand the benefit
it will offer families who are going through difficult times.”
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C3magazine | Autumn/Winter 11
New look Delamere waiting area
As the upgrade to all inpatient facilities continues – the Delamere ward waiting area
has had a makeover too.
The new conservatory waiting area now benefits from a pleasant, roof top terrace garden, with
floor to ceiling windows and plenty of additional seating.
The Trust is always looking at ways to improve the patient experience at the Centre. Delamere
ward is the outpatient chemotherapy unit and one of our busiest departments. To help with the
patient flow, and to ensure the patient appointment system runs smoothly, a new waiting room
ticketing system has also been installed.
An ‘oasis’ of calm
The addition of an ‘oasis’ of calm
and tranquillity is set to help patients
at the hospital manage the effects of
their treatment.
The new Complementary Therapies
Room in the CReST department (Cancer
Rehabilitation and Support Team) will
offer patients receiving cancer treatment
and supportive care complementary
therapies which include aromatherapy,
massage and reflexology. All treatments
on offer are free of charge and will be
delivered by fully qualified practitioners.
The service was made possible with
generous support from Marks & Spencer
Chester, which donated £36,000 towards
the specially designed room and service.
Pauline Hammond said: “Complementary
therapies will be a wonderful addition to
the services we are able to offer which
can support patients throughout their
treatment. Many people with cancer find
that the use of complementary therapies
alongside orthodox treatments, provide a
great deal of psychological and emotional
support, through the relief of symptoms
such as anxiety, lack of sleep and can
enhance feelings of general well-being.”
If you would like to experience some
of the complementary therapies on offer
at the Clatterbridge ‘oasis’, speak to your
nurse or radiographer who will fill out a
referral form. The team will then contact
you with a suitable appointment.
Marks & Spencer Chester hands over
a generous donation
Glenys and Cledwyn
Williams were the first
guests to use the facility.
Their son Dylan is receiving
radiotherapy treatment for
an aggressive brain tumour.
With their family home,
in Caernavon, Gwynedd,
a 90 mile round trip - for
them the facility has helped
them manage with Dylan’s
illness a lot easier. Glenys said: “We were staying a few miles
away in a campervan which wasn’t ideal, but it meant we could be
close to Dylan. We certainly didn’t expect something like this to be
available to us, and certainly not at this standard. It has made such
a difference to us to be just a stone’s throw away from him and
on hand to help with his recovery. And we know he is a lot calmer
knowing we are so close by. I can’t thank enough everyone involved
in making this room happen.”
£100,000
Mould Room
ready for
patients
Work is now complete
on the newly refurbished
Mould Room.
Incredible precision is
required for any patient receiving
radiotherapy treatment, but
when you consider patients
with cancer of the head and
neck area, precision becomes
ever more important.
Thanks to the work of
the Mould Room team, our
patients stay as safe as
possible during treatment.
A specialist radiographer or
technician will make the mask,
which is an exact mould of the
patient’s face, to ensure they
stay in a consistent position
during treatment. This can
be a daunting experience
for someone who is already
going through a difficult time.
Now a £100,000 fundraising
appeal to fully refurbish the
current facilities has helped
include a designated waiting
room for Mould Room patients;
a separate work area for mask
production and private treatment
areas with consultation rooms
creating a calmer, more relaxed
place for patients.
C3magazine | Autumn/Winter 11
7
Feature
Feature
A centre
for everyone
a prescription exemption card which is valid
for all prescriptions for at least five years.
And the queries keep on coming…
A delivery of leaflets arrive mid morning,
I grab a quick coffee and head off to
the Patient Information Group meeting
to help review information produced by
Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology.
More queries to deal with when I get back:
This is my typical working day:
Morning:
The refurbishment of the Macmillan
Cancer Information and Support Centre
has proved to be a huge success
with patients and their families. We
met with the Centre Manager, Sharon
Winsborrow, to find out more about
this vital service and her working day.
The Centre offers a drop-in service which is
managed by ex-therapy radiographer Sharon and
her team of fantastic volunteers. It’s open MondayFriday between 9am-5pm and welcomes patients and
visitors who want to find out… well, information!
More than that though, Sharon runs an essential
service that which supports, advises and listens to the
concerns which cancer and its effects generate for
many patients and their families. Aside from the mass
of information leaflets in the Centre, there are two PCs
available to use to: Look up information for inpatients
to email and keep in touch with family and friends
who are unable to visit and for online shopping.
The Centre is a rich resource for information on
specific cancer types; welfare and benefits; local and
national support groups; cancer treatment; treatment
side effects; general health advice; cancer awareness/
health promotion; travel insurance; emotional and practical
effects of cancer – such as hair loss… unfortunately
there just isn’t enough room on a page to list them all…
…and if a visitor to the Centre is a little daunted by
the amount of information available, Sharon is there
to talk, but more importantly, listen. She can signpost
visitors to other services and if she is unable to give an
immediate answer to a question, she will always find
someone who can. The Centre also has a quiet room
which is offered to anyone wishing to talk in private.
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C3magazine | Autumn/Winter 11
Afternoon:
My first job of the day is to deal with any
emails or telephone messages. When the
volunteer arrives, we have a quick chat about
what needs doing – today it’s changing
the displays on the Macmillan Information
notice boards around the hospital.
Throughout a typical day I can answer
up to 30 telephone and ‘drop in’ queries.
This is just a few from this morning:
•A District Nurse phones regarding a
steroid dose for one of our patients.
I advise her to speak to a GP and
inform the patient’s consultant
•Query about a Macmillan grant that had
been applied for three weeks ago through
the Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB)
•Three separate enquiries regarding free
prescriptions - since 1st April 2009 anyone
diagnosed with cancer can apply (and get)
•Two enquiries about benefits. I explain
that we have a Macmillan Welfare
and Benefit Advisor at the Centre
• Former patient calls in to say they got their
travel insurance from one of the companies
on our list and had booked their holiday.
Travel insurance is another major issue
for our patients (or in fact anyone with
a medical condition). We have a list of
insurers who will insure patients with medical
conditions – please come and ask for it
•My colleague from the Macmillan Cancer
Information and Support Centre on the
Isle of Man telephones to request a Wirral
Visitor’s Guide for one of their patients who
is coming to the Centre for treatment
•The partner of a patient called in about
their mood swings. We went into
the quiet room and talked about the
emotional effects a cancer diagnosis has
on individuals and their relationships.
We discussed psychological support
services available at the Centre
After a late lunch I check my emails
while one of the lovely volunteers
begins a stock-take to let me know
what information needs re-ordering.
•A lady called in for information about ovarian
cancer and complementary therapies
•A lady called in who is having chemotherapy
and is going to lose her hair discussed the
practical and emotional implications with
her, talked about wigs and the HeadStrong
service at the Centre which demonstrates
ways to wear hats and scarves
•A member of the Prostate Cancer Support
Group called in to see if we had any new
information to share with their group
•I completed a Macmillan grant
application for a patient
•A student therapy radiographer requested
information on ‘Papillon’ treatment,
a form of radiotherapy for patients with
rectal tumours
Began to tidy up and get ready
to close the Centre at 5pm
Towards the end of the day a patient
whose partner was diagnosed with
cancer two years ago and has just been
diagnosed with secondary cancer, called
in for advice. They have four children and
didn’t tell them about the cancer two years
ago, but feel that they need to talk to the
children this time. I recommended the
booklet ‘Talking To Children When An Adult
Has Cancer’ which has excellent advice
about talking to children of all ages.
Slightly later than 5pm, close
the Centre for another day.
“Throughout a typical day I can answer up to
30 telephone and ‘drop in’ queries.”
C3magazine | Autumn/Winter 11
9
Foundation Trust news
Media
Building a Foundation
New
Governors
announced
The election results for the
2011 Council of Governors are
now complete. Members at the
Trust have had their say and
selected the candidates they
feel will represent their views
in the years ahead. The Trust
is pleased to announce its new
Governors as follows:
Cheryl Rossenblatt
tells us why
Clatterbridge is
close to her heart
The ‘step-up’ beds provide an increased
level of nursing care and are situated
in purpose built side rooms.
Public Constituencies:
Wirral, Wales & rest
of England:
Trevor Benn and Jill Johnson
Warrington & Halton: Stuart Clutton
Chester, Ellesmere Port
& Vale Royal:
Lawrie Black
Cheryl Rossenblatt
Liverpool:
John Navein
Tilly Rossenblatt
Hello, my name is
“18 months at Clatterbridge with my
Cheryl Rossenblatt
and I am a Foundation Trust daughter gave me an insight into the
Governor. I work part-time
as a teacher, look after two workings of what I believe to be an
dogs, a grumpy husband,
a delightful daughter just
excellent medical establishment.”
going off to university and
a grunting 16-year-old son.
Our daughter Tilly was treated
at Clatterbridge for 18 months.
General medical care was
always good but near the end of
her chemotherapy she had 30
fractions of radiotherapy to her
head and neck. We were dreading
this treatment even more than
the pretty rough chemotherapy. But our fears were abated as
soon as we entered the mould
room and, with support from
specialist nurse Lynn Dickinson,
and all the radiotherapy team, we
continued to feel supported and
informed. All procedures were
fully explained, appointments
were made but at all times we
10
were reassured that times could
be changed if Tilly felt poorly.
Everyone greeted us like old
friends. We spent hours in various
waiting rooms and under a variety
of machines, Tilly got her A level
results at the Centre too. Our
other children were encouraged
to watch her treatment and we
were made to feel unafraid at
all times. Tilly got three As at
A level, unfortunately she did
not get to go to university and
passed away on June 9th, 2010. The day-to-day care of cancer
patients is hugely important, the
outcomes (that awful word) so
often, unknown. The last period of
C3magazine | Autumn/Winter 11
a person’s life are often spent in
complete fear and trepidation.
Thanks to the radiotherapy
department, many elements of
Tilly’s treatment were fine and
sometimes we even felt normal.
Eighteen months at
Clatterbridge with my daughter
gave me an insight into the
workings of what I believe
to be an excellent medical
establishment. I wanted to be
involved, in the hope that as a
team member, I can help the
Trust in its efforts in maintaining
its eminent position and
continue in its quest
to improve services.
St Helens & Knowsley:
Alan Griffiths and
Gerald O’Connell
Staff Constituency:
Volunteers, Service Providers
& Contracted Staff:
Eileen Howlett
Each of the above Governors
is appointed for a three year
term of office with effect
from 29th September, 2011.
Thank you to everyone
who took part in the
election process.
The 2010/11 Annual Report &
Accounts are now available
to view on our website
www.ccotrust.nhs.uk
Ricky raises a smile on new ward
Comedian Ricky Tomlinson officially
opened the newly refurbished Conway
ward in the summer. Ricky spent time
meeting with staff and patients on all
inpatient wards at the hospital... and
raised a few smiles along the way.
Conway ward now has 24 inpatient beds
in single-sex-bays. Each bay has its own ensuite facilities and the ward now has six side
rooms. This is the second ward refurbishment
we have completed, as part of a wider
project to upgrade all inpatient facilities at
the hospital. The third and final ward to be
refurbished – Mersey ward – will be complete
by spring 2012. The new wards feature the
latest facilities and technology for the best
possible patient care. Every bedside on the
ward now has its own free-view television and
for the first time at the hospital we are able to
offer two ‘step-up’ beds for acutely ill patients.
We are committed to providing cancer
treatment on an outpatient basis where
possible, as we understand the benefits
for a patient to remain at home during their
treatment. However, some treatments and their
side effects require inpatient stays, and for
acutely ill patients this can mean a transfer to
an acute hospital for high dependency care.
Now patients who require increased nursing
support can be admitted to the rooms which
are equipped with specialised patient
monitoring systems.
Susan Reynolds, Conway Ward Manager,
said: “The introduction of the ‘step-up’
beds has proved to be a huge benefit to
our patients. We can now offer improved
continuity of oncology care to acutely ill
patients. Each patient being nursed in these
beds is reviewed by a Consultant every
morning before the ward round begins and a
plan of action is documented and the nurse/
patient ratio is stepped up to guarantee
the advanced level of care required by the
patients. Being transferred to another hospital
for high dependency care isn’t ideal, now
with the addition of these two extra beds
we are able to offer some patients care in
an environment that is familiar and by staff
who they have come to know, which is a
massive benefit to them and their families.”
C3magazine | Autumn/Winter 11
11
Focus on technology
Focus on technology
Focus on technology
UK first for Liverpool machine
The SRS Team: Walton Centre Neurosurgeon Mike Jenkinson, Clatterbridge Medical Director David Husband, Walton Centre Nurse Anna Crofton,
Clatterbridge Medical Physicist Helen Mayles and Radiographer Ruth Clements.
The UK’s first Novalis Tx treatment system was launched
at our new satellite centre in Liverpool earlier this year.
The machine has advanced capability to treat cancer using
a specialised technique called stereotactic radiosurgery
(SRS) - which is particularly beneficial for tumours of the
brain and spine.
The Centre is highly skilled in SRS treatment. Our dedicated
SRS team is one of the most experienced in the UK and has
been using the technique to treat a variety of histologies since
implementing the service in 2002.
Now the SRS team’s experience and knowledge, coupled
with the co-location with The Walton Centre, has allowed us to
expand this vital service further. Generous donations from charity
supporters and investment through the hospital have helped us
purchase additional head frames, enabling us to increase our
capacity of the SRS service. And with the exciting introduction of
cutting edge Novalis Tx radiotherapy technology we now have the
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C3magazine | Autumn/Winter 11
ability to treat certain patients with ‘Frameless Radiosurgery’, using
a mask system, as opposed to a fixed head frame - enhancing
the level of comfort for the patient throughout the procedure.
The new Novalis Tx affords us exciting developments in our
radiotherapy treatments. Our satellite centre in Liverpool is the
first facility in the UK to carry out treatment using the groundbreaking machine and we are already seeing the benefit it offers
to North West patients when the team recently treated their first
arteriovenous malformation (AVM) patient with the technology.
AVM is a condition typically associated with the brain and spinal
cord and involves abnormal connection between arteries.
The technique is highly technical and previously unavailable
in the Merseyside and Cheshire region. Previously patients
with an AVM condition would be referred to Sheffield
for treatment, but now our expert team is able to treat
patients locally - reiterating our commitment to bringing
cancer services closer to our patients’ homes.
New machines
add extra
sparkle
The Infection Prevention and
Control team’s hard work
in preventing Healthcare
Associated Infections
continues. The Centre has
reported only one MRSA blood
stream infection in the past
seven and a half years and
has consistently achieved
the objectives set by the
Department of Health.
The majority of our patients are particularly vulnerable to
infections because of their immuno-compromised state. This
makes our successes in the prevention of Healthcare Associated
Infections all the more rewarding. We are never complacent and
continue to investigate new methods to tackle infection and maintain
the highest standards to protect our patients, visitors and staff.
The Department of Health’s national objectives to reduce the
number of reported Clostridium difficile (C.diff) cases in hospitals
continues to test NHS infection prevention and control processes.
We were set an objective of no more than 12 cases last year,
which we achieved with only 10 reported cases. However, we are
challenged to improve year on year and with our target for C.diff
cases set at eight for this coming year, the Trust has invested
in two Hydrogen Peroxide Vapour (HPV) cleaning machines
to enhance our existing high standards of cleanliness.
The state-of-the-art machines use a combination of hydrogen
peroxide and silver cations to rapidly disinfect areas without
leaving any toxic residue. The technology can be used to clean
a wide range of surfaces, emitting an even spread of disinfecting
‘mist’ which makes contact with hard to reach areas, leaving no
place for infected spores to survive. Used throughout Europe, the
Middle East, Africa and the US, the decontamination solution has a
proven success against many germs including C.diff and MRSA.
Debbie Kretzer, Infection Control Lead Nurse, said: “We want to
make sure our hospital is as clean and safe as possible for patients
and these machines will help to achieve this. The machines are
used routinely following any building works and whenever we have
had a patient with a C. diff infection. It’s a two-and-a-half-hour
operation and takes a lot of team work, but it’s worth it because
we can be confident that if any germs managed to survive the first
chlorine clean, we’ll get them with the final disinfectant mist.”
New gamma
camera steps
up scans
‘Nuclear Medicine’ – although it sounds daunting, our team
of fantastic diagnostic radiographers in the Nuclear Medicine
department are nothing to be afraid of. With their new piece
of sophisticated equipment now up and running, the team
is helping to deliver more accurate and definitive imaging
reports than ever before.
Nuclear medicine is a form of medical imaging that uses small
amounts of radioactive material to diagnose abnormalities within
the body.
Nuclear medicine imaging studies are generally more organ
or tissue specific (eg: breast scans, bone scan, prostate scan)
than those in conventional radiology imaging which focus on a
particular section of the body (eg: chest X-ray, abdomen/pelvis
CT scan, head CT scan).
Now, thanks to a new state-of-the-art gamma camera installed
in the Nuclear Medicine Department last month, the team has
the capability to take a CT scan at the same time as a nuclear
medicine scan – giving a much more accurate and definitive
scan. The SPECT/CT scanner offers the advantage of functional
imaging with the addition of anatomical information. This results in
greater specificity.
Being able to complete both scans at the same time not only
offers a more accurate and definitive diagnosis, but reduces the
pressure on waiting lists and the all important waiting time to
receive results.
“This scanner offers the most up-to-date technology
which enables us to achieve advanced image quality
and produce extremely accurate scan data. The new
scanner has greater versatility and now that we have
the facility to undertake simultaneous CT scans, it
means that we can advance our service and provide a
greater imaging experience for the patient.”
Elaine Clews, Nuclear Medicine, Team Leader
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13
News
Feature
Blue lights for
ambulance department
Graham Banks
The Transport Desk seems an
unlikely place to find anything of
great interest… but at Clatterbridge
it’s the place where conversations
are born and friends are made!
The busy department arranges
between 150 – 200 individual patient
transport journeys every day. Supported
by North West Ambulance Care Assistants
and the fantastic volunteer drivers, it’s
an invaluable service to the Trust.
Clatterbridge employee Sean Grantham and
Northwest Ambulance employee Irene Peers
work behind the transport desk, dealing with
the necessary requirements to get our patients
to and from home. And that’s no easy task!
Sean said: “Once a patient has been given
their treatment appointment times by the
appointment desk, their details are passed
through onto our system. A planner in the
central PTS Control Room in the Chester
Control Room then has the task of mapping
Sean Grantham
that patient into a daily route – they are given
the information 12 hours prior to the transport
day, and they can plan up to 600 patient
journeys a day. That’s not just Clatterbridge
patients, its patients booked for appointments
across every hospital in the Merseyside
and Cheshire region and sometimes further
afield. I don’t envy their job. Inevitably there
are delays and quite a bit of waiting around
but we try our best to offer patients the most
convenient route and times. The spirit and cooperation of the patients never fails to enthuse
me. I have met some of the most amazing
people while working behind this desk. I look
forward to my daily catch-up with patients and
hearing their stories. It’s bitter sweet when
they finish their treatment, it’s good to see
them leave but you miss your daily chats.”
There are certain eligibility criteria for patient
transport but every North West cancer patient
is entitled to free hospital transport regardless
of their circumstances. Volunteer drivers
support the service to help with the volume
of patients requiring assistance. Without
them this service would not be possible.
63-year-old Graham Banks is one of the
amazing volunteer drivers who transports
Clatterbridge cancer patients to and from
their treatment appointments. He told us:
“I’ve been a volunteer driver for the last
seven years and I’m not looking to hang
my driving gloves up just yet. I just really
enjoy it. I like meeting new people and you
get to do a lot of that in this job. I’m from
Childwall in Liverpool so I pick up from
the central Liverpool area and can drop
off anywhere in Merseyside and beyond.
There’s one lady who travels to a hospital
in Leeds every Thursday. I suppose the
most important part of this job is that you
must enjoy driving because there is a lot
of that. The Clatterbridge patients are my
favourites though, well I would say that I
guess? I’m a good listener and that helps
because the patients enjoy talking on their
journeys. Holidays are always a good
topic, you can ask me about any package
holiday and I bet I’ve heard about it. It’s
always encouraging to see how positive
the Clatterbridge patients are. Many of
the volunteer drivers have had family or
friends treated here so they specifically
do this job to give something back. A few
of the drivers are ex-patients too, fighting
fit and doing well. There’s good banter
between all the drivers, we have a right
old laugh and the patients join in too
which is always good-for us and them.”
Anyone wishing to become a
volunteer car driver can send
an expression of interest to
the Central Recruitment Dept,
North West Ambulance Service,
Elm House, Belmont Grove,
Anfield, Liverpool L6 4EG.
“Many of the volunteer drivers have had family or friends treated here so
they specifically do this job to give something back. A few of the drivers
are ex-patients too, fighting fit and doing well!”
14
C3magazine | Autumn/Winter 11
Meet Nicky
Nicola Thorp
Consultant Clinical
Oncologist
She joined Clatterbridge:
In 1995 as a Specialist Registrar in Clinical
Oncology.
Associate Medical
Director
She enjoys:
Spending time with her three children; hill
walking; her book club; burgundy wine
and her position as Trustee for ‘National
Museums Liverpool’.
Specialist in breast
cancer (chemotherapy
and radiotherapy) and
paediatric radiotherapy
She also:
Is a member of the Children’s Cancer and
Leukaemia Group; National Chair of the
CCLG Radiotherapy Working Group; sits on
the National Proton Therapy Referral Panel;
is a Staff Governor and clinical lead
on the discussions around plans for a new
cancer centre in Liverpool.
Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer)
cells form in the tissues of the breast.
Q
What are the symptoms?
The key is for the woman
to know what ‘normal’ is, then
changes can be noticed.
Examples of the kind of things
to look out for include:
Q
•Lumps or thickening of the tissue
•Any flaking skin or discharge
from the nipple
•‘Tethering’ of the skin, as if it’s
being pulled from the inside
•Any unusual sensation or discomfort
•A change in outline, shape
or size of the breast
Q
Q
What causes breast cancer?
The precise reasons why a woman
develops breast cancer are still unknown
but are thought to be a combination
of genetic, environmental and lifestyle
factors. Hormones also seem to have an
important role in breast cancer. Research
has shown a link between oestrogen
levels (the female sex hormone) and
the risk of developing breast cancer.
How common is breast cancer?
The lifetime risk of developing breast
cancer is 1 in 8. It has become the most
common cancer in the UK and is the leading
cause of death for women aged 34 to 54.
Men can also develop breast cancer.
She said:
The complexity and innovation potential of
cancer treatments attracted me to oncology
during my time as a medical student. I have
a holistic view to treatment. I believe all
aspects of people’s needs, psychological,
physical and social, should be taken into
account and seen as a whole in medical
practice and Clatterbridge is a place
which supports that. From the minute I
walked through the door at Clatterbridge, I
immediately felt the warmth and welcoming
spirit of the Centre. The Trust is very patient
- focussed and that suits me fine. The best
part of my job is when I am in clinic seeing
my patients.
How is it diagnosed?
If a lump is found, techniques used
to investigate it include using an ultrasound
and mammogram. Doctors may take
a sample of tissue using a needle.
Q
How is it treated?
Once a diagnosis of breast cancer
is confirmed, the exact treatment used
depends on several factors, including:
•The stage of the tumour (how
far it has spread) and whether
there is secondary cancer
•The receptor status of the breast cancer
•Fitness and wellbeing
•If you’ve had the menopause
•Your own wishes on the
treatments you may receive
C3magazine | Autumn/Winter 11
15
Charity news
News
Research
round up
The UK’s National Cancer Research Network (NCRN) aims to provide
the NHS with an infrastructure to support high quality cancer clinical
studies. Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology is the host organisation for the
Merseyside and Cheshire Cancer Network (MCCRN) and 2010/11 was another
consistent performance for our network, with 18.7% of cancer incidence cases
being entered into clinical trials (one of the most successful in the UK).
Grant award
Improving outcomes
Showing off
A large research grant has been awarded
to Clatterbridge Oncologist Dr Zaf Malik to
lead a UK phase II study on a new breast
cancer chemotherapy agent - Cabazitaxel.
A key objective for the Trust is to increase
the amount of internationally competitive
research that we lead on. To help achieve
this, the Trust has appointed Dr Rosemary
Lord as research lead for Chemotherapy
and Dr Isabel Syndikus as research lead for
Radiotherapy. The appointments will help
support the implementation of the Trust’s
research strategy over the next three years.
The NCRN host annual
roadshows throughout the
UK to share good practice
and engage with the 32
local research organisations
in the National Cancer
Research Network.
Clatterbridge Research
Practitioner Team Leader
Emma Dodd and Clatterbridge
MCCRN Manager Pat Gillis
were invited to host workshop
sessions at the 2011
roadshows. Emma and Pat
were chosen to showcase the
novel portfolio management
system that our region
has in place for evaluating
participation in clinical trials.
Clatterbridge was the largest recruiter to a
tropic study which proved to extend the life
of patients with advanced prostate cancer.
Now the Centre has been chosen as the lead
site for this new UK study to trial the potential
of the drug on breast cancer patients.
Dr Malik said:
“This is an interesting drug that has demonstrated
efficacy in cancers that have been previously
been resistant to taxane treatment. It also has the
unique property of crossing the blood/brain barrier
and we hope to investigate its effectiveness in
advance breast cancer with brain metastases.”
They added: “We are delighted to have
this opportunity to support the Trust’s
commitment to securing a reputation for
excellence in cancer research. We are
aiming to establish a portfolio of novel
research projects, in close collaboration
with the Liverpool Cancer Trials Unit and
University of Liverpool, with the ultimate aim
of improving outcomes for our patients.”
Pioneering acute oncology service marks its first year
A pioneering acute oncology service has
celebrated its first successful year.
All seven hospitals with A&E
departments in the Merseyside and
Cheshire Cancer Network now have an
acute oncology team in place to provide
advice and support to staff and patients
admitted with cancer related illnesses.
The overall aim is to enhance the
quality of oncology patient care, improve
communication across medical teams,
educate medical colleagues and reduce the
amount of inpatient stays.
This is the first comprehensive acute
oncology service in the UK which extends
over a wide reaching network and the
benefits are already being felt by patients
and staff. Judith Carser is a Clatterbridge
Consultant in Acute Oncology.
16
She delivers the service at The Royal
Liverpool Hospital and she told us:
“The number of patients receiving
outpatient treatment for cancer has
significantly increased in recent years,
however complexity of treatment has
increased too. Most patients will present at
their local A&E department when they have
side effects of treatment or symptoms of
disease, but these departments previously
lacked on-site oncology expertise.
Clatterbridge is leading the way
in providing this essential oncology
consultation service across a whole
network of acute hospitals, establishing vital
partnership working but more importantly
speeding up the diagnosis of cancer
related illness. Patients are appreciative of
the advice and support on hand for them
and the staff are keen to learn more about
oncology signs and symptoms.”
C3magazine | Autumn/Winter 11
Acute Oncology Team at The Royal Liverpool Hospital.
(Clockwise from left) Clatterbridge Oncologists:
Dr Sue O’Reilly, Dr David Smith, Dr Judith Carser
and Acute Oncology Nurse Mike Varey.
Stay on
the ball lads
The Mark Gorry Foundation is a testicular
cancer charity. It was set up by Mark
during his battle with the disease in 2009.
The aim of the Foundation is to raise funds
for the organisations which supported
him through his illness; a foundation that
would positively impact the treatment of
cancer in the future as well as work at
raising awareness among young men of
the symptoms of testicular cancer.
Due to the late detection of his disease,
Mark’s personal goal was to start a movement,
which encouraged men to ‘stay on the ball’. He
wanted other men to be informed of testicular
cancer symptoms, promoting early detection.
When Mark’s condition unfortunately
became terminal in September 2009, he grew
more determined to see his vision created
and it was a hugely emotional day when he
attended the first ‘MGF’ event. Since this
first event the Foundation has raised more
than £56,000 for the hospital’s charity. But
more importantly, the Foundation is raising
vital awareness of a disease which is now
the most common type of cancer to affect
young men (20 to 35 years of age). If detected
early, testicular cancer has one of the highest
cure rates of all cancers - over 95% of men
with early stage testicular cancer will be
completely cured. So awareness is vital.
Mark passed away in December 2009.
He was 24 years old. Mark’s spirit, his focus
and his huge personality, form the basis
of what this foundation is all about and
the team continue to drive Mark’s dreams
forward, making his aspirations a reality.
His wife, Leah Gorry, is CEO of the
Foundation. She said: “Dealing with cancer
is a horrific experience and to lose someone
Mark and Leah Gorry
MGF supporters cycled from London to Paris
raising a fantastic £40k for the hospital charity
you love is heart-breaking. Mark was so
passionate about the Foundation and I am
proud to have a dedicated team of people
supporting me and helping it grow.
Mark told me that the Foundation
would only ever be what we make it. I’ll
take this statement as a gift from him
and will probably use it throughout my
life, in the many different paths I take.
We want to achieve Mark’s goal of
raising £1 million and more importantly
we want to really change how men
think when it comes to their balls!
When Mark set up the Foundation in
October 2009, he received an email from
someone who had found a lump in his
testes some time ago. After hearing about
Mark’s story, his Foundation and reading the
information on our website, he had been to
the doctors and was referred to a specialist.
Mark read the email and cried. He cried
because he was so proud of having a personal
impact on one person and possibly his life.
Mark said: “It was all worth it for that one
email. I don’t know who that person was, or
whether it was a false alarm - I hope it was,
but how amazing to make such a difference.
“That is what we are hoping to achieve,
to make a difference by educating men and
women on what to look out for, how to self
examine and to promote the importance
of getting it checked out by your doctor
if you have any concerns. Early detection
really can save your life. For Mark, it was
too late, but for you, we hope it is not.”
To find out more visit
www.themarkgorryfoundation.co.uk
“If detected early, testicular cancer has one of the highest cure rates of
all cancers - over 95% of men with early stage testicular cancer will be
completely cured. So awareness is vital.”
C3magazine | Autumn/Winter 11
17
Feature
Feature
Food glorious food!
Eating the right kinds of foods before,
during, and after cancer treatment
will help patients feel better and stay
stronger. Clatterbridge Dietitian Kathryn
Parr talks about nutritional management
in prostate cancer.
Tomatoes have been hailed
as a wonder food in the battle
against prostate cancer.
Just two servings of tomato sauce
or 5mg of lycopene can help reduce
progression with cooked tomatoes found
to be more potent than raw products.
Foods to include in diet
Diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole
grains and low in saturated fat are
advised for prostate cancer patients, as
is an increase in soy consumption.
Having one to four servings of fish
per week can be beneficial in preventing
prostate progression and recurrence
and is also associated with a lower
risk of cardiovascular disease.
FAST FACTS
Bone health
Men receiving hormone therapy or ADT
experience rapid bone loss, increased fat
mass and decreased muscle mass.
In addition to following a healthy diet
that includes adequate calcium and
vitamin D, quitting smoking, reducing
alcohol and regular exercise is
encouraged to combat bone loss.
Helping to combat side effects
Radiation induced diarrhoea can be a
complication of pelvic radiotherapy. Dietetic
approaches have been
suggested and
18
• Calcium intake above 1000mg
per day ceases to be beneficial
and it is possible that the risk
prostate cancer increases
• Levels of 10μg per day of vitamin D
is recommended in men at risk of
prostate cancer such as older men,
men with dark skin, men who cover
up when outside, men who rarely
get outdoors, men who avoid meat
or oily fish and men on Androgen
Deprivation Therapy (ADT)
• In a recent SELECT study, researchers
found that the suggested supplement
of 200 μg per day of Selenium did not
prevent prostate cancer but possibly
increased the risk. The UK RNI is 75
μg per day and can be found in dietary
sources including bread, cereal, meat,
fish, cheese and eggs
Vitamins
An intake of 1000mg calcium
is recommended.
Lack of vitamin D has been reported
as a factor in progressing prostate cancer.
Sunlight is a major source of vitamin D
and it can be found in oily fish (salmon,
mackerel, sardines), meat, egg yolk,
fortified margarines and some cereals.
Vitamin E, in low intakes, may be
beneficial in select patients. However
some experts advise against vitamin E and
antioxidants while having chemotherapy and
radiotherapy. Until more is known, patients
should be encouraged to obtain vitamin
E from food sources such as nuts, seeds,
vegetable oils, leafy green vegetables and
fortified cereal and not take supplements
that exceed 100% of the recommended
nutrient intakes (RNI) or 10 mg/day.
• Lycopene is found in red fruits such
as red carrots and watermelons
include controlled fibre intake, low fat diets,
low lactose diets and elemental diets.
Certain foods should be avoided
such as caffeine, spicy foods, sorbitol
and other sugar alcohols.
Patients can help prevent rectal gas
by avoiding chewing gum and smoking,
not talking while eating, avoiding carbonated
drinks and limiting foods which cause wind.
Fatigue is a recognised side effect
of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and
anti-hormone therapy. It can be the result
of anaemia but physical exercise can help.
Exercise programmes that include
resistance training and walking programmes
have resulted in improvements in fatigue,
muscular fitness and quality of life in patients.
C3magazine | Autumn/Winter 11
• Some evidence suggests that
probiotics and psyllium fibre may
prove to be beneficial in treating
radiotherapy induced diarrhoea.
Loperamide or codeine phosphate
taken 30-60 minutes before eating
may improve symptoms and allow for
more dietary freedom
“Usual healthy eating
guidelines can be
very different from
good eating habits
for cancer patients.
The dietitian team at
the Centre is on hand
to help our patients
get the nutrients
they need to keep
their body weight
and strength up.”
Train your brain
with this puzzle
challenge
S T L
R G E
W I N
The dietician team: Kathryn Parr, Liz Waters and Jennifer McCracken
Recipe of the month
Fisherman’s Pie
by Kathryn Parr
(serves 4-6 people)
To make this a healthier
lower calorie dish.
Try the following:
This is a family favorite of mine.
You can use any fish you like.
I sometimes use fish pie mix.
Aunt Bessie’s frozen homestyle
mashed potatoes are great if you
are trying to save time. This dish
goes great with baked beans. Try
it with a tiny bit of Reggae Reggae
Ketchup for a bit of a “kick”.
No need to add the 1 oz of butter
to the fish. Use low fat milk to
make the sauce. Make the white
sauce by adding white sauce
granules instead of using the
flour and 3 oz butter. Instead of
sprinkling cheese on the top,
try adding crushed cornflakes.
Ingredients
Method
450g (1lb) white fish, skin
and bones removed.
570 ml (1pint) full fat milk
1 onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
100 g(4 oz) butter or margarine
50g (2oz) plain flour
110 g (4 oz prawns)
2 hard boiled eggs,
roughly chopped
1 handful chopped parsley
1 tbsp lemon juice
Salt and pepper
100 g (4 oz) grated cheese
900g (2lb) boiled potato
Milk, butter or margarine
1. Place fish in a baking dish and
season with salt and pepper.
Pour over ½ the milk and dot
with 1 oz of butter or margarine.
Bake in 200oC oven for 15-20
minutes. Pour off and reserve
the cooking liquid. Flake the
fish into bite size pieces.
2.Sauté onion and carrot in olive
oil until tender, about 5 minutes.
3.Make white sauce. Melt the
remaining 3 oz of butter,
then stir in the flour and
gradually add the fish cooking
liquid-stirring well after each
addition. When all the liquid
is in, finish off the sauce by
Using the nine letters provided,
can you answer these clues?
Every answer must include
the highlighted letter G.
Which sport uses
all nine letters?
5 letters
Striped wild cat
Catapult
Burn slightly
Rule
Small sticks
Bird’s limbs for flying
slowly adding the remaining
milk and seasoning
with salt and pepper.
4.Next mix the fish into the
sauce, add the prawns,
boiled eggs, parsley,
onion, carrot and lemon
juice. Taste and add salt
and pepper as needed.
5.Pour this fish mixture
into a baking dish.
6.Mash the potato with milk
and butter and spread
over the fish mixture.
7.Finally sprinkle the cheese
over the top and bake for
about 30-40 minutes, or until
heated through and browned.
6 Letters
Inattached
Twine
Devour
Give up a job
Needlework
Vocalist
7 Letters
Curl of hair
Shine
Cartilage in meat
Cooking slowly in a pot
8 Letters
British monetary standard
Word Builder answers: Tiger, Sling,
Singe, Reign, Twigs, Wings, Single,
String, Ingest, Resign, Sewing, Singer,
Ringlet, Glisten, Gristle, Stewing, Sterling.
Nine letter word: Wrestling.
Superfoods that can help fight against cancer
Word
builder
C3magazine | Autumn/Winter 11
19
Letters page
Mailbox
Thank you notes
YOUR VIEWS
This is the first edition of the hospital’s new
magazine, we hope you like it. We know that there
is amazing work going on in the hospital everyday
- if you have a story you would like to share or if
you want to tell us about your experience or the
experience of a loved one, please get in touch.
Looking forward to hearing from you…
Susan King
E: [email protected]
T: 0151 482 7719
STARr
Lette
Mersey
So sorry I still can’t
remember all of your
names, there’s two or three
that stood out and you all
looked after me.
Big thanks to my two water boy ladies
who always came in my hour of need,
and my friend who had the nasty job of
being mum and washing my bum, and all
my cups of coffee and biscuits, and the
angels that walked the ward at night.
You all helped to make my stay easier.
Tom Clark, Hoylake
In April this year we reached our £1m
fundraising target!
Among other things, charitable income
has been spent on 50 cutting edge chemo
pumps, a complementary therapies room,
10 new profile beds for Sulby Ward, a wide
range of research projects, a number of
staff posts in the centre, pager systems
for diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy
waiting areas, chemo cars, the Relatives
Room, and much more…
We just wanted to say THANK YOU on
behalf of our patients – past, present and
future for your support.
This year we need to raise £1.4 million
to continue to provide outstanding cancer
care to our 26,000 patients. If you want
to get involved call in to see us and have
a chat in the fundraising office, or visit:
www.yourclatterbridge.org.uk
Marie Turnbull, Head of Fundraising
Just wanted to thank staff and patients for
their co-operation during the construction
work that has been going on around the
Trust over the last 18 months. There’s been
a lot going on, and it hasn’t been all plain
sailing - but I’m sure you’ll all agree with me
that the finished products have surpassed
expectations and the refurbishments look
fantastic. Thanks again.
Steve Morris, Head of Technical Services
We recognise the importance of your experience as
a patient and those of your family and friends. If you have
any compliments, concerns or complaints please contact:
Sue Relph on: 0151 482 7927 or [email protected]
I just couldn’t believe how
kind and smiling and helpful
everyone was. I was just
amazed and overwhelmed
by it all (and I still am).
Everyone was just so good and
kind – all the radiotherapists on
M10-5 and all the chemo ladies
and the folks who did the blood
tests on Delamere ward and the
specialist nurses and of course Dr
Sripadam who was kindness itself.
The lady who arranged
transport (Debbie and her
helper Sean) were always most
pleasant and managed to
arrange everything so well.
I just felt I had to let you know how
much I appreciate all that was
done for me and to congratulate
you on the wonderful spirit that is
in Clatterbridge.
Miss E. Cooper, Crosby
Conway staff
Thank you for making the Royal
Wedding Day such a special day
for me as a patient. You went to
so much trouble with bunting,
cakes, cocktails and programmes
that I really felt as if I was there.
It will be a treasured memory
forever. Mrs. Edwards, Childwall
Cyclotron
I would like to emphasise my
gratitude and admiration for
all of the staff in the Cyclotron
unit. At every moment they were
highly professional, friendly
and cheerful and relentlessly
optimistic - all of which was
vital to me at such a stressful
time. Everyone “got it right”.
Richard Moffat, Angus
Team receives international award
The Rapid Discharge Pathway Working Group was awarded 2nd prize in
the Multidisciplinary Teamworking Award at the 2011 International Journal
of Palliative Nursing Awards.
The working group had the difficult task of ensuring an efficient process
for our patients who choose to spend their last days at home - providing a
care pathway and accompanying clinical documents. This is a vital service
provided to our patients who require the utmost quality of care. Well done!
20
C3magazine | Autumn/Winter 11