INSIDE VIEW Issue 50 August 2019
PROGRESS IN TACKLING PROSTATE CANCER at Mount Vernon Hospital
www.stricklandscanner.org.uk
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Consultant gives evidence to MPs Dr Amish Lakhani (pictured), consultant radiologist at Paul Strickland Scanner Centre, has been called upon to give written evidence to the House of Commons as part of an inquiry into radiotherapy services in England. Dr Lakhani recently published a research paper highlighting the importance of close working relationships between imaging and radiotherapy teams, as practiced between us and Mount Vernon Cancer Centre.
Scanning for a healthier future Paul Strickland Scanner giving patients the Centre is an independent opportunity of a medical charity based at healthier future. Mount Vernon Hospital, We receive no a specialist cancer government funding. centre in Greater London. Legacies and We provide comprehendonations help fund sive scanning services to new scanners, which the NHS and private have to be replaced health sectors for the frequently, so patients Claire Strickland, diagnosis, treatment benefit from worldChief Executive monitoring and research class scanning of cancer and other serious technology. conditions, using leading edge www.stricklandscanner.org.uk PET/CT, MRI and CT scanners. We appeals@stricklandscanner.org.uk offer the highest-quality imaging 01923 886315 services with specialist staff to Paul Strickland Scanner Centre, deliver excellence to all patients Mount Vernon Hospital, and clinicians. Every year we Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 2RN undertake about 18,000 scans Registered charity no. 298867
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New logo launched Following a programme of market He said: “Changing the logo isn’t research and consultation with something we’ve taken lightly, patients, supporters and medical however focus groups with staff, we’ve launched a new logo patients, supporters as well as the for Paul Strickland public found that it was Scanner Centre. “We were seen as outdated and out The logo symbolises able to do of tune with our vision to both a scanner gantry the revamp be at the forefront of (opening), as well as at a fraction advancing cancer the huge diversity of of the usual imaging. At first, we our supporters, who wanted to keep the owl in cost” come together to the logo, but during an make Paul Strickland’s vision a engagement event at a local reality. supermarket we realised people At the same time, the pixelated didn't think it had anything to do nature of the circle signifies a scan with health and some people even image on a screen. We’ve also thought we were a wildlife charity.” added lime green, to make it more By doing our own market research, upbeat. planning very carefully and using Pierre du Bois, Communications the right designer, we were able to Strategic Lead for Paul Strickland do the revamp at a fraction of the Scanner Centre, led the rebrand. usual cost.” 03
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Grand Prize Draw Centre scoops Paul Strickland Scanner Centre Mr Khan was joined by business beat stiff competition from national owners, Members of Parliament, and international charities to be Peers and prominent personalities crowned Charity to mark the occasion. of the Year at a “We’re proud to The Asian Voice high profile event be recognised in Charity Awards, in London powered by Charity this way” recently. Clarity, are about The annual Asian Voice Charity rewarding charities that think big Awards, held in Mayfair and and solve the most pressing social featuring special guest Mayor of issues of our time, both in Britain London Sadiq Khan, recognises and globally. small charities and celebrates First of its kind in the Asian circle, diversity across communities. especially in Britain, the awards are in their fourth year and reward charities that seek to innovate and strive for excellence. The judging panel included Jonathan Townsend, Chief Executive of Prince's Trust International, Abhishek Sachdev of Vedanta
We received the award during a special awards ceremony in Mayfair. Pictured from left are Caroline Diel MBE , founder of the Media Trust, Pierre du Bois from Paul Strickland Scanner Centre and Pratik Dattani from Charity Clarity. 04
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national award
Michelle Pillay, Rachel Jacobs, Suzannah Patel and Kirti Thakor from our clinical team, with the award.
Hedging Limited and Subhash Thakrar, Chairman of Charity Clarity. Claire Strickland, Paul Strickland Scanner Centre CEO, said: “Our team take pride in the centre’s track record of clinical
innovation and excellence and winning this award is a huge honour for us. As a charity that strives to be a leader in the fight against cancer, we’re very proud to be recognised in this way.” 05
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Dramatic impact of our new prostate cancer scan revealed An evaluation of a highly specialist cases. Although PSMA PET-CT scan at Paul Strickland Scanner scanning was introduced at Paul Strickland in early 2018 as a direct Centre that can catch prostate cancer earlier and possibly result in result of demand from British oncologists, a cure has the centre had a has since dramatic attracted effect on patients from patients’ as far away management as America. and treatment, It is now according to a widely study carried available on out at the Dr Wai-Lup Wong (l) and Ms Vicki Major. the NHS if centre. your doctor believes you could Results of the study were presented at the 2019 UK Imaging benefit. The scan is particularly useful for and Oncology Congress in June. men who have been treated for The centre is amongst the very prostate cancer and are in limited number of facilities in the 68 UK to offer Gallium-labelled remission (but under surveillance Prostate Specific Membrane with regular blood tests) to make Antigen (PSMA) PET-CT scanning. sure that they are clear of the This type of scan can catch and disease. treat prostate cancer earlier – If the 68Ga PSMA scan shows possibly resulting in a cure in some disease, then the patient can 06
Vicki Major’s work comes as the NHS backs PSMA PET-CT scans. receive further treatment. Some patients can be treated with a therapy version of PSMA, which will go to the areas of increased uptake on the diagnostic scan and attack the cancer. Dr Wai-Lup Wong, Lead Consultant for PET-CT at Paul Strickland Scanner Centre, said: “The most sensitive test for prostate cancer is still a blood test to establish prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels. When PSA levels are creeping up over time, or where they suddenly become very high, there will be a
suspicion that cancer has returned and patients are usually sent for a scan. There is an increasing weight of evidence showing that a PSMA PET-CT scan is more sensitive than a traditionally used choline PET-CT scan for detecting disease.” The tracer (a radioactive dye injected into the patient) used for the scan has a very short half-life, which means it needs to be produced very close to where patients are scanned and is therefore not available to many patients in the UK. The tracer is made in Central 07
INSIDE VIEW London under a special licence, which means it can only be used on Saturdays when the traffic is light between the production facility 21 miles away and Paul Strickland Scanner Centre in Northwood. Ms Vicki Major, our acting operational lead for PET-CT, said: “We have now scanned more than 100 patients at the centre, and the review included the first 36. The evaluation concluded that 100% of
referrals met the Royal College of Radiologists referral criteria and that the management of patients was changed or reviewed in 100% of cases; 33% of clinical findings on the scans were negative but a negative result can contribute to patient management. If you are affected by prostate cancer and want to know if a PSMA PETPET-CT scan is right for you, ask a member of your medical team for advice.
Centre scientist leads national NHS PET-CT project A new project that could set new standards for PET-CT scans across England is being led by Dr Bal Sanghera (pictured), clinical scientist at Paul Strickland Scanner Centre. This national project, approved by the Chief Scientific Office at NHS England and supported by the National Physics Laboratory, uses a radioactive test phantom (see picture) to test the output of different PET-CT scanners. Dr Sanghera said: “I’m really excited about the potential of this project.” 08
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Three months after treatment
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Three months after treatment
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A gift in your will makes a real difference to tomorrow’s patients.
A life-changing gift to future generations Our vision is that we will lead the Three months after treatment way in imaging for the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of cancer and other clinical conditions. By leaving a charitable gift to us in your will, you could change lives by helping to detect, treat and monitor cancer and other serious illnesses faster and more effectively.
The benefits to you and your family Making a will gives you peace of mind that your loved ones and the causes you care about are looked after in the future. Without one, the state will decide where your money goes, which can cause stress and anxiety for your loved ones at what is an already difficult time. 11
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Here's what to do Start by listing everything you Three treatment couldmonths include after in a will including property, money, jewellery and other assets. Then decide who you want to benefit from your will and make a list of their names and addresses. Decide who you wish to be executors of your will. They are usually family members or a 12
professional advisor such as a solicitor; normally there are two. Take all of these details along to the solicitor, who will draw up a will for you. For help finding a solicitor visit the Law Society website. Tax advantages Your donation will be free of Inheritance Tax and is calculated before the value of the estate is
INSIDE VIEW assessed for inheritance tax. You can also cut the Inheritance Tax rate on the rest of your estate from 40% to 36% if you leave at least 10% of your net estate to Paul Strickland Scanner Centre. By making a gift to Paul Strickland Scanner Centre you will make a huge difference to the patients who need access to the latest scanning technology and who rely
on your generosity to ensure they receive the best possible care. Any questions? Call us 01923 886315 during office hours or download a codicil form from our website under the ‘Gifts in your will’ page. All discussions with our fundraising team are strictly confidential and completely nonbinding in any way.
‘I have left a gift in my will, as future commitments are so very important’ “Those of us who live in the catchment area of Paul Strickland Scanner Centre perhaps do not realise, unless and until illness Three months after treatment strikes, how fortunate we are to have access to such a superb world class medical facility, with highly qualified specialist staff. None of this would be possible without funds being raised to
purchase scanners and associated equipment, together with research projects, all as a means of offering hope to patients. Knowing how vital these services are I am happy to support the centre now and have left a gift in my Will, as future commitments are so very important.“ Jean Marks, Supporter 13
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Recognising our fundraisers in the community Chenies Spring Walk Thanks to the Macleod Matthews for letting us use their field behind Chenies Manor once again, and for giving all our walkers free access to their beautiful Tulip Gardens. It was an enjoyable walk for everyone who took part and we look forward to holding the event once again next year. Picture below. Plant and Cake Sale Our stalwart supporter George Ives was accompanied by Jeremy Lockwood, Head Gardener at Royal Ascot, who gave out free gardening advice with his beautiful array of
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plants. Thanks to everyone who donated plants and cakes, and to all those who came along to buy, helping us to raise over £1,000. Golf Day With 15 teams taking part, a great day was had by all at Denham Golf Club. Over £7,000 was raised, helped by the lovely Moor Park Ladies at the betting hole, and congratulations to The Downhillers who took first prize. Ed Partridge, Lady Captain of Batchworth Park Golf Club held a Where’s Wally themed charity golf day and raised over £650 for Paul Strickland Scanner Centre.
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Act now if you would like to take part in our Great Wall of China Trek.
Upcoming events and challenges Prudential Ride LondonLondon-Surrey 46 Sunday 4 August. Garden Tea with Jazz Sunday 8 September 2-4.30pm. Long Lane, Heronsgate. Tickets available for £17.50pp (£12 under 12s). Swim Serpentine Saturday 21 September. We have spaces for the ½ mile and the 1 mile open water swim. Clay Pigeon Shooting event Friday 11 October in Markyate will be run and organised by Ashridge
Surveyors in support of Paul Strickland Scanner Centre. Film Screening of Rocketman at Pinewood Studios Thursday 17 October, 7pm. Tickets at £17.50 pp on a first-come-first-served basis. The Vitality Big Half Sunday 1 March 2020. We have spaces available for this London half marathon event. Walk the Great Wall of China. There are limited spaces still available to take part in this thrilling challenge.
Email appeals@stricklandscanner.org.uk or ring 01923 886315 to book, or to get more information about any of our fundraising events. Book online now at scannercentre.eventbrite.com
For personalised cards visit www.giving.cards/pau7