Progress, issue 25

All about The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity • No. 25 • Spring/Summer 2014

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Scanners are go!

Our new imaging suite opens – thanks to you

A fantastic day 5,000 supporters walk together in the sunshine to take on cancer

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Your support counts

Thank you for making a difference Welcome to the latest issue of Progress, in which we look at the effect of our new imaging facilities in Chelsea, made possible thanks to the generosity of supporters like you. The combination of scanning machines ensures we can offer our patients the best in diagnostic imaging and can also carry out pioneering trials.

We also take a further look at the research you are helping to fund, as part of our commitment to an exciting three-year programme of clinical and translational research. Finally, we introduce you to our new fundraising initiative, The Big C Challenge, which will see our supporters taking on challenges beginning with C throughout September.

We hope you will support us in making this as successful as The Marsden March.

I hope you enjoy this issue.

HRH The Duke of Cambridge (centre) in theatre

A royal reception RH The Duke of Cambridge has visited the charityfunded Wolfson Surgical Suite and the CyberKnife machine at our Chelsea hospital.

During the visit, the Duke, who is the President of The Royal Marsden, witnessed two operations being performed – something he had never done before.

The Wolfson Surgical Suite at the Chelsea site reopened in 2010 following an extensive rebuilding and refurbishment programme, which was part-funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

The Duke also visited CyberKnife and met a patient who had been

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treated with the machine at the hospital. CyberKnife, which was also funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, is a revolutionary radiotherapy machine for hard-to-treat tumours.

Cally Palmer, Chief Executive of The Royal Marsden, said: “We were delighted to welcome our President back to the hospital in Chelsea. We are very grateful for the Duke’s support for our patients and for the work that we do at The Royal Marsden. It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to show him a glimpse of the complex and pioneering surgery that takes place on a daily basis at the hospital.”

What you’re tweeting

R. Ian Molson Chairman, The Royal Marsden

@royalmarsden You are the reason I still have my mum 5yrs down the line. Thank you. Gayle Amos (@GayleAmos) Home after 5 days outstanding care by the team on Bud Flanagan

West ward at the @royalmarsden – thank you #nhs JPHG (@FiveFortee) Memorable night with the @royalmarsden reminding me how special a hospital it truly is! Ross Hutchins (@roscohutchins)

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patients will be recruited onto the FOCCUS trial over the next two years

New research to help chemotherapy patients The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity is helping to fund new research into the side effects caused by chemotherapy.

Thanks to funding from The Philip Gould Tribute Fund, set up by Dame Gail Rebuck DBE – whose late husband, Lord Philip Gould, was treated at The Royal Marsden in 2012 – Dr Jervoise Andreyev, a Consultant Gastroenterologist at The Royal Marsden, will be studying the gastrointestinal (GI) problems that affect a patient’s quality of life as a result of chemotherapy treatment.

“The Gastrointestinal Unit at The Royal Marsden has pioneered the treatment of symptoms that emerge after radiotherapy,” said Dr Andreyev. “This new study, the FOCCUS trial, aims to identify the causes of GI symptoms emerging after chemotherapy and develop treatment for them. It’s a very exciting time, and should be hugely beneficial to cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.”

Dr Jervoise Andreyev (left) will be studying the side effects of chemotherapy

The O2 provides fundraising boost The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity is delighted to be the charity partner for The O2 and its ticketing platform AXS.com in a groundbreaking step for both organisations.

The O2, one of the UK’s premier entertainment venues, will be supporting the charity by encouraging visitors to make a donation when they purchase tickets on AXS.com, as well as via direct donations and fundraising events at the venue.

Cally Palmer, Chief Executive of The Royal Marsden, said the partnership was an exciting opportunity for the charity: “The O2 is a leading international brand and we are pleased to be an official charity partner for the next three years.

“Their support will enable us to take our work forward in many key areas of cancer diagnosis, treatment and research, supporting our work in personalised and translational cancer medicine.”

Over to you…

Libby Ayling, 5, raised more than £800 for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity by having 20 inches of her hair cut off. Her post on the charity’s Facebook page received 4,632 likes, 371 shares and 247 comments. Libby said: “I had been growing my hair ever since I was born. I told my mum that I wanted to have it cut, and we decided to get people to sponsor me so we could give all the money to help little girls and boys who are really poorly.”

Tell us your own fundraising story by writing to charity@royalmarsden.org @royalmarsden

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Thanks to you

Equipped for excellence

Superintendent Radiographer Cheryl Richardson scans a patient in the new Reuben Imaging Centre

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£6.9m Supporters of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity have helped to fund two high-tech MRI scanners in Chelsea, which will enhance our pioneering research and improve the diagnostic imaging experience for patients he Royal Marsden is leading the way in diagnostic imaging by investing in two state-of-the-art MRI scanners at the Reuben Imaging Centre in Chelsea.

The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity donated £6.9 million to fund the 1.5T and 3T MRI scanners and the construction of the MRI suite. Two CT scanners will also be part of the centre, which is due for completion later this year and will enable us to offer our patients the best in diagnostic imaging.

As well as helping us to meet increased demand for MRI scanning, the combination of the 1.5T and 3T scanners provides the maximum flexibility in clinical practice, allowing us to develop personalised treatment plans and producing exceptionally clear, detailed images of our patients’ tumours.

The 3T MRI scanner also enables us to undertake pioneering clinical trials that rely on high-resolution images, and to increase the number of patients who can take part. The Head and Neck Unit has three trials under way that all rely on the higher field strength of the 3T scanner to obtain exceptional image quality of

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small anatomical structures. These studies mark the beginning of clinical MRI research at Chelsea, allowing us to recruit many more patients onto imaging studies more quickly, potentially increasing the speed of discovery.

Superintendent Radiographer Cheryl Richardson says: “We’re delighted with the new scanners – they really are at the leading edge of imaging technology. We’ve had very positive feedback from patients.”

was donated by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity to fund the MRI scanners

The science behind our scanners MRI scans are particularly important for soft-tissue cancers, such as brain, spinal cord, bowel, gynaecological and prostate cancers, as the magnetic resonance actually uses the properties of the soft tissue to create the detail in the image.

The 1.5T MRI scanner has a larger field of view and is more suitable for the future development of whole-body imaging.

In contrast, the 3T MRI scanner provides incredible detail over a smaller field of view, allowing us to undertake clinical research trials that require this level of visual clarity.

CT scanners use X-rays to produce crosssectional images of the body. These image slices are reassembled by computer, resulting in a highly detailed 3D view of the body’s interior. CT scans are investigations that can be used to help make a cancer diagnosis or assess the effects of cancer treatment. They also use X-rays at the lowest practical radiation dose.

“ These scanners really are at the leading edge of technology” @royalmarsden

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Where your money goes

Our commitment to research The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity is committed to supporting a £9-million, threeyear research programme. We will be delving into the areas being funded in future issues of Progress. First, we look at clinical research

he Royal Marsden, together with our academic partner The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), forms the largest cancer centre in Europe, recruiting more patients to clinical trials than any other similar hospital in the UK. Last year, The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity pledged to fund a £9-million, three-year programme of clinical and translational research, allowing us to undertake more studies of national and international importance and to invest in leading-edge facilities, equipment and technology. This is a significant commitment that could change the lives of cancer patients in the UK and worldwide.

Professor David Cunningham, The Royal Marsden’s Director

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of Clinical Research, says: “This commitment from The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity will allow us to take research to the next level and carry out a diverse portfolio of exciting, innovative studies. This will include early trials of novel therapies to understand links between certain markers within the tumour and the outcome of the patient.

“Knowledge gained in recent years has provided us with an opportunity to really accelerate our understanding of cancer, particularly in the areas of personalised medicine and immunotherapy. It is now that we need continued support from charity supporters to capitalise on this knowledge and take us even further forward.”

Clinical research: the latest trials The Royal Marsden Predictive biomarker studies – predicting the response to treatment: These studies test biomarkers for each patient in order to predict whether they will respond to certain treatments. For example, we now know that patients with the RAS gene mutation in metastatic colorectal cancer will not respond to the drug cetuximab, so our clinicians can adapt their treatment accordingly.

Predisposition biomarker studies – predicting the risk of cancer: These studies seek to identify biomarkers that indicate whether healthy individuals are at increased risk of cancer due to inherited faulty genes – for example, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations that put women at increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

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trials involving The Royal Marsden are taking place at any one time

Genetic testing for all moves a step closer

“The charity’s funding will allow us to take research to the next level”

Genetic sequencing – a technique that looks for multiple, targetable abnormalities in cancer cells at one time – could be the key to personalised treatments that improve patients’ survival rates and quality of life.

However, a number of challenges have prevented us from offering genetic tests to every patient, one of which has been the difficulty in obtaining results quickly. Now, technological advances are enabling us to sequence tumours in real time.

The FORMAT study is an example of how this work is translating into patient care. It aims to assess the feasibility of using genetic sequencing to routinely and rapidly identify patients who may be suitable for targeted drugs.

Dr Naureen Starling (below), Consultant Medical Oncologist, says: “The Royal Marsden is recruiting up to 200 patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer – including stomach, pancreatic, bowel and oesophageal cancer – to take part in the first phase of this study.

The results will provide the basis for further research, including the development of clinical trials involving targeted drugs.”

Studies in cancers of unmet need – improving outcomes for all cancers: There is a need for research in cancers with poor survival rates for which no effective treatment options are available. These may be cancers of a certain organ (such as lung or pancreas) or a molecular subtype (such as triple-negative breast cancer). We are carrying out a range of studies to improve outcomes for all cancer patients. @royalmarsden

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Our supporters

The Marsden March:

Isla’s story very one of the 5,000 supporters who walked The Marsden March this year had their own reason for taking part, and Kym Bishop’s is one that many of us can understand.

In November 2010, Kym’s youngest daughter Isla (pictured above left) was diagnosed with acute lymphoid leukaemia at just three and a half years old.

“Isla just wasn’t herself; she was hot and sweaty all the time and didn’t want to walk places,” says Kym. “When she did walk, she kept tripping over. She started to get bruises that didn’t go away.

“I took her to the GP and they referred us to the local hospital, where they told us she had leukaemia. It was devastating.

We were told it was a good diagnosis though, and that she would come out of it OK.” Isla was transferred to The Royal Marsden’s Oak Centre for Children and Young People – one of the largest treatment centres for leukaemia in the UK. “The Royal Marsden was like a warm comfort blanket surrounding you,” says Kym.

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“A fantastic day, full of love, laughter and tears” Amanda Heaton, Community and Corporate Fundraising Manager

“They were very welcoming – the nurses were lovely and it was so nice to have the feeling that you were safe. They were holding our hands, and we felt then that it was all going to be alright.”

Isla’s treatment lasted two and a half years, and included eight blood transfusions in the first 12 months and several rounds of chemo. Now, almost a year after her treatment, Isla is now enjoying year two at school.

“The treatment was a hard time for everyone, but Isla is fantastic now – you would never know she had been through anything. She is a cheeky character and so funny,” says Kym. In March, Isla, along with her two siblings and wider friends and family, took part in The Marsden March, joining 5,000 other walkers to say “thank you” to The Royal Marsden and raise money to build a future beyond cancer.

Kym says: “We are so grateful to The Royal Marsden – if I could say ‘thank you’ to them every day, I would. Doing The Marsden March is just a small way we can all give something back.”

What you’re tweeting We’re doing the #marsdenmarch for my Mum. Overwhelmed by the response & thanks to everyone who’s sponsored us so far. Eliot Carroll (@Southflint)

@royalmarsden I couldn’t walk enough miles to thank #MarsdenAngels enough for their incredible care #marsdenmarch Alicia Earls (@arearls)

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£1m+ – the fundraising target we are aiming to beat

5,000 walkers took part this year – more than ever before

@royalmarsden

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How to get involved

ancer, the Big C – we’ve all heard of it. In fact, most of us will know someone who’s faced it. It’s easy to feel helpless in the face of something as big as cancer.

But supporting The Royal Marsden is a great way to challenge cancer, so that more and more people can survive – and this September is the month to do it! You can challenge cancer by taking on your own challenge beginning with C and getting sponsored to achieve it.

Your Big C Challenge can be anything you like, as long as it begins with C. From car boot sales to crazy cardigan competitions, and from climbing to cocktail evenings, whichever challenge you take on, we will support you all the way. We have lots of Big C Challenge events to inspire you, whether you want to do an individual challenge or something with friends or colleagues.

The more of us who challenge the Big C in this way, the bigger the impact we can make. By challenging the Big C together, we can build a future beyond cancer.

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Four simple steps to get your Big C Challenge started today 1V isit www.royalmarsden.org/bigC for more information or to download our Ideas Pack, or call us on 020 8770 0279 and we’ll send it to you in the post.

2 Register your challenge at www.royalmarsden.org/bigC 3 Set up your Big C Challenge fundraising page at www.justgiving.co.uk and share it with everyone you know.

4 Share photos of your Big C Challenge on Twitter using #BigC.

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£3m

each year on average is donated as legacy gifts to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity

Pledge a gift that endures

Support us on your special day and care she received while at the f you have a birthday, hospital that she wanted to do anniversary or wedding day something to show her gratitude. coming up, why not use “The Royal Marsden gave me my Special Occasion Giving to support life back,” says Debbie. “When I felt the work of The Royal Marsden? better, I suggested to my netball team One person who has done just that we raise money for the hospital that is former Royal Marsden patient Debbie Middleton, by trying to break the For more who was 32 when she record for the world’s information about was diagnosed with longest netball game. making your special Hodgkin lymphoma.

It was a huge event occasion a fundraising that lasted 60 hours.”

“I’d never had And when Debbie anything worse than a event, contact the married her partner cold – but I’d started to Special Occasion Dominic last year, she feel increasingly tired Giving team on saw this as another and unwell,” she says.

020 7811 8073 or opportunity to help the “I lost a lot of weight, email charity@ and went from being an royalmarsden.org hospital that gave her a second chance. The energetic and ambitious couple asked guests to career woman to being donate to the charity instead almost unable to get out of bed.” of buying wedding gifts. In addition, Debbie underwent chemotherapy the newlyweds gifted their wedding at The Royal Marsden and was flowers to the hospital so patients eventually given the all-clear. She and visitors could enjoy them. was so impressed with the treatment

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@royalmarsden

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Leaving a legacy to The Royal Marsden in your will is one of the most enduring gifts you can give, helping to build a future beyond cancer for everyone.

It is an incredibly valuable donation that enables our scientists and clinicians to develop new and better ways to treat different types of cancers, while providing our patients with the best diagnosis, treatment and care.

Every year, we receive more than 100 legacy gifts, from the big to the small, totalling about £3 million. Some of these wonderful gifts have enabled us to redevelop clinical research facilities in the heart of our Sutton hospital this year.

So we want to say “thank you” to the wonderful supporters who have recently let us know that they are leaving a gift to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity in their will. Knowing about this gift allows us to plan for the future.

If you have generously included the charity in your will, or would like to find out more about legacies, please call Catherine Macmillan on 020 7808 2274 or email catherine. macmillan@rmh. nhs.uk

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Throughout 2014

June

My Marsden March

Jump June 17 May

Organise your own Marsden March, any time, anywhere: www.royalmarsden. org/mymarch

2014

South Downs Trekathon Trek 26 miles across the beautiful South Downs. Register by 9 May at www.royalmarsden.org/ trekathon

Get involved

Have fun and raise money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. To find out more about all the ways you can get involved and help make a difference to people with cancer, please visit www.royalmarsden.org/do-something

6–14 September

Trek The Great Wall of China A challenge of a lifetime!

Visit www.royalmarsden. org/china

Take part in a memorable parachute jump. Visit www. royalmarsden.org/ jump

2–3 August

1 June

The Color Run This new event is also known as the happiest 5k on the planet! If you have your own place and would like to join our team, visit www. royalmarsden.org/run

London Triathlon Join our team – or if you have your own place, contact us: www.royalmarsden.org/ london-triathlon

13–14 September

Thames Path Challenge 100km, 50km or 25km? Walk it, jog it or run it! Visit www. royalmarsden.org/walks-treks

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14 September

Bacchus Half Marathon A half marathon with a difference, taking place at the UK’s largest vineyard. Visit www.royalmarsden.org/ bacchus-half-marathon

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