RM M A G A Z I N E AUTUMN 2019
ADVANCED NURSING Caring for patients and supporting staff: the varied role of the ANP Royal visit: mental health on the agenda The crucial work of our hidden heroes
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At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. And when people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That’s why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.
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EXECUTIVE NOTES
CONTENTS 4 Bulletin What’s happening around The Royal Marsden 12 The journey of cancer medicine
Preparing anti-cancer drugs, from treatment plan to patient 14 Help at hand HRH The Duke of Cambridge visits to talk about mental health 17 It happened to me Myeloma couldn’t keep RAF pilot Fin Monahan out of the skies 18 No place like home How we’re providing chemotherapy in the community
20 A day in the life With Filipe Carvalho, Colorectal Advanced Nurse Practitioner 22 Hidden heroes Meet four colleagues whose work keeps the hospital running 25 One size does not fit all The NIHR Biomedical Research Centre’s work in GI cancers 26 Fundraising News from The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity 28 Foundation news Updates from our Foundation Trust and Governors
WELCOME to the autumn 2019 edition of RM, the magazine for our staff, patients, carers and Foundation Trust members. We were delighted to welcome our President, HRH The Duke of Cambridge, back to the hospital this summer to speak with staff and patients about the psychological impact of cancer treatment and the support The Royal Marsden offers (page 14). It’s an incredibly important aspect of the care we provide for staff and patients alike, and The Duke was keen to shine a spotlight on this service. Many patients have chemotherapy or other anti-cancer drugs as part of their treatment at The Royal Marsden. On page 12, we take a look at the journey of cancer treatment – the stringent process that our expert teams follow to prepare and deliver these vital therapies for patients. We also feature four ‘hidden heroes’ of The Royal Marsden, whose hard work behind the scenes often goes unnoticed (page 22). Every single person who works here is critical to the success of the hospital and the treatment and care we provide to our patients, which is why we’re pleased to highlight the work of all our staff – whatever role they play. I hope you enjoy this issue.
30 Puzzles and prizes Test your wits and win a prize with our crossword 31 Stay in touch Your comments on social media, plus hospital contacts
Cally Palmer CBE, Chief Executive, The Royal Marsden
ON THE COVER Filipe Carvalho, Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Colorectal Surgery
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B U L L E T I N W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G A R O U N D T H E R O YA L M A R S D E N
A clean job OPENING IN CHELSEA later this year, The Royal Marsden’s new aseptic unit will provide more space and better facilities for the pharmacy team to prescribe, prepare and dispense systemic anticancer drugs like chemotherapy and immunotherapy. It will have a clinical trials dispensing area, a gene therapy suite and rooms with isolator units and air filtration for a sterile environment. Jatinder Harchowal, Chief Pharmacist, said: “Systemic anticancer therapies must be prepared using the highest-quality aseptic techniques to ensure there is no particle contamination, and we have strict processes when it comes to dose and rate. This new unit will help us make them even more efficient, improving the way we work and benefiting our patients.” Read more about how we prepare anti-cancer drugs on page 12..
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LANDMARK TRIAL Dr Susana Banerjee was instrumental in olaparib research
? DID YOU KNOW? NHS prescriptions are free for people living with cancer. For information about eligibility and how to apply, speak to a member of your clinical team.
Green light for olaparib NICE HAS APPROVED the drug olaparib for use in the NHS in England, heralding a new era for women with ovarian cancer. For the first time, this practicechanging treatment is to be made available via the Cancer Drugs Fund to women with newly diagnosed, BRCA-mutated advanced ovarian cancer after NICE gave the green light in July. Dr Susana Banerjee, a Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden and a co-author on the SOLO-1 trial of the drug, said she was “delighted”. She added: “NICE’s decision is based on the results of the landmark SOLO-1 clinical trial, which showed that olaparib can extend progression-free survival for these women by around three years, giving them longer before further rounds of chemotherapy are needed, as well as the possibility of increased survival.”
Preeti Dudakia, now 52, was 47 when she was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. After discovering that the cancer had spread to her abdomen, she had a full abdominal hysterectomy, followed by six cycles of chemotherapy at The Royal Marsden. Preeti said: “My mum was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 60. Because of my family history, the genetics team at The Royal Marsden recommended I try the SOLO-1 trial. I had monthly treatment for two years and now I’m in remission. Touch wood, the cancer isn’t coming back. “Since my diagnosis five years ago, there have been some rapid advances in treatment for ovarian cancer, and clinical trials like SOLO-1 are a crucial part of this. The trial gave me a sense of purpose and the findings could benefit patients for years to come.” RM magazine 5
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IMPROVING DAY CARE P rocesses for chemotherapy, immunotherapy and other supportive therapies at The Royal Marsden are being improved to reduce waiting times and enhance the patient experience. There are different areas across the Trust where chemotherapy and supportive therapies are delivered to day care patients. These include the Medical D ay U nits ( MD U s) in Chelsea and Sutton and at K ingston hospital, as well as our Mobile Chemotherapy U nit and new Homecare service ( read more on page 18 ) . As part of an extensive programme, we have standardised nursing documentation and introduced faster blood analysers with the aim of reducing the time it takes to get blood test results. Future improvements will extend working hours to alleviate pressures during the week, and provide patients with textmessage reminders to reduce the number of missed appointments.
ON MERIT Dr Avani Athauda
Advances at ASCO EXPERTS FROM The Royal Marsden presented on a range of research topics at this year’s American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, the world’s largest cancer conference with around 40,000 attendees. One such presentation was a study suggesing that female patients with cancer of the oesophagus and stomach are more likely to survive longer than male patients, but experience worse side effects from chemotherapy. Lead author Dr Avani Athauda, Clinical Research Fellow and recipient of the ASCO Conquer Cancer Foundation’s Merit Award, said: “This research suggests that for female patients, it may be worthwhile providing
additional counselling for gastrointestinal side effects when prescribing treatment. “We will further investigate at a genetic level why there might be such differences between men and women.” Elsewhere at ASCO, Dr Juliet Richman, Clinical Research Fellow, presented findings from her research understanding the validity of a clinical calculator in predicting late distant recurrence in breast cancer patients (more on page 10). The Sarcoma Unit played a major role in the
ASCO is a chance for oncologists to share knowledge
international STRASS trial, the study results of which were also presented at the conference. The trial investigated whether the addition of radiotherapy prior to surgery would have any benefits over surgery alone. ASCO is also a chance for oncologists to share knowledge and promote advances in the field. Dr Susana Banerjee, Consultant Medical Oncologist, spoke about ‘Women in Oncology Research’ and ‘Burnout and Moral Distress’. Meanwhile, Mr Marios Tasoulis, Locum Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon, wrote an article for the ASCO Daily News, giving the surgeon’s perspective on attending the conference.
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New academic awards TWO ROYAL MARSDEN consultants have been awarded the title of Professor by The Institute of Cancer Research, London (ICR). Sanjay Popat (below), Consultant Medical Oncologist in the Lung Unit, is a specialist thoracic oncologist. He is an internationally recognised expert in the treatment of lung cancer, mesothelioma and cancers of the thymus (thymoma and thymic carcinoma), and has published research in the fields of molecular genetics, therapeutic biomarkers and medical oncology. Chris Parker (below right), Consultant Clinical Oncologist in the Urology Unit, is a specialist in the management of prostate cancer. His interests include active
surveillance of low-risk disease, the role of post-operative adjuvant therapy and bone-targeted therapy for advanced disease. He formerly chaired the National Cancer Research Institute’s Prostate Cancer Clinical Studies Group and has published over 200 articles on prostate cancer. Four other clinicians have been made a Reader by the ICR. They are Dr Susana Banerjee, Consultant Medical Oncologist in the Gynaecology Unit; Mr Andrew Hayes, Consultant Surgeon in the Sarcoma and Melanoma units; Dr Vincent Khoo, Consultant Clinical Oncologist in the Urology Unit; and Miss Jenny Rusby, Consultant Surgeon in the Breast Unit.
HIGHLIGHTING A SMARTER WAY Surgeons at The Royal Marsden are using an innovative imaging technique during procedures to help them remove melanoma patients’ lymph nodes. Using fluorescent green dye and a portable handheld imager, surgeons can highlight the anatomical structure of the lymph node channels, through which cancer spreads, in real time. In doing so, they can better identify the nodes to remove, which can then be sent for tests.
The system, called SPY-PHI, is rarely used elsewhere for sentinel lymph biopsies in melanoma patients, yet is more beneficial and more precise than the current standard of care. It’s hoped that the technology could lead to advancements in real-time diagnosis of the spread of cancer. Mr Myles Smith, Consultant Surgical Oncologist, said: “With more precise technology, we can offer patients smarter and kinder procedures.”
Whole-body MRI scans as standard
? DID YOU KNOW? A number of rooms around the Critical Care Unit in Chelsea have been refurbished, thanks to funding from The Friends of The Royal Marsden, Chelsea and support from the Young Friends and furniture retailer OKA.
A team at The Royal Marsden is working towards increasing the use of whole-body MRI in the diagnosis and treatment of myeloma patients. Compared with X-ray and CT scans, which spot myeloma only after it has caused irreversible bone damage, whole-body MRI can detect the disease earlier before longterm damage occurs. Now, thanks to Royal Marsden experts led by Dr Christina Messiou, Consultant Radiologist, working in collaboration with international colleagues, there is a consensus on how the technique should be performed and reported. The MY-RADS (Myeloma Response Assessment and Diagnosis System) guidelines, published in the US imaging journal Radiology, are expected to help standardise the use of whole-body MRI and make it easier for centres to adopt the technique. Turn to page 17 to read about how whole-body MRI helped to detect one patient’s cancer early.
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SHARING BREAST SURGERY RESEARCH Researchers from The Royal Marsden attended this year’ s Association of B reast Surgery ( AB S) Conference, held in G lasgow in May. They presented the latest news on a variety of topics, including Magseed, a magnetic seed marker placed into a patient’ s breast to help guide surgeons during a procedure; the use of 3 D images to better prepare patients for breast surgery; and improving the q uality of data on implant- based breast reconstruction. The abstract on this latter study was selected for the oral priz e presentation. Miss Nicky Roche, Consultant B reast Surgeon at The Royal Marsden and AB S Conference Secretary, said: “ AB S is a fantastic opportunity to share research and collaborate with colleagues from around the world.”
World-class cancer care THE INTERIOR FIT-OUT has started at The Royal Marsden Private Care’s new diagnostic and treatment facility for private outpatients in Cavendish Square, between Oxford Street and Harley Street in central London. Due to open in autumn 2020, the new centre will have consulting rooms, chemotherapy chairs, a minor procedure suite and imaging facilities, and will treat a number of different tumour types. This is an exciting new development for Private Care, where patient demand and growth has increased considerably over the past five years. The growth in our Private Care service also means further investment
in our NHS provision. Our unique integrated model means that all of our private revenue is reinvested into the hospital for the benefit of all our patients. Over the next year, we will be working to ensure that the patient pathways, workforce and service models are in place in advance of the centre’s opening.
Our Private Care facility in Cavendish Square is due to open in autumn 2020
LOOKING SMART Artist’s impressions of the new facility
Maggie’s at The Royal Marsden coming soon CHANCE TO COLLABORATE Consultant Breast Surgeon Miss Nicky Roche
The new Maggie’ s centre at The Royal Marsden in Sutton will soon open its doors. The centre will provide free support for people living with cancer, enhancing our world- leading service. It will be open to all cancer patients receiving treatment at The Royal Marsden or elsewhere in the region, as well as family and friends. Maggie’ s provides free cancer support and information in centres across the U K and online. B uilt in the grounds of NHS cancer hospitals, the centres are warm and welcoming, and are run by ex ert staff who hel eo le live well with cancer.
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FAST FACTS NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research, London
£43m
awarded by the NIHR for research into cancer between 2017 and 2022
The best of Friends THE FRIENDS OF The Royal Marsden, Chelsea have been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service – the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. This award recognises outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It is deserved recognition of the dedication and hard work the Friends at Chelsea contribute to The Royal Marsden every single day. Among their many roles, the Friends run the Outpatients Café,
the shop and a trolley service. They also maintain the garden, provide ward support and a meet-and-greet service, and distribute gifts to every inpatient on Christmas Day. In addition, they fund equipment and services and, over the past 10 years, have donated more than £2 million to the hospital. Cally Palmer, Chief Executive of The Royal Marsden, said: “The time, energy and dedication the Friends provide is very special to everyone at The Royal Marsden. “We wouldn’t be the hospital we are without them.”
SOMEBODY TO LEAN ON The Friends’ services include the Wallace Wing café (above) and a trolley service (left)
230+ 33
research personnel will be supported
research trainees are currently supported by the BRC
550 7,500+
clinical trials will be supported by the BRC
patients have been recruited to clinical trials
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IN BRIEF
per cent of postmenopausal women – 700 patients – were found to have a significantly low risk of their breast cancer returning five to 10 years after their initial five-year course of hormone therapy.
Imaging upgrade
The Royal Marsden is one of six NHS trusts in northwest London that have formed a new network to improve imaging services. The collaboration will allow clinicians across these hospitals to share and report on images immediately, enabling faster patient care.
ESMO leadership role
Consultant Medical Oncologist D r Susana B anerjee has been elected ESMO D irector of Membership for 2 02 0, the first time a oyal Marsden consultant has been nominated. D r B anerjee will oversee the Y oung Oncologists Committee, W omen for ncology ommittee, and the L eaders G eneration Task Force and Compliance Committee.
Honoured guest
World-leading urologist Dr Anthony D’Amico spoke at The Royal Marsden this summer about the latest in urological cancer treatment and research. Dr D’Amico is Professor of Radiation Oncology at Harvard Medical School and Chief of Genitourinary Radiation Oncology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and DanaFarber Cancer Institute.
Q&A: CTS5 CALCULATOR Clinical Research Fellow Dr Juliet Richman discusses how an algorithm could spare breast cancer patients five years of unnecessary treatment Q What did you investigate in your study? A We wanted to test if an online tool called CTS5 could accurately predict whether breast cancer patients would relapse following five years of hormone therapy. A previous study had confirmed that it worked, but it had yet to be tested in a ‘real world’ setting. We used CTS5 to analyse data from 2,428 non-trial patients, including looking
at information about the size of the tumour and the number of lymph nodes affected. Q What did you find? A We found that CTS5 could accurately predict the relapse of cancer in patients in the fiveto 10-year period after they finished standard treatment. It categorised the patients into three clear risk groups: high, medium and low. Importantly, 42
“For it to be useful in a clinical setting, we need to know that CTS5 will be accurate for a variety of women”
Q Why is this important? A The large majority of breast cancer patients will be prescribed at least five years of hormone therapy after having standard treatment (surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy) to lower the risk of cancer returning. After five years, the oncologist has to decide whether extending this type of therapy is appropriate for the patient. Our analysis demonstrates that CTS5 works well in a varied population of breast cancer patients. This is crucial: in order for it to be useful in a clinical setting to aid decisions about whether to continue hormone therapy, we need to know that CTS5 will be accurate for a variety of women. Q What impact could this have for patients? A Hormone therapy can have significant side effects for some patients, including bone weakness, blood clots, exacerbation of menopausal symptoms and the psychological burden of continuous treatment. With CTS5 we can identify those who are at a very low risk of their cancer returning, and say they would be extremely unlikely to benefit from extending hormone therapy beyond five years. In doing so, they can avoid the possible side effects – both physical and psychological – of continued treatment.
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‘Liquid biopsy’ speeds up breast cancer detection
OPEN TRIAL Consultant Medical Oncologist Dr Naureen Starling
? DID YOU KNOW?
Immunotherapy trial targets bowel cancer THE ROYAL MARSDEN is leading one of the world’s first trials of immunotherapy in bowel cancer that has been removed by surgery. Immunotherapy has revolutionised the treatment of cancers such as metastatic melanoma and kidney cancers. Researchers are now applying these findings to other cancer types. The POLEM study will recruit 402 patients across the UK to explore whether adding the immunotherapy drug avelumab to standard chemotherapy reduces the risk of stage 3 colorectal cancer returning following surgery. It is open to patients whose cancers show ‘defective mismatch repair’ (dMMR) – about one in 10 stage 3 patients. Dr Naureen Starling, Consultant Medical Oncologist, said: “We know that immunotherapy only has
a benefit for bowel cancer patients whose tumour has this specific genetic make-up. POLEM is looking into whether adding immunotherapy to chemotherapy following surgery can increase the cure rate in those patients.” The trial is supported by Merck and the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and is a collaboration with Royal Surrey County Hospital and the University of Oxford.
The Chelsea and Westminster and Royal Marsden Shared Procurement Service has won the Financial or Procurement Initiative of the Year award at the HSJ Value Awards.
A personalised blood test for women with early breast cancer could detect the return of the disease nearly 11 months earlier than hospital scans, a new study at five hospitals has found. The ‘ liq uid biopsy’ test, develo ed at The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research, L ondon ( ICR) , was found to work in all types of breast cancer, and could detect the early signs of the spread of the disease around the body ( outside of the brain) . Further research is now needed to understand how the test could be used in the clinic to help guide treatment and im rove atient outcomes. The study was published in J AMA Oncology and was largely funded by B reast Cancer Now, with additional support from L e Cure for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and the NIHR B iomedical Research Centre at The Royal Marsden and the ICR.
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THE JOURNE Y OF CANCER MEDICINE Every year, The Royal Marsden’s pharmacy dispenses more than 75,000 doses of anti-cancer drugs, which all go through a strict preparation process. We outline how they go from the treatment plan to the patient Illustration: Michal Bednarski
Prescription The consultant prescribes the required medicines on the hospital’s electronic prescribing system. The prescription is then verified by a pharmacist to ensure that the treatment regime and the dose are correct.
Diagnosis and treatment plan When a patient is diagnosed with cancer, their consultant develops a treatment plan – which may include a course of chemotherapy, a newer targeted therapy, or a combination of both – and discusses it with them.
Want to know more? Read about our new aseptic unit on page 4, and see page 18 to learn about how we’re delivering chemotherapy outside the hospital
Treatment administered Intravenous anti-cancer medicines are administered by a trained nurse in a number of different ways – from a short injection that takes a few minutes to an infusion that is given over several hours. Some medicines are delivered over a number of days via a special elastomeric pump, which is attached to the patient’s line and taken home with them. RM
Treatment delivered A healthcare assistant or pharmacy porter collects the treatment in a padded yellow transport bag to prevent damage and delivers it to the clinical area where the patient is being treated.
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Order received
Product preparation
Orders for intravenous medicines (those administered into a vein) are sent to the pharmacy’s aseptic unit. Here, the medicines are made in a sterile environment known as a clean room to ensure that there is no contamination during preparation of the product. Medicines taken by mouth are dispensed by the outpatient pharmacy.
Products to be made in-house each have a worksheet. Similar to a recipe, this tells staff what ingredients are required and in what quantities so that they can prepare the final drug. The raw materials – contained in syringes, vials and bags – are assembled in a tray according to the worksheet.
Order processed The order enters one of three processes or ‘workstreams’. Depending on the medicine requested, it will either be supplied as a readymade ‘off the shelf’ product, ordered from a third-party provider as a patient-specific dose, or made in-house in our clean room.
Products combined Patient assessment When the patient comes to the hospital, they have a blood sample taken and are assessed by a clinician. If the patient is well enough and the blood results meet the required standard, the clinician confirms the treatment on the electronic prescribing system. The patient receives their treatment either on the same day or the day after.
The raw materials are passed through an airlock into the clean room, where they are mixed together in a medical safety cabinet or isolator. The completed treatment is then passed to a clean area to be inspected and labelled. Checks are made during each stage of this process to ensure the product is made correctly.
Treatment ready for final checks Once the product has been labelled, it is passed to the releasing officer and inspected for particle contamination and leaks. Once the releasing officer is satisfied that everything is correct, the product is heatsealed in a plastic bag before being released from the unit.
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HELP
AT H A ND Our President came to The Royal Marsden to meet staff and patients to discuss mental health, the psychological impact of cancer treatment and the support we offer
HRH THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE visited The Royal Marsden this summer to speak to patients and staff about the impact of cancer treatment on mental health and psychological wellbeing. The Trust offers a programme of psychological and emotional support, which is fully funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. The Duke spoke to Julie Gallagher, who received psychological support from The Royal Marsden team following her second diagnosis of throat cancer in 2018. “I really struggled mentally and emotionally when I relapsed,” she says. “The team were so supportive and really helped me get to a place where I can learn to live with what has happened, and see a future for myself and my family.” He also met Huw Jones and his wife Kate, who both received counselling from the Family Support Services team after >
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THE ROYAL TOUCH Clockwise, from above: HRH The Duke of Cambridge with patient Rebecca Readshaw; meeting patient Julie Gallagher; chatting to patient Vivian Marchant; with The Royal Marsden’s Sharon Nestorov and Professor James Larkin; greeting Pauline Gore; speaking to nursing staff Eamonn Sullivan, ZoÍ Bullock and Aly Foyle
Kensington Palace
R OYA L V I S I T
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R OYA L V I S I T
Huw was diagnosed with a rare cancer of the appendix, which has a high rate of recurrence. Huw says: “Kate and I had five sessions of couples counselling, which gave us a safe space to talk about our feelings together and the uncertainty about the future. The sessions were invaluable.” The Royal Marsden also provides counselling for staff. Working in a cancer hospital can bring with it some harrowing and emotional experiences. Matron Aly Foyle was diagnosed with stress, depression and compassion fatigue in December 2017. She spoke to The Duke about the support she received from The Royal Marsden while on sick leave, and on returning to work. “It was a very upsetting and difficult time, but with the support of my family, GP and The Royal Marsden team, I came back stronger than ever,” she says. “I use any opportunity to talk about it – if I can help one person, it makes my experience more worthwhile.”
“We need to look after our own mental wellbeing so we can take care of patients” Zoë Bullock, Senior Staff Nurse in the Critical Care Unit, has also worked with the staff support service following challenging cases on the unit. She says: “The Trust holds debrief sessions for the team when a patient we have looked after for a while passes away and when we have challenging situations. “We work in a high-pressure environment and need to look after our own mental wellbeing so we can continue taking care of patients as well as possible.” As part of the visit, The Duke met Pauline Gore, widow of Professor
Martin Gore, an oncologist at The Royal Marsden for 40 years before he died suddenly in January. Alongside Pauline, The Duke spoke with close colleagues of Professor Gore about the impact of his loss. The Duke also met inpatients in Ellis Ward, chatting about their treatment and ongoing care. Cally Palmer, Chief Executive of The Royal Marsden, says: “It was a privilege to welcome The Duke back to The Royal Marsden, and in particular to share with him our approach to supporting staff and patients’ psychological and mental wellbeing, as it is a topic so close to his heart. “He was also touched by some of the stories about Professor Gore, who was often a key figure in The Duke’s visits.” RM
A WARM WELCOME The Duke says hello to staff, patients and their families and friends
Want to know more? If you’re a Royal Marsden patient and would like to speak to the Psychological Support Services team, please call 020 7808 2777 for Chelsea or 020 8661 3006 for Sutton
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IT HAPPENED TO ME
I THOUGHT I MIGHT NEVER FLY AGAIN. CATCHING MY RELAPSE EARLY MEANT I COULD CONTINUE SERVING MY COUNTRY Fin Monahan, 51, myeloma patient
The Royal Marsden showed that my cancer had returned. It spotted anomalies that wouldn’t have been picked up using traditional scanning techniques. The MRI scan made a huge difference – it gave a clear indication that we needed to do something and we could do it early. This meant the cancer was detected before it had the chance to damage my bones and spread to other parts of my body. I know that I’m one of the lucky ones, and I can’t thank The Royal Marsden enough for everything they’ve done for me. Early detection of my relapse meant I was treated swiftly, and a second bone marrow transplant went
The Times
“A whole-body MRI scan spotted anomalies that wouldn’t have been picked up using traditional techniques”
I’M AN RAF PILOT and was first diagnosed with myeloma in 2009. At the time, I was told to prepare for the prospect of never flying again, and that the bone pain might be so bad I could end up in a wheelchair with a collapsed back. Back then, I was living in India and working in the Indian military. I was flown to London and admitted to The Royal Marsden, and I started treatment
immediately. I had chemotherapy and radiotherapy, followed by a stem cell transplant. In complete remission, and after extensive checkups, I returned to flying jet aircraft at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire. I was also really pleased to continue to lead an active life: sailing, mountaineering, skiing and doing lots of sport. After a five-year remission, a whole-body MRI scan at
smoothly. As a result, I quickly went into remission and was back serving my country within a matter of months. The RAF conducted another round of extensive medical checkups that allowed me to become the Commandant of the Central Flying School in 2016. Responsible for instructor training for the three services and also in command of the Red Arrows, this was a fabulous job that involved lots of flying and overseas detachments. One of the reasons I share my story is to give people with myeloma the news that there are people with this disease who have gone into remission and are able to lead a totally normal life. RM
Dr Christina Messiou
Consultant Radiologist “Fin is a remarkable character. He is also someone for whom early diagnosis and treatment meant he could go on leading his remarkable life. “The extremely sensitive ability of MRI to detect the disease in the marrow is revolutionary. If you are using CT or X-ray, you’re detecting the disease in the outer bone cortex. By the time the bone cortex is damaged, the disease is already advanced. We have seen patients in whom the myeloma has been controlled but they have to live with the bone damage. “We know that early myeloma detection and treatment means patients not only live longer, they also have a better quality of life.”
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NO PL ACE LIK E HOME
The Royal Marsden’s Homecare service is taking chemotherapy out of the hospital and bringing treatment to patients’ doorsteps
THROUGH THE CLOSER TO HOME strategy, The Royal Marsden is introducing new models of care that mean patients can receive certain types of chemotherapy and supportive treatments closer to where they live. For example, our Homecare service offers patients the chance to receive chemotherapy treatment at home. This is more convenient for patients as it reduces their travel costs and eliminates travel time, while ensuring they receive safe treatment in the comfort and privacy of their own home. The service was developed through a collaboration between the Medical Day Unit and the
pharmacy, and is delivered by Homecare chemotherapy nurses Jackie Whybra and Bea Baltruniene, with support from the Homecare pharmacy team. Bea and Jackie each treat five to six patients a day across certain postcodes from Battersea to Kent. “We cover a large area, travelling by car to each patient’s home,” says Bea. “We’ve had positive feedback from patients who appreciate not having to travel to hospital and wait for their treatments.” A personal service The service is most often used for patients with breast or haematological cancers. The
VISITING TIMES Jackie Whybra (above) and Bea Baltruniene (right, with Jackie) treat patients such as Jill Saitch (above right) in homes across southeast England
treatments available include injectable drugs such as trastuzumab (Herceptin), fulvestrant (Faslodex), denosumab (Xgeva) and bortezomib (Velcade). Patients will have their first few treatments in hospital. Then, assuming there are no problems and their doctor agrees that they are suitable for Homecare, they will have subsequent doses, or cycles of treatment, at home. Patients will, however, still need to attend hospital for scans, consultations and blood tests. A week before the treatment is due, the team will arrange for the drug to be delivered to the patient’s home, and will call to organise the nurse’s visit a day or two in
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HOMECARE
IN THE COMMUNITY Two other initiatives are allowing The Royal Marsden to treat patients closer to home
Chemotherapy Ambulatory Delivery Device (CADD) pumps These ‘chemo backpacks’ are available for some patients being treated for blood cancers. Funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity thanks to a donation from the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers, they allow patients to take their chemotherapy home in a specially designed rucksack. The treatment is administered through discreet tubes under patients’ clothes as they go about their daily lives.
advance. The drugs must be kept in the fridge until Jackie or Bea arrives to administer them. “It’s much more personal, being in someone’s home,” says Jackie. “You get to know people better. The next steps are to explore expanding Homecare into more treatment regimes, such as immunotherapy.” No worries Jill Saitch, a breast cancer patient from North Cheam, is about to complete a year of Herceptin treatments – all administered in her own home by the Homecare team. “I’m a worrier by nature so having everything organised by Bea, Jackie and the team and not having to go to hospital gives me peace of mind,” she says. “I just have to be at home when the medicine is delivered the day before treatment. Then on the day of the treatment, instead of having to worry about what time to leave, whether there’ll be traffic and how easily we’ll park the car, I can just potter about at home while I wait.” Jill had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy in 2015, but the cancer returned last year, so she then had a mastectomy and chemotherapy. “After having two rounds of treatment and appointments at the hospital, you get a bit hospital-
weary, so it’s nice not to have to go there every three weeks for the Herceptin injections,” she adds. “I’m very comfortable having them done at home. Although I live close to the hospital, it would be an hour’s round trip for a five-minute injection that can be done just as easily and safely at home. “In between appointments, if I’m worried, I can call the team or the helpline at The Royal Marsden. It’s a lovely, personal service.” RM
Want to know more? To find out if your treatment is available on the Homecare service and whether you are eligible, speak to your clinical team
Mobile Chemotherapy Unit (MCU) This state-of-the-art chemotherapy unit is a fully equipped treatment centre on wheels. It travels across the Sutton, Croydon and Epsom areas three days a week to provide chemotherapy to patients in the community, thanks to Hope for Tomorrow, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. The MCU comfortably seats up to four patients at a time and is set to save 2,500 hospital visits by 2021.
RM magazine 19
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A DAY IN T HE L IF E OF
F IL IP E C A R VA L H O A D VA N C E D N U R S E P R A C T I T I O N E R IN COLOREC TA L SURGERY I BEGAN WORKING at The Royal Marsden 10 years ago when I moved to London. I trained in Portugal and worked in an oncology hospital near my home in Lisbon. I started as a staff nurse in Burdett Coutts Ward, then became a clinical site practitioner. I worked up to the position of Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) in Colorectal Surgery a few years ago. Working together My day starts at 7.30am with the routine ward round. This involves managing my surgical patients, which includes carrying out assessments, making clinical decisions and formulating management plans. I look after all colorectal surgical inpatients, so I liaise with a variety of nursing staff and allied health professionals, such as dietitians, to ensure safe and high-quality care. I work with the patients, their relatives and their community team to ensure they have a management plan in place to support them when they are discharged. Patients can contact me if they feel unwell or have any questions after surgery, and I can usually help. In more complex cases, patients come back in so I can assess them and perform blood tests or X-rays to 20 RM magazine
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A D AY I N T H E L I F E
“I work with the patients and their teams to ensure they have a plan in place when they leave” diagnose any issues and provide ongoing care and treatment. My patients are located all across the hospital, so I move around a lot. I also liaise with medical teams when patients require a surgical review, which means I can see 10 to 30 patients in an average day. Lending support As well as an ANP, I am the Lead Nurse for gastrostomy devices. This means I am the main contact for any patient with this type of feeding tube. For many years, patients with head and neck or oesophageal cancers would have a feeding tube inserted and be looked after by a large team of highly skilled health professionals – but no single person
was responsible for co-ordinating the patients’ care after insertion. I work closely with dietitians, interventional radiologists and clinical nurse specialists, so if the patient has a problem, I can support them. In addition, feeding tubes
TAKING A LEAD Filipe’s role includes teaching clinical skills as well as looking after patients
need to be changed routinely every three months, which I can do – but in the event that one becomes blocked, I can be called to either Chelsea or Sutton to deal with it. I try to set aside some time for research to share knowledge and develop innovative ways of working and treating patients. I have been involved in a number of studies and written a chapter for The Royal Marsden Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures. I also spend time at The Royal Marsden School teaching advanced clinical assessment skills to nurses from all over the country, which I find extremely rewarding. Although I have developed my skills and knowledge by completing courses such as my prescribing qualification, I feel blessed to have a job that still allows me to support patients every day. To be able to help patients get the most out of their lives at such a difficult time is a huge privilege. RM RM magazine 21
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Kylie Fitch “The clinical trials we run will benefit current and future generations of patients everywhere”
HIDD E N HE R Fatiha Charef
“It’s important that patients hear a cheery, reassuring voice on the other end of the phone”
At The Royal Marsden, hundreds of non-medical staff help to keep the hospital running smoothly. We meet four colleagues whose work behind the scenes has a huge impact on our patients >
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O U R S TA F F
EN E RO ES Amy Mullins
“Community fundraising gives people the opportunity to do something that makes a real difference”
Grace Boyland
“Multidisciplinary meetings allow clinicians to make fully informed decisions about each patient’s treatment”
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O U R S TA F F
Fatiha Charef
is PA to Dr Vincent Khoo, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, and is responsible for a wide range of administrative tasks “Being a PA is a really hectic role, which people don’t often realise as we sit in the background. We’re responsible for helping to bring the patients into the hospital, processing referrals from GPs and other hospitals, registering patients onto the system and getting their case discussed in a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting. We help to request scans they might need and co-ordinate contact between their consultant, their GP and the different departments within the hospital. “It’s important for patients to know that when their referral comes through, we’re here to handle it, and that they hear a cheery, reassuring voice on the other end of the phone. I meet the patients when they come in and I know they appreciate how efficiently I deal with them. “Every day, it’s rewarding to know that we’re helping people who are poorly to get the treatment they need. There’s something really special about The Royal Marsden – it’s such a lovely hospital to work at.”
Amy Mullins
is Head of Community Fundraising at The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. She works with her team to support our incredible fundraisers “The beauty of community fundraising is that people can do any type of activity they like. We’ve had supporters do everything from skydiving and shaving their hair to skating across a frozen lake in Mongolia to raise money. “Aside from The Banham Marsden March, which is our biggest fundraising event of the year, the most popular way to raise funds is running. This year, we had 86 runners take on the London Marathon and raise an incredible £270,000. “On average, we raise almost £5 million a year through community fundraising. This money helps to support everything from improving patient environments to funding state-of-the-art equipment and groundbreaking research. “Sometimes, patients’ family and friends can feel like they’re unable to do anything to help. Fundraising gives people the opportunity to do something that makes a real difference. We get to see first-hand how the money we raise benefits patients and families every day.”
Kylie Fitch
is a Senior Clinical Trials Co-ordinator. She is responsible for setting up and managing trials in the gynaecological medical oncology research portfolio “Setting up a clinical trial involves an extensive amount of planning, starting with a feasibility assessment to make sure we have the appropriate facilities to accommodate the trial and the staff needed to run it. “Once we have agreed to participate, we start the setup, liaising with sponsors – who can be drug companies or academic organisations – and support services, and negotiating budgets and contracts. It must all be finalised before a trial opens and we can start treating patients. While managing the trial, we liaise with different hospital departments and lead on any audit inspections to ensure it is run in accordance with the appropriate guidelines. “Clinical trials are key for advancing medical knowledge and patient care. This will not only benefit our current patients, but also future generations of patients everywhere. It’s always really rewarding when we see a patient on one of our trials have a positive response to treatment or an improved quality of life.”
Grace Boyland
is a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Navigator in the Gynaecology Unit. She is responsible for co-ordinating the weekly MDT meeting “MDT navigators monitor patients through their treatment pathway and work with the clinical teams to make sure patients are treated within the timeframes specified by NHS England. We track patients against the national cancer waiting times target, which aims to ensure that every patient begins treatment no later than 18 weeks after their referral. “The weekly MDT meetings bring together clinical staff from different disciplines to make decisions on the treatment of individual patients. Each one covers a specific type of cancer – I handle the gynaecological cancer meetings. “MDT meetings can last for up to three hours, with about 40 staff present. We once discussed 70 patients in a single meeting, but on average, around 35 patients are discussed every week. I am responsible for creating the agendas and pulling together information – such as case notes, tests and imaging – for the group to review so they can make fully informed decisions about each patient’s treatment.” RM
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A KEY AIM of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre’s (BRC) Gastrointestinal Cancer theme is to improve cure rates, as well as reduce complications and avoid over-treatment, by making treatment more precise and tailored. Central to this is recognising that a one-size-fits-all approach may not be suitable. A recent study, which included more than 3,000 patients with upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancers treated with chemotherapy, found that while female patients had a better response to treatment than males, more of them were likely to experience side effects. “This is a significant finding and furthers our understanding of two types of cancer that affect almost 16,000 people each year in the UK alone,” says Professor David Cunningham (pictured), Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden, Director of the NIHR BRC and GI Cancers theme lead. “There is a growing body of evidence that suggests gender can be an important factor in cancer treatment, and that clinicians need to be aware of such differences. For example, knowing female patients are more likely to experience side effects such as nausea and vomiting, or diarrhoea, may allow consultants to provide patients with tailored chemotherapy support in order to optimise the management of these common problems.” A recent study jointly led by Professor Andrea Sottoriva, Deputy Director of the Centre for Evolution and Cancer at The Institute of Cancer Research, London (ICR), discovered that
ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL Tailor-made treatments target individual patients’ needs, and are shaping our research into gastrointestinal cancers patient outcomes in colorectal cancer can be predicted by looking at tumour DNA in blood and tissue biopsy samples in combination with mathematical modelling. “The genetic makeup of cancer is highly complex,” says Professor Sottoriva. “Understanding how tumours evolve in response to treatment is key to combating drug resistance.” An exciting new test, developed by scientists at The Royal Marsden and the ICR, analyses seven key genes to identify gastrooesophageal cancer patients who are at risk of relapse following chemotherapy and surgery. Dr Anguraj Sadanandam, Team Leader in Systems and Precision Cancer Medicine at the ICR, says:
“Our test could help select patients who are at high risk of relapse after surgery, allowing new therapies to be developed with the potential to change their future standard of care. “This approach could personalise standard clinical treatment and improve quality of life thereafter.” RM
Want to know more? Learn about the BRC’s work at cancerbrc.org
What is the Biomedical Research Centre?
As a Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research, London receive funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to support our groundbreaking work. RM magazine 25
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Riding high in Mallorca
DARING DESCENT The team abseil down the ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture
Suits you down to the ground AN INTREPID TEAM OF more than 20 banking leaders suited up to take on an abseil challenge down Britain’s tallest sculpture to raise funds for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Donning specially made purple business suits donated by Dress2Kill, the abseil team swapped their City offices for the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in east London for a 200ft descent of the ArcelorMittal Orbit, the UK’s highest freefall abseil.
The team did the 200ft abseil in special purple business suits
Led by Richard Cormack, Managing Director at Goldman Sachs and a member of the Charity’s Oak Cancer Centre Appeal Board, the abseil team came together from 17 different companies, including Credit Suisse, Royal Bank of Canada, JP Morgan and BlackRock, in support of the Charity. The group raised an incredible £250,000, which will go towards building the Oak Cancer Centre in Sutton – a state-of-the-art facility that will transform the lives of cancer patients at The Royal Marsden and beyond.
Want to know more?
Simon Caird has raised an amaz ing £ 5 ,000 for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity after taking on the Mallorca 3 12 challenge, one of the most demanding and scenic cycling ascents in the world. J oining 8 ,000 other riders at the start line, Simon, 5 1, from Ashtead, endured steep mountain ranges and two flat tyres before completing this epic challenge in less than 12 hours. “ The Royal Marsden cared for my father in the 19 7 0s and is now treating a highly valued member of my team at work,” he said. “ The hospital makes a huge difference to people’ s lives daily. “ W hen I found out about the Mallorca 3 12 challenge, I had the perfect inspiration to take on this mammoth event – to raise funds for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.”
Want to know more? Visit royalmarsden.org/ challenge to discover more fundraising ideas
Fancy taking on your own abseil challenge in support of the Charity? Go to royalmarsden.org/abseils
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T H E R O YA L M A R S D E N C A N C E R C H A R I T Y
A DECADE OF MARCHING THUMBS UP Walkers on the 2019 Banham Marsden March
Look to the stars Celebrate a L ife is a special occasion when we celebrate those dear to us. Every D ecember, the Christmas trees outside our hospitals are decorated with thousands of special Celebrate a L ife stars, each one with the name of someone special handwritten in the centre. Y our star can appear on one of our two trees and you’ ll get a gold star lapel badge to wear or give as a gift – all helping us to make a real difference to the lives of cancer patients and their families.
Want to know more? Visit royalmarsden.org/star
Free Will writing THE BANHAM MARSDEN MARCH turns 10 next year, and we want to celebrate our first decade in style, with more walkers than ever before. On 3 May 2020, thousands of current and former patients, friends, family members and staff – including people who have marched every year – will walk between The Royal Marsden’s hospitals in Chelsea and Sutton. We will be raising money for a very special cause: the construction of the Oak Cancer Centre in Sutton.
Due to open in 2022, the new centre will vastly improve our facilities and place more than 400 researchers alongside patients with the most challenging cancers, ensuring that patients are at the heart of our research and helping to speed up the development of new treatments. And we want to raise £2 million to help build this world-leading facility!
Want to know more? Come and join us – visit royalmarsden. org/march to sign up now!
Contact The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity Telephone 020 7808 2233 Email charity@royalmarsden.org Visit royalmarsden.org Registered Charity No. 1095197
The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity is working with the National Free Wills Network to offer supporters the chance to have their Will written or amended for free. Charlie Booth, Head of Legacies at the Charity, said: “Thanks to the support of those who leave a gift in their Will, we can fund research into the development of new treatments, saving the lives of future cancer patients.”
Want to know more? Contact the Charity on 020 7808 2233 RM magazine 27
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WHY WE’RE HERE
Following the elections in May this year, we welcomed nine new Governors to the Trust. Here, they tell us what working for The Royal Marsden means to them
Dr Patricia Black Patient Governor, Elsewhere in London Patricia worked as an NHS nurse for 52 years, and was referred to The Royal Marsden with her second cancer diagnosis two years ago. She says: “I received such great care that I felt becoming a Governor meant I could help The Royal Marsden continue to provide the same kind of world-class care they gave me.”
Dr Nigel Platt Patient Governor, Elsewhere in England Nigel has seen the support of The Royal Marsden first-hand and through the treatment of several of his close family. “I am delighted to assist the Trust in return for all the amazing support they’ve given me,” he says. “As a Chartered Geologist and scientist myself, I’m keen to encourage the Trust’s contributions to international scientific collaboration and research.”
Philippa Leslie Patient Governor, Kensington and Chelsea, and Sutton and Merton Philippa’s background is in international communications for a worldwide charity. “I’m interested in making more known about the research and the day-to-day care, to bring to the public a greater awareness of The Royal Marsden’s key research and the excellence of their care,” she says. “Not so much to give back, as to give forward.”
Dale Sheppard-Floyd Carer Governor After Dale’s husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016, he was referred to The Royal Marsden for treatment. Dale says: “Becoming a Carer Governor gives me the opportunity to give something back to the Trust to thank them for the wonderful care my husband continues to receive.”
Tom Brown Patient Governor, Kensington and Chelsea, and Sutton and Merton Tom was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer in 2014 and received treatment at The Royal Marsden. “I owe my life to the incredible skill and care of The Royal Marsden,” he says. “I now hope to give back to the hospital as a Governor, bringing my own experience and analytical skills from my working life to the role.”
Tim Nolan Carer Governor Tim was already a member of the Patient and Carer Advisory Group before standing as a Governor, and his wife Sue has been treated at The Royal Marsden. He says: “I have been incredibly impressed by the wonderful care Sue received and was eager to contribute and assist wherever possible.”
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F O U N DAT I O N N E W S
Back for another term
Dr Tom Moon Public Governor, Elsewhere in England Tom began his career as a doctor and worked at The Royal Marsden for a brief time. “Having moved from medicine into high-growth technology, I want to contribute to helping the Trust adopt emerging technologies to remain a leading cancer centre,” he says.
Four further G overnors were re- elected to their existing seats: Shirley Chapman Public Governor, Sutton and Merton Now retired, Shirley worked at The Royal Marsden for 14 years as a physiotherapist. “I’m keen to use my experience to support the Trust,” she says. “I’m particularly interested in ensuring that patients have access to the best support services possible throughout their treatment and remission.”
D r J ayne W ood, taff overnor, D octor Maggie Harkness, P atient G overnor, K ensington and Chelsea, and Sutton and Merton Fiona Stewart, P atient G overnor, Elsewhere in L ondon Simon Spevack, P atient G overnor, Elsewhere in England
Fiona Rolls Staff Governor, Clinical Professionals Fiona has worked at The Royal Marsden for 10 years as an occupational therapist. “I value the ethos of The Royal Marsden and the successful work achieved by teams,” she says. “This has broadened my knowledge and range of professional and social skills, which I am confident I can bring to my new role as Governor.”
“I’m confident I can bring knowledge and a broad range of skills to my new role as Governor”
Farewell and thank you In May 2 019 , we said farewell to G overnors Tim Howlett, Armine Afrikian and Ros McTaggart, who reached the end of their term on the Council of G overnors. W e would like to express our sincere thanks for their dedication and contributions to the Trust.
Dates for your diary Board of Directors Meeting 18 September 2019, Chelsea Annual General Meeting 18 September 2019, 5pm, Chelsea Council of Governors meeting 24 September 2019, 11am-1pm, Chelsea Council of Governors meeting 4 December 2019, 11am-1pm, Chelsea To attend any of these meetings, please call 020 7808 2844 or email corporate governance@rmh. nhs.uk
Keep in touch To contact your Governor, email governors@rmh. nhs.uk or telephone 020 7808 2844
Become a member To sign up and become a member, visit royalmarsden.nhs. uk/membership or call 020 7808 2844 to request a membership form
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PUZZLES & PRIZES
PRIZE CROSSWORD
Send your crossword with your name and contact details to RM, PR and Communications Team, The Royal Marsden, Fulham Road, Chelsea, London SW3 6JJ. The entry closing date is Thursday 29 October 2019. See below for prize draw rules. Summer 2019 crossword solution Across 1 Naive 4 Bales 6 Rag doll 8 Pond 9 Recap 12 Pesto 13 Anna 15 Raccoon 17 Pitta 18 Water Down 1 Newspaper 2 Invents 3 Earl 4 Bogart 5 Leo 7 Laplander 10 Content 11 Bogota 14 Snow 16 Cot Congratulations to Catherine Bell, the winner of the summer 2019 issue’s crossword prize. 2
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FOR THE ROYAL MARSDEN
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Fill in your details below when sending in your crossword competition entry. See above for details of our address. NAME ADDRESS
POST CODE
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Across 1 Prickly plants (5) 4 Swiss city (5) 6 Small fish (7) 8 Evil spirit or devil (5) 9 Smiley face, for example (5) 11 Girl’s name (5) 13 Vapour from boiling water (5) 14 Perfumed (7) 16 Board game for two (5) 17 Tuneful art form (5)
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AUTUMN 2019 PRIZE CROSSWORD ENTRY FORM
TELEPHONE
Try the fiendishly tricky numbers puzzle – it’s just for fun
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CROSSWORD CLUES
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THE TEAM
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The lucky winner of our prize crossword will receive a £50 John Lewis & Partners gift card.
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Down 1 Ships’ suppliers (9) 2 Soft toffee (7) 3 Norwegian writer (5) 4 Long, flat-bottomed boat (5) 5 Take part in snowy sport (3) 7 Mysterious, difficult to understand (9) 10 Wild cats of Central and South America (7) 12 Short letters (5) 13 Biblical city (5) 15 Female sheep (3)
PRIZE DRAW TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1. The Prize Draw is open to all readers of RM except employees of the Press Office at The Royal Marsden and Sunday, who produce RM magazine. 2. The closing date for receipt of all entries is Thursday 29 October 2019. Only one entry per person per draw. 3. Responsibility cannot be accepted for entries that are incomplete, illegible or not received. Proof of posting is not proof of receipt. No cash alternative is available and prizes are not transferable. Value of prize is correct at time of going to press. 4. Winners will be notified by post within 14 days of closing date.
5. The Promoter’s decision on any aspect of the promotions is final and binding. No correspondence will be entered into. 6. The Promoter reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value should circumstances make this necessary. 7. Entry implies acceptance of rules. 8. The winner of the crossword prize of a £50 John Lewis & Partners gift card will be the first correct entry drawn out of the bag. 9. The Promoter is The Royal Marsden, Fulham Road, London SW3 6JJ.
Rachael Reeve Director of Marketing and Communications Elaine Parr Head of PR and Communications Abby Samuel PR and Communications Manager Catherine O’Mara Senior PR and Communications Officer Hannah Bransden Senior PR and Communications Officer Francesca Vitale Senior PR and Communications Officer Orla Anandarajah PR and Communications Assistant
FOR SUNDAY Marc Grainger Editor Mark Wheeler Art Director Sian Purdy Designer Gill Tait Account Director Richard Robinson Group Editor Matt Beaven Creative Director Toby Smeeton Managing Director RM magazine is published by The Royal Marsden in partnership with Sunday: wearesunday.com © The Royal Marsden 2019. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without prior permission of the Editor. The Royal Marsden and Sunday accept no responsibility for the views expressed by contributors to the magazine. Repro by F1 Colour. Printed by Pureprint.
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S TAY I N T O U C H
COMMENT, LIKE, SHARE Join the conversation on Twitter @royalmarsden and @royalmarsdenNHS Facebook @royalmarsden, @royalmarsdenchelsea and @royalmarsdensutton Instagram @royalmarsden Twitter
Celia Jones @Celia_E_Jones The Royal Marsden continues to look after my mum to an exceptional standard [right]. Their head of pastoral care and support also shared very helpful advice on how to cope with the emotional impact of cancer. fourmilehouse @fourmilehouse 10 years ago I was treated for #breastcancer @royalmarsdenNHS the treatment and care was fantastic. Today, my best friend is being treated at the #royalmarsden for #bc she will be fine, she’s in safe hands #NHS #welovethenhs #thankyouNHS
Jasmine Killen A great hospital, they put so much effort into making you feel less anxious and more safe. Medical care beyond excellent, so grateful that I received my treatment there.
Jonathan Manners @jemanners Having a wonderful meal. The eve of my 40th birthday – one I never expected to reach, and I look forward to saying a massive and wholehearted thank you to the wonderful @royalmarsden #liveeverydaylikeitsyourlast
Michael Collison Miracles do happen... A special heartfelt thanks from me as you have treated my grandson Elliott
Gayna Ryan I am at the beginning of my Sarcoma journey. I feel safe and relaxed. The staff are amazing. Friendly, understanding and caring. I’m not quite as scared any more
Lin Hubble @mrspdales Farewell to the Royal Marsden, after 10 years I’ve finally got my exit pass. I am forever in your debt and thank you [Consultant Surgical Oncologist] Andrew Hayes, who definitely rocks thanks again [above]
STAY IN TOUCH WITH THE ROYAL MARSDEN CANCER CHARITY
CONTACT THE FRIENDS OF THE ROYAL MARSDEN, CHELSEA
CALL US
CALL US
EMAIL US charity@royalmarsden.org
EMAIL US friends.chelsea@rmh.nhs.uk
VISIT US ONLINE royalmarsden.org
VISIT US ONLINE formc.uk
Registered Charity No. 1095197
Registered Charity No. 222613
CONTACT US CALL THE ROYAL MARSDEN, CHELSEA
020 7352 8171 CALL THE ROYAL MARSDEN, SUTTON
020 8642 6011
VISIT US ONLINE royalmarsden.nhs.uk WANT TO WORK AT THE ROYAL MARSDEN? Visit jobs.royalmarsden.nhs.uk READ RM MAGAZINE ONLINE royalmarsden.nhs.uk/ rm-magazine
CONTACT THE ROYAL MARSDEN HELP CENTRE For confidential chat, support and information, call
0800 783 7176
or visit royalmarsden.nhs.uk/ your-care/royal-marsdenhelp-centre For general feedback, compliments, concerns or complaints, send us a message royalmarsden.nhs.uk/ contact-us/get-in-touch
020 7808 2233
020 7352 3875
Look out for the winter 2019 issue of RM – coming December 2019 RM magazine 31
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Together we walk 10 thA nniversa r y
Join us on 3 May 2020 for the special tenth anniversary of The Banham Marsden March. This year, every step you take of the 5 or 15 mile walk will help us build The Oak Cancer Centre. This brand-new facility will speed up our research into life-saving treatments and ensure we can be there for everyone who needs us.
Sign up at royalmarsden.org/march Registered Charity No. 1095197
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