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.
4 Bulletin
What’s happening around
The Royal Marsden
12 A royal tribute
In remembrance of Her Majesty The Queen
14 A decade of pioneering research
Celebrating 10 years of the Centre for Molecular Pathology
16 A world of good
How our staff share their knowledge around the globe
19 It happened to me
Jessica Brown’s ovarian cancer journey
20 Breaking new ground
Our experts showcase their work at the ASCO conference
22 A day in the life
With Staff Nurse Ivy Manalang
24 New beginnings
The refugees restarting their nursing careers at the Trust
26 Fundraising
News from The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity
28 The big screen
Genomic screening in focus
29 Foundation news
Updates from our Foundation Trust and Governors
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
ON THE COVER
Siblings Sara and Abed, who joined The Royal Marsden with help from the NHS Refugee Nurse Support Programme
Some photographs in this issue were taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and may not reflect current PPE guidelines
to the autumn 2022 edition of RM, the magazine for our staff, patients, carers and Foundation Trust members.
Everyone at The Royal Marsden was deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty The Queen in September.
As Patron of The Royal Marsden for 70 years, the Queen was a wonderful supporter of our work and visited Chelsea and Sutton over the years. We pay tribute to Her Majesty on page 12.
The front cover of this magazine features brother and sister Abed and Sara, who are two of the talented international nurses The Royal Marsden welcomed to its workforce earlier this year, thanks to help from the NHS Refugee Nurse Support Programme. You can read all about their new roles at the hospital on page 24.
And on page 29, we welcome Sir Douglas Flint CBE as the new Chairman of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Sir Douglas took up his role as Chair Designate on 1 September. My deep appreciation goes to Charles Alexander CBE for his six years of service as Chairman.
I hope you enjoy this issue.
Dame Cally Palmer, Chief Executive, The Royal MarsdenTHE WINNER OF this year’s Science and Medical Imaging Competition – organised by The Royal Marsden’s academic partner, The Institute of Cancer Research, London (ICR), and open to our staff – has been announced. Judges chose from a shortlist of five, each of which showcased an aspect of the eye-catching discovery science undertaken at the ICR. This winning image was taken by Rose Foster, a PhD student in the Prostate and Bladder Cancer Research Team at the ICR, and shows bladder cancer tumour tissue at a cellular level. The tissue is stained with fluorescent dyes of different colours that highlight different proteins expressed on the cells. The areas in grey and blue are surrounded by exhausted tumour-fighting immune cells called tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), which are shown in green. The image shows how the TILs can’t access the tumour’s deeper areas, highlighting the need for complex spatial profiling to understand the immunobiology of the tumour microenvironment.
?
DID KNOW?YOU
Live patientsBringingreturnedconcertslunchtimehavetoTheRoyalMarsden.upliftinglivemusictoourandstaffhasalwaysbeenaspecialfeatureatourhospitals.We’resogratefultothetalentedmusiciansfortheirbeautifulperformancesthroughoutthesummer.
Professor Stephen Johnston hailed NICE’s approval of abemaciclib
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved a new treatment for breast cancer patients at high risk of recurrence, following a trial led by Professor Stephen Johnston, Consultant Medical Oncologist and Head of the Breast Unit at The Royal Marsden.
Abemaciclib is a targeted drug used in combination with hormone therapy to treat high-risk HR+ and HER2- breast cancer patients. The treatment is taken following standard therapies, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
NICE’s approval was based on results from the Phase 3 monarchE trial, which involved more than 5,600 patients in 38 countries. Led by Royal Marsden researchers, the trial found a 32 per cent reduction in the recurrence of breast cancer when abemaciclib was used alongside standard hormone therapy,
compared with treatments that used hormone therapy alone.
Emma Sola, 48, was diagnosed with stage 3 HR+ breast cancer in 2018. After multiple treatments at her local hospital, she was accepted on to the monarchE trial at The Royal Marsden in February 2019.
She said: “I was keen to join the trial and took abemaciclib for 18 months. Knowing that my risk of recurrence is lower because I’ve had this drug is incredibly reassuring. It’s like an extra layer of security.”
Professor Johnston, Lead Global Principal Investigator for the trial, said: “It’s a privilege to see the compelling results from the monarchE trial translate into a new treatment option. This drug represents a significant breakthrough and I’m delighted that it will be available to help eligible patients.”
Researchers from The Royal Marsden are supporting NHS England’s Targeted Lung Health Check programme, which is aiming to improve the early diagnosis of lung conditions, including cancer, before symptoms become noticeable.
The programme targets areas with a high lung cancer incidence, including Hillingdon and Sutton. People identified as being at increased risk of lung cancer are invited for a low-dose CT scan at either a mobile scanning unit or a hospital site.
The programme’s joint national clinical lead, Dr Richard Lee, Consultant Physician in Respiratory Medicine at The Royal Marsden, said: “So far, more than three quarters of lung cancers diagnosed as part of this programme were caught at either stage one or two, when treatment is more likely to be effective.”
Tina McNutt, 74, from Ruislip, was diagnosed with lung cancer following a targeted lung health check and was treated at The Royal Marsden.
She said: “If I hadn’t been checked, I wouldn’t have known anything was wrong and my cancer might not have been caught at such a treatable stage.”
A STUDY PARTLY LED by researchers at The Royal Marsden has found that a new adaptive radiotherapy technique could offer a better treatment option for patients with head and neck cancer.
The new technique, which is known as ATS-Lite, can deliver a more robust treatment plan and requires less time spent on the MR Linac radiotherapy machine.
It delivers radiation with 99.9 per cent accuracy, improves patients’ comfort during treatment and reduces side effects.
Andy Johnstone, 65, was diagnosed with head and neck cancer last May and was referred to The Royal Marsden. He was one of the first patients to be treated with the ATS-Lite technique.
He said: “I was treated on the MR Linac five days a week, for six weeks. A follow-up scan in December showed no sign of cancer.
“I’m so glad I had this treatment – according to
my healthcare team, it probably saved my life.”
It is hoped that the ATSLite technique could lead to the increased global use of the MR Linac for treating head and neck cancers in a simpler, more efficient way as it removes the need for a clinician to be present.
Study leader Dr Kee Howe Wong, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden, said: “Although we’re at an early stage with ATS-Lite, we have seen great results so far, with patients responding very well to treatments.”
“Patients have been responding very well so far”Study lead Dr Kee Howe Wong
WE ARE DELIGHTED that more than 1,000 Royal Marsden staff have chosen to wear an NHS rainbow badge to show their support for members of the LGBT+ community. All staff, volunteers and contractors at The Royal Marsden are welcome to pledge their support and wear the NHS rainbow badges, which are available at the hospital.
The initiative aims to make a positive difference in healthcare settings by promoting a message of inclusion.
The number of people wearing badges demonstrates that The Royal Marsden is proudly an open and inclusive place for people who identify as LGBT+, including patients, volunteers, visitors and staff.
Dame Cally Palmer, the Trust’s Chief Executive, said: “We hope that the initiative will help to create an environment at the hospital where people are encouraged to confidently share their identity and be open with staff about who they are.”
From left: Krystyna Ruszkiewicz, Director of Workforce; Professor Nicholas van As, Medical Director; and Mairead Griffin, Chief Nurse
The Oak Cancer Centre (OCC), The Royal Marsden’s new treatment and research facility in Sutton, is due to be completed by the end of this year, with the project team now finalising the plans for when each area will become operational.
The new facility will bring together more than 400 researchers and 350 clinical staff, with researchers moving into the state-of-the-art Kuok Research Centre inside the building in the new year.
The OCC, which has been made possible thanks to supporters of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, will ensure that we can continue to develop treatments for the benefit of cancer patients worldwide, while providing a modern, peaceful environment where patients are treated – all under the same roof.
The building has now had more than 2,300 sq m of glazing installed, with the final pane of glass fitted in July to make the building watertight.
Look out for more updates in future issues of RM.
The Royal Marsden is proud to be an open and inclusive place for LGBT+ people
Early results from a Phase 1 trial suggest that a new type of immunotherapy that redirects the body’s ‘natural killer cells’ to tumours could be effective against a range of cancers that can evade currentResearcherstreatments.believe the new treatment, known as AFM24, has the potential to be safer and less complex than cell therapies such as CAR-T. A third of patients evaluated responded to the treatment and saw their cancer stop growing.
Richard Condie, 64, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2015 and joined the trial last year. He said: “Of all the treatments I’ve received, this has the fewest side effects. I can work, live an active lifestyle and spend time with my family.”
The trial’s UK lead, Dr Juanita Lopez (above), Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden and Clinical Researcher at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: “Our early findings suggest AFM24 shows signs of effectiveness in some patients with very advanced cancers who have stopped responding to conventional treatments.”
IN MAY, CHELSEA FC hosted its annual six-a-side football tournament for NHS staff to thank them for their hard work during the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.
The Royal Marsden was represented in the men’s and women’s tournaments, fielding four teams in total.
They competed against other local trusts to be crowned North-West London NHS Football Champions 2022.
Everyone who took part in the tournament had a lot of fun, and The Royal Marsden players were all grateful for the
opportunity to have a kick-about after work.
Supporters of the Marsden One men’s team had a particularly exciting afternoon. The team survived a nail-biting penalty shoot-out in the semi-final to progress to the final... which they Congratulationswon! to the triumphant team for being crowned worthy winners of this year’s tournament.
TOP TEAM MarsdenVictoriousOneplayerscelebrateFOR NEARLY 20 YEARS, The Royal Marsden has hosted an annual Staff Achievement Awards event, generously supported by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, to recognise and celebrate the incredible work of our staff throughout the year.
In 2021, the traditional in-person event couldn’t take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the Trust celebrated via a virtual ceremony with celebrity guests announcing the winners.
Recognising that the winners of the 2021 Staff Achievement Awards missed out on an in-person event,
Charity Trustee Varun Chandra kindly hosted a drinks reception earlier this year. Chief Executive Dame Cally Palmer and Chairman Charles Alexander presented the awards and thanked each person and team for their hard work during one of the most challenging times in the hospital’s history.
In December, we’ll be bringing back the in-person dinner and disco to announce the winners of the 2022 Staff Achievement Awards.
Want to know more? Visit staff-achievement-awards-2021royalmarsden.nhs.uk/ KNOW?YOU
There’s now less than six months to go before the launch of our new Connect Digital Health Record (Connect DHR) platform, which will replace many of our current paper- and computer-based systems with a single electronic patient record system.
Patient information will be available in one place, making it easier for staff to access and update records, which will lead to more efficient working practices and give staff more time to spend with patients.
The Connect DHR platform also includes a new patient portal, an app and webpage that gives patients access to their own medical records. They will be able to update their care records, interact with medical staff and contribute to research using their phone, tablet or computer.
Following a vote on the Cancer Patients’ Voice online platform, the official name for the new patient portal has been chosen: ‘MyMarsden’ was the runaway favourite with 68 per cent of the votes.
MyMarsden will be available for all Royal Marsden patients from March next year. Look out for details about how you can sign up for an account in future issues of RM.
HIGH ACHIEVERS Above: Chairman Charles Alexander with Dr Ravishankar Rao Baikady, Consultant Anaesthetist.
Left: Frankie Jones and Clara Omata from Horder Ward. Top: Lisa Emery, Emma Blondrage and Ernest RedwoodSawyer from the Digital Services Team
If you missed the Channel 4 series Super Surgeons: A Chance at Life when it aired in July, you can still catch it on demand. It tells the stories of eight Royal Marsden patients before, during and after surgery and highlights the pioneering approach of our surgical team. Visit channel4.com and search for ‘Super Surgeons’.
The Patient and Carer Advisory Group (PCAG) has surveyed Royal Marsden patients about the remote consultations introduced during the pandemic:
• 94 per cent knew when to expect a call and had time to discuss all they wanted to; • 91 per cent had a good experience of their phone appointment; and • 83 per cent thought the doctor’s communication was good.
The Royal Marsden’s catering department has maintained its excellent five-star rating for food hygiene after recently being audited by a Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea environmental health officer. The audit assessed patient meals, retail outlets, and the Mulberry Tree and Cherry Tree staff restaurants.
Emma Thistlethwayte, Lead Nurse in the Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) service, explains how the team supports and cares for young people with cancer
Q How does The Royal Marsden TYA service support young people with cancer?
A We offer specialist, ageappropriate care to cancer patients aged 16 to 24, as well as co-ordinator,practitioners,includesbypatientsteamvirtualandpsychological,emotional,practicalsocialsupportviaourmultidisciplinary(MDT)clinic.TheMDTclinicensuresaresupportedaspecialistteamthatadvancednurseayouthsupportYoungLives
vs Cancer social workers, occupational therapists dietitians, psychologists and physiotherapists. The MDT can offer support around issues such as fertility, body image and transitioning to life with and after cancer. When we care for patients, the emphasis is on them being young people with unique identities, rather than someone with cancer.
Q What is available on the TYA ward that might not be available on an adult ward?
A The TYA ward is designed to be an FridaymusicinaspeopleonyouthThebenefitpatientsenvironmentage-appropriatethatalsogivestheopportunitytofrompeersupport.TeenageCancerTrustsupportco-ordinatorthewardsupportsyoungonanindividualbasis,wellasengagingthemgroupactivities,suchasandarttherapyand‘mocktail’nights.
Q How is a young person referred to the TYA service at The Royal Marsden?
A Patients aged 16 to 18 must be treated at their Principal Treatment Centre, which, for those living in the South Thames region, will be The Royal Marsden. Patients aged 19 to 24 are offered a choice of either The Royal Marsden or a designated hospital where they will have access to a TYA clinical nurse specialist. For some young people, having an theiroversightMDTfortreated,ofThamesadulthome.theyothersmostmixenvironmentage-appropriatewheretheycanwiththeirpeersistheimportantthing,butforitmaybethedistancehavetotravelfromtheirAllteenageandyoungpatientsintheSouthregion,irrespectivewheretheychoosetobeshouldbereferreddiscussioninourTYAclinic,whichprovidesandguidancefortreatmentpathway.
Want to know more?
Visit royalmarsden.nhs.uk/ tya to learn more about our TYA service
“The emphasis is on patients being young people with unique identities, rather than someone with cancer”
Q&A: TEENAGE AND YOUNG ADULT SERVICE
FOR THE FIRST time in the UK, lightweight fabric prostheses offered to women following a mastectomy will now match a wider range of skin tones.
Some women use the prostheses (also known as ‘softies’) temporarily following their operation, although many choose to use them long-term, as they can be more comfortable than other available options.
Supported by funding from The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity,
Natalie Johnson, Oncoplastic Surgeon, and Sarah Adomah, Breast Unit Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist, decided to create this new and more inclusive range to improve the care that women of colour receive following a mastectomy.
The range was developed in partnership with Nubian Skin, a lingerie and hosiery brand that specialises in nude skin-tone products for women of colour. There are four new options available in eight different sizes.
Breast cancer patient Veronica Parke, 63, said: “The softie currently offered doesn’t match my skin tone, so I don’t use it and this affects how I dress. I hope these new products will boost the confidence of more women like me after cancer surgery and help with the healing process.”
During The Royal Marsden’s first Earth Week event in the spring, nearly 400 staff made personal pledges to support our Green Plan.
A musical fundraiser held in aid of the Friends of The Royal Marsden last November raised an incredible £28,746 to help fund lung cancer research at the hospital.
Organised by Katie Rockley, the evening featured a piano recital specially composed by pianist Philip Lambert, a friend of Katie’s from her time at university, and guests were treated to drinks and canapés.
Katie’s brother, Philip Whalley, who is being treated for lung cancer at the hospital, is a talented pianist. For the past few years, he has played piano in the foyer of The Royal Marsden in Chelsea on Saturday mornings.
Cards for Wellbeing is a new initiative created by Georgina Reeve, Volunteer Co-ordinator in the Digital Youth Programme, in which children and young people from local youth organisations create inspiring cards for NHS staff and patients to boost morale. The Royal Marsden recently received its first batch of cards, which were kindly created by children from Sutton’s Brownies and Guides and distributed by our volunteers.
Want to know more?
Please email reeve@rmh.nhs.ukgeorgina.
“I hope these new products will boost the confidence of more women”SETTING THE TONE Oncoplastic Surgeon Natalie Johnson
IT WAS WITH GREAT SADNESS that we learned of the death of Her Majesty The Queen on 8 September.
The Queen became Patron of The Royal Marsden in 1952 and was a wonderful supporter of our work. We were privileged that she honoured both our Chelsea and Sutton hospitals with visits over the years, meeting staff and patients.
In 1963, the Queen opened our Sutton hospital and met Frieda Sandwith, the great-granddaughter of William Marsden, who founded The Royal Marsden. More recently, the Queen visited the Chelsea hospital in 2001 to open the Markus Rehabilitation Centre.
Dame Cally Palmer, Chief Executive of The Royal Marsden, says: “Many of our staff will have memories of these wonderful occasions and remember them with pride and fondness.
“Her Majesty led the country and the Commonwealth with dignity, compassion and strength for 70 years, and many colleagues and patients across The Royal Marsden have been touched and saddened by her passing.
“Our thoughts are with our President, HRH The Prince of Wales, and the Royal Family at such a sad time.” RM
During the Queen’s visit to Chelsea in 2001, she met Dr Natalie Doyle – who was Sister for the Markus Centre at the time and is now The Royal Marsden’s Nurse Director for Patient Experience – who showed her around the new Markus Rehabilitation Centre.
“It was my responsibility to introduce Her Majesty to 35 members of staff and patients, which was a huge honour,” Dr Doyle recalls. “By visiting, it was an acknowledgement from Her Majesty that helping people live with and beyond cancer is important.
“It was a wonderful testament to the work we were doing at the time, and a day I’ll never forget.”
“I introduced Her Majesty to our staff and patients, which was a huge honour”A MOMENTOUS DAY On her visit to Chelsea in 2001, the Queen met Shelley Dolan, then Nurse Consultant in Critical Care (top); toured the Markus Centre, escorted by Natalie Doyle, then Sister (above); and greeted staff, accompanied by Royal Marsden Chief Executive Cally Palmer (below)
We honour Her Majesty The Queen, who was Patron of The Royal Marsden for 70 years and whose visits to the Chelsea and Sutton hospitals during her reign left patients and staff alike with abiding memories
We highlight 10 ways in which the Centre for Molecular Pathology has helped to transform cancer diagnosis and treatment since 2012
Illustrations: Fernando Volken Togni
IT’S BEEN 10 YEARS since the Centre for Molecular Pathology (CMP) opened in Sutton, bringing together researchers from The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research, London (ICR), under one roof.
The £18.2-million facility, which is dedicated to the research of personalised cancer treatment, was financed through capital funding awarded by the Department of Health to the National Institute for Health and Care Research specialist Biomedical Research Centre, the Wolfson Foundation and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
To mark this milestone, here are 10 ways in which the CMP has transformed how we treat cancer.
The Royal Marsden collected and decoded genomes from patients as part of this project, which sequenced 100,000 genomes from 85,000 people with cancer and rare diseases, helping to develop a genomic medicine service for the NHS and transform patient care.
We played a crucial role in the Cancer Research UK Stratified Medicine programme and the National Lung Matrix trial, the largest clinical trial of precision medicine for non-small-cell lung cancer patients, both as a major recruiting site and one of the centres that carried out molecular profiling.
As part of the North Thames Genomic Laboratory Hub – which supports the NHS’s Genomic Medicine Service – The Royal Marsden now undertakes the majority of genomic testing for cancer patients in northeast and west London.
Working with pharmaceutical companies means our patients benefit from the most advanced technologies. Thanks to a new partnership with Guardant Health, our new in-house liquid biopsy testing facility will allow us to offer bespoke diagnostic testing to many more patients.
Using the CMP’s infrastructure and expertise has provided an integrated diagnostic service for haemato-oncology patients, both at The Royal Marsden and across a catchment area of 3.5 million people.
Funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and the ICR, the unit is a pioneer in the burgeoning field of digital pathology. It uses sophisticated computing tools and artificial intelligence to analyse tissue and learn crucial information about cancer.
Working closely with oncology experts, we use innovative genomic testing to bring personalised treatments to patients sooner. Our large clinical trial portfolio and repertoire of genomic tests means we can profile cancers quickly and accurately.
Thanks to a generous donation from the Denise Coates Foundation to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, we invested in state-of-the-art DNA sequencing technology in order to make diagnostic sequencing more efficient and cost-effective than ever. In addition, our genesequencing panels comprehensively detect all currently actionable cancer-related mutations.
As part of the Cancer Research
UK-funded Stratified Medicine
Paediatrics programme, tumours were sequenced using DNA and RNA panels developed at The Royal Marsden, enabling researchers to learn more about genetic changes in children’s cancers.
Our development and application of circulating tumour DNA testing has resulted in improved outcomes for patients. The process, which tests blood samples for DNA shed by the tumour, is minimally invasive and can help detect and diagnose cancer as well as inform treatment plans. RM
Royal Marsden staff have been sharing their knowledge and skills with colleagues around the globe to ensure that as many people as possible can benefit from their expertise
is key to driving improvements in cancer care. When new, lessinvasive surgical techniques are developed or game-changing drug discoveries are made, sharing these innovations with as many people as possible has incredible results.
Here, we highlight some of the ways in which Royal Marsden experts are sharing the benefits of their world-leading knowledge and practices globally.
In May, Consultant Breast Radiographer Victoria Sinnett travelled to India to facilitate collaboration on a clinical trial for patients with advanced breast cancer. Led by researchers from The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, the Phase 2 KORTUC trial is exploring whether a gel injection of hydrogen peroxide can make tumour cells more sensitive to radiotherapy.
“In India, there are often difficulties accessing and paying for healthcare. As the country has a good volume of radiotherapy machines and hydrogen peroxide is easily accessible and inexpensive there, we thought it would be a
suitable place to open the trial,” explains Victoria. “It was amazing to be involved and see how hard clinicians in India are working to get their patients access to treatment and care. One of the centres I visited is recruiting patients to the trial, and the other is due to start soon.”
SHARED CARE Victoria Sinnett travelled to India to breastcollaborateonarecentcancerresearchtrialDr Ravishankar Rao Baikady, Consultant in Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, has a special interest in patient blood management (PBM) and regularly collaborates with colleagues in the UK and abroad to find ways to better manage anaemia and haemorrhage during cancer surgery.
Dr Rao Baikady has exchanged ideas about PBM with experts in Denmark, India, Australia and the USA. Since 2005, he has organised an annual seminar
on the management of anaemia and haemorrhage during surgery, which is attended by clinicians from around the world.
“Half of patients are affected by anaemia and, because many require surgery as part of their treatment, there is a risk of haemorrhaging, which leads to blood transfusions,” Dr Rao Baikady explains. “Anaemia and transfusions can impact patient outcomes, so researching PBM in a cancer setting, including developing international collaborations, is essential.”
Benefiting from biosimilars
Biosimilars are near-identical replicas of vital drugs that are just as effective as the originals, but cost far less – and Consultant Pharmacist Emma Foreman has supported The Royal Marsden’s drive to make biosimilar drugs available to more patients.
In 2018, she volunteered to chair the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners’ Biosimilars Taskforce, which includes representatives from North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Its aim is to identify the barriers that prevent the implementation of biosimilars and to create a toolkit of resources
that local oncology pharmacists and medics can use to help overcome“Biosimilarsthem.are cheaper than the original drugs and bring competition into the market, which drives down prices while encouraging innovation,” explains Emma. “Each country has unique obstacles to adopting these products, from complex regulatory pathways to anticompetitive practices, and we hope to help address these problems.
“In this role, I’ve presented in the USA and Belgium and, thanks to COVID-19, at conferences in Saudi Arabia and Thailand from my bedroom.”
Tracey Crowe is helping to make training more inclusive for nurses
Lead Nurse Tracey Crowe, who is funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, has been helping bolster the voices of paediatric oncology nurses on the European stage.
Tracey is a member of the Innovative Therapies for Children with Cancer (ITCC) Consortium, which aims to accelerate new therapies for children and adolescents with cancer. Tracey represents nurses on the consortium’s
education committee, which provides paediatric oncology professionals with training on drug development and earlyphase clinical trials, and is working to make it more inclusive for nurses.
“Historically, the training hasn’t quite met the needs of experienced research nurses working within the ITCC, so I’m working on ways to ensure it is more relevant for them,” she says. “As 63 paediatric oncology departments across 18 countries are involved in the ITCC, there are some language barriers, but I hope this project will help to harness the integral role of nurses in early-phase trial development.”
Professor Vinidh Paleri, Consultant Head and Neck Surgeon, has travelled the UK and beyond training surgeons in transoral robotic surgery (TORS), a technique he helped to pioneer.
TORS is a minimally invasive operation that uses robotic technology to treat head and neck cancers. In select patient groups, it can offer improved functional outcomes, including with swallowing and speech.
Professor Paleri has already demonstrated the TORS
technique in several countries, including Norway, Scotland and India, and plans to train surgeons in Denmark, too.
“The only operation previously available to this patient group was major open-neck surgery, which is often associated with a very long recovery,” says Professor Paleri. “This technique is therefore an incredibly welcome development. It was a privilege and a pleasure to assist these cases, which was the first time TORS has been used in these locations.” RM
The Royal Marsden launched the Robotic Surgery Fellowship in 2017 with funding from The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. We’ve trained seven surgeons from the UK and abroad to use the da Vinci surgical robots to operate on patients. Led by Consultant Surgeons Mr Pardeep Kumar, Ms Marielle Nobbenhuis and Mr Shahnawaz Rasheed, the programme aims to ensure that surgeons of the future are able to use robotic technology to operate on multiple tumour types.
“This project will harness the integral role of nurses”TORS ON TOUR
Everything happened very quickly. They wanted to get me started on chemotherapy as soon as possible because the cancer was causing high calcium levels, which were poisoning my kidneys. They needed to get that under control and hopefully start shrinking the tumour.
After chemotherapy, I had a laparotomy, performed by Mr Butler, where my affected ovary, a fallopian tube and some lymph nodes were removed. The week after my surgery was probably the toughest of my life.
THE FIRST SYMPTOMS I noticed were tiredness and being sick, but I kept attributing not feeling well to other things. Suddenly I started to lose weight really quickly, but I thought it was because I’d just taken up playing beach volleyball as a hobby. I thought that the lump in my abdomen was just my normal body shape that was becoming more prominent as I lost weight.
I didn’t know the signs of ovarian cancer and I didn’t think it was even a possibility for someone of my age.
After a particularly bad weekend of being sick, I went to my GP, who referred me for blood tests and scans. A week later, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and I was put under the care of Mr John Butler and Dr Angela George at The Royal Marsden.
I am so grateful to the all the wonderful doctors and nursing staff – they all treated me with such dignity. The last year has been surreal. I have described it as being like a car crash. The speed at which everything happened was such a shock.
Awareness around gynaecological cancers, particularly in young women, is so low. We need to learn the signs to look out for and spread the word.
I got the all-clear in October at my final treatment scan, which was an amazing feeling. I’m so thankful to The Royal Marsden and all the people who cared for me. I was treated so quickly and to such an amazing standard that I’m now confident I can go and live a normal life again. RM
Mr John Butler Jessica Brown, 23, ovarian cancer patient“Awareness, particularly in young women, is so low. We need to learn the signs to look out for and spread the word”
FOR THE FIRST TIME since before the COVID-19 pandemic, people attended this year’s American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference in person. The conference took place in Chicago in June and saw researchers from The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research, London (ICR), join other leading experts from around the world to highlight the latest in cancer treatment and care.
There were ‘practice-changing’ results from the Phase 3 DARS trial, which revealed the benefits of a precision radiotherapy technique pioneered at The Royal Marsden for treating head and neck cancer.
Dysphagia-optimised intensitymodulated radiotherapy (DO-IMRT) reduces radiation to the muscles that control swallowing. Of the 112 patients in the randomised study, 40 per cent of those treated with DO-IMRT reported normal swallowing function after two years, compared with 20 per cent of those treated with standard intensity-modulated radiotherapy.
This year’s American Society of Clinical Oncology conference showcased the latest scientific progress in cancer research. We review some of the pioneering work presented by Royal Marsden experts
“This study has shown that DO-IMRT can spare patients’ swallowing muscles without lessening the success of their treatment,” explains trial lead Professor Christopher Nutting, Consultant Clinical Oncologist. “Next, we plan to teach others around the world how to reproduce this new treatment approach.”
Results from the 90S study, led by Professor Ros Eeles, Honorary Consultant in Clinical Oncology and Oncogenetics at The Royal Marsden and Professor in Oncogenetics at the ICR, showed that screening patients for defective genes at GP practices could detect or prevent disease. A quarter of people in the study had potentially ‘actionable’ genetic alterations, increasing their risk of conditions such as cancer. Read more on page 28.
Immunotherapy extends survival Professor Mary O’Brien, Consultant Medical Oncologist, presented data from the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-091 trial, which treated early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer patients with pembrolizumab, a type of immunotherapy, following surgery.
Compared with a placebo, the drug extended disease-free survival in patients by almost a year, regardless of type of surgery, lymph node involvement, tumour size or type of chemotherapy.
Professor O’Brien says: “This is another powerful drug we have in our arsenal to improve the lives of people with lung cancer, and these encouraging results will have important implications for treating this group of patients in the future.”
Combination shows promise Elsewhere, Consultant Medical Oncologist Dr Anna Minchom, who
is funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, presented data from a Phase 1 trial investigating the effects of a new drug combination in advanced cancers with mutations in the KRAS gene.
The KRAS gene is dubbed the ‘Death Star’ because its protein drives one in four cancers and it has a largely impenetrable, drugresistant surface, which makes it notoriously difficult to target.
The trial, led by Professor Udai Banerji, Deputy Director of the Drug Development Unit at The Royal Marsden and the ICR, used two drugs – VS-6766 and everolimus – to target two pathways in KRAS-driven cancers to stop them growing further. Results showed that the treatment benefited patients with a range of KRAS mutations, especially those with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer, 50 per cent of whom were progression-free at six months.
“This was a small early-phase trial, but to see that patients are responding to this treatment and are not experiencing severe side effects is really promising,” Dr Minchom says. RM
Our researchers also presented at the 2022 European Society for Medical Oncology World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer
• Professor Ian Chau, Consultant Medical Oncologist, gave updates on the international Phase 3 CheckMate 648 trial, showing the benefits of immunotherapy options for patients with advanced oesophageal cancer.
• Research fellow Dr Avani Athauda discussed a study that analysed samples from more than 1,500 patients in Royal Marsden-led clinical trials who had resected oesophagogastric cancer to determine whether the impact of chemotherapy on lymph nodes affects survival.
• Research fellows Dr Elizabeth Cartwright and Dr Susanna Slater presented results from the Phase 2 EMERGE study, which showed that, in combination, the targeted drug domatinostat and the immunotherapy avelumab benefited some patients with advanced adenocarcinoma.oesophagogastric
DUAL APPROACH Dr Anna aresultsencouragingpresentedMinchomfromPhase1trialradiotherapyprecisiontheNuttingChristopherProfessorledtrialof
“This is inpowerfulanotherdrugourarsenal”
I WAS BORN and raised in Manila, in the Philippines, and later lived in Dublin, Ireland, before I moved to England. When I began my nursing career in 2015, my dream was to work at The Royal Marsden after I qualified. I started working here in 2018 and I’ve been here ever since.
At first, I worked in the Outpatients Department in Private Care. I was always interested in clinical trials, so I went on to work in Oak Day Care and Oak Ward in the Drug Development Unit.
I now work as a Staff Nurse in the West Wing Clinical Research
Centre, which is for patients on early- and late-phase clinical trials. We have treatment bays, consulting rooms, an in-house pharmacy and a dedicated on-site laboratory.
I’m responsible for administering novel therapies to patients enrolled on clinical trials, which can include vaccines, genetically modified compounds and targeted therapies. I work closely with my fellow nurses, clinical research nurses, our healthcare assistant and our
“Having one-to-one time with patients is what I enjoy most about my job”
ward sister, and we also co-ordinate with the clinical research fellows.
First thing in the morning, I have a handover with my colleagues to discuss each patient coming in for their trial treatment that day and if any special tests, such as ECGs or blood samples, are required. Nurses are then allocated a treatment bay and are responsible for caring for the patients scheduled in that bay.
In our daily ‘huddle’, we’ll also talk about feedback, staff training needs and any updates from the Trust. We also use this as an opportunity for teaching about new clinical trials that are opening, led by the practice educator or members of the clinical research team.
Patients arrive at the hospital in the morning for blood tests, before seeing the doctor and waiting for their results. They’ll then have treatment either on the same day or the next day, depending on their trial protocol.
If it’s a patient’s first treatment, we need to ask them some questions to understand what their baseline is. And we will also go through a patient information sheet with them, which explains everything about the clinical trial they are part of.
Having one-to-one time with patients is what I enjoy most about my job. If it’s someone’s first time on a clinical trial, they can be anxious and unsure what to expect, but we are there for them, to help them through.
I like being able to advise them, answer their questions and give them a chance to talk. Getting to know the patients is important, especially if they have a long treatment regime ahead of them. I also really enjoy it when student nurses join our team from time to time, as it’s important for us to share our knowledge and be a mentor.
The Royal Marsden is such a wonderful place to be a nurse; working at a specialist cancer hospital is a great opportunity. RM
crucial that the expertise and experience of medically trained refugees aren’t lost to the profession – and a new pilot scheme from NHS England is giving qualified nurses the chance to continue their careers as part of The Royal Marsden team
THE ROYAL MARSDEN has recently welcomed six talented international nurses to its workforce, thanks to help from the NHS Refugee Nurse Support Programme.
The pilot programme is delivered by NHS England in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), RefuAid, the refugee charity Reset and Talent Beyond Boundaries. It supports refugees who are qualified nurses to continue their nursing careers in the NHS. As well as giving them the chance to stay in their chosen profession, safe from the fear of persecution in their home country, employing refugee healthcare professionals helps NHS organisations meet requirements in areas including workforce supply, equality and diversity, and corporate social responsibility.
The six Palestinian nurses who joined The Royal Marsden earlier this year had been living as refugees in Lebanon before coming to the UK. They completed a bespoke four-week course, designed by LJMU, to prepare them for working in the NHS. Then they began roles as healthcare support workers at the hospital, with the aim of becoming registered nurses.
A dedicated team at The Royal Marsden, including Nurse Recruitment and Retention Lead Helen Lavell and Practice Educator Peta Hicks, provided support to ensure the nurses felt welcome and settled. And The Royal Marsden
SECOND CHANCE Abed (right) and his sister Sara (below) both joined The Royal Marsden earlier this year; Batoul (left) worked in intensive care in Lebanon before coming to the UK
Cancer Charity also provided each nurse with £500 towards their first month’s living expenses.
Abed, who worked in Accident and Emergency in Lebanon, was inspired to work in nursing after his sister Sara entered the profession. They both joined The Royal Marsden in April.
“We have six other siblings, so we miss them a lot, but they know how important it is for us to be here,” says Abed. “We live together, which is good, and we are extremely grateful for the contribution of the Charity.”
Moving to the UK gives Sara new options. “If I had stayed, I would never have had the opportunity to progress in my career,” she says. “By being here, I hope I’m able to learn new skills and eventually gain management experience.”
As well as invaluable expertise, Sara’s language skills have also proved useful. “I work on Wiltshaw Ward, where we have a lot of Arabicspeaking patients. Being in hospital
can be worrying and I can see how much they enjoy being able to speak to someone who can understand their language,” she explains.
Another of the nurses, Batoul, cared for her father when he was diagnosed with cancer 10 years ago and brings that experience to her role at The Royal Marsden. She made the difficult decision to leave behind her husband and two young children, but hopes that they will soon be able to join her in London.
“Everyone is so supportive –that’s the most important thing for me,” Batoul says. “Everything I do is for my children’s future, but being away from them is hard. I’m lucky to have so much support. My dream is to continue learning and complete a master’s degree. I wouldn’t have had that opportunity in Lebanon.”
Another new recruit, Ghufran, worked as an intensive care nurse in Lebanon before coming to the UK. Her new colleagues made her feel like one of the team straight away, and her patients have also made her feel welcome, too.
“Leaving my family was scary,” she says. “But when I talk to patients about why I came to work at The Royal Marsden, they’re really supportive, which is lovely.” RM
“My dream is to continue learning and to complete a master’s degree”
WE ARE EXTREMELY grateful for the incredible support of the late Dame Deborah James, whose Bowelbabe Fund has raised more than £7 million for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, Cancer Research UK and Bowel Cancer UK.
Dame Deborah was an inspiration to many and a passionate supporter of the Charity. Following her stage 4
bowel cancer diagnosis, she used her platform to break down barriers that existed around talking about bowel cancer, fundraise for charity and raise awareness about the importance of early diagnosis and research.
The money raised through Dame Deborah’s Bowelbabe Fund will support projects and causes that she cared about.
They include the funding of trials and research into personalised medicines that could result in new treatments for cancer patients, as well as support for campaigns that will raise awareness of cancer.
Want to know more?
Visit BowelbabeFundjustgiving.com/campaign/ to donate to Dame Deborah’s fund
EVERY AUGUST, a group of cyclists takes on Le Cure de France, tackling some of the Tour de France’s toughest Alpine climbs to raise money for breast cancer research projects at The Royal Marsden. Since 2014, Le Cure has raised more than £2 million.
For this year’s event – which had sponsors including Perci Health and Khiron Life Sciences Group – the ‘Curistas’ climbed more vertical metres than the height of Mount Everest, completing their ride at the Alpe d’Huez resort. Taking part were Professor Nicholas Turner, Head of the Ralph Lauren Centre for Breast Cancer Research, and Professor Ian Smith, Consultant Medical Oncologist. We’re extremely grateful to all the Curistas for their support.
Celebrate a Life sees thousands of gold stars displayed on the Christmas trees outside our hospitals, each one bearing the name of someone special. There are many reasons why people dedicate a star, whether it’s in memory of a loved one, to say thank you to a staff member or to celebrate the people in their Royallives.Marsden patient
Shiona Ramage, who attended our Celebrate a Life carol service last year, said: “I wanted to attend to remember my fatherin-law, Alan, who was a wonderful man and is very much missed.
“It felt so lovely to be standing alongside everyone celebrating the lives of those who are special to us.”
Want to know more?
Visit royalmarsden.org/star to find out how you can dedicate a star
CONGRATULATIONS TO Royal Marsden Chief Operating Officer Karl Munslow Ong, Chief Financial Officer Marcus Thorman and Medical Director Professor Nicholas van As, who completed an amazing 330-mile cycle ride from London to Paris to support The Royal Marsden
Cancer Charity’s Oak Cancer Centre appeal.
The team made their way across the Channel and through northern France before completing their journey at the Eiffel Tower in Paris. So far, they have raised more than £59,000, including sponsorship from Accuray, Sopra Steria, Gardiner & Theobald LLP, Hyland and ISG, the contractor building the Oak Cancer Centre.
Antonia Dalmahoy, Managing Director of the Charity, said: “We’re so
KINGSWOOD GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB in Surrey hosted a golf day in May, raising an incredible £21,458 for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
Organised by golfers Colin Griffith, the club’s president, John Bettle, a Charity volunteer, and Terry Ogborn, the event raised funds for prostate cancer research and Angus’ Giant Pledge, which
grateful to Karl, Marcus and Nick for taking on this mammoth challenge. Their generous support helps move us a step closer to the Oak Cancer Centre becoming a reality, which, in turn, will drive forward truly life-changing research for the benefit of people with cancer across the UK and around the world.”
Want to know more?
Visit royalmarsden.org/cycle to sign up for a cycle challenge
Do you fancy taking on an exciting night-time on of the UK’s best-loved
has raised more than £125,000 to date for paediatric cancer research at The Royal Marsden. The initiative was inspired by Colin’s grandson Angus, who is being treated for T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, as well as John and Terry being former patients of the hospital.
Want to know more? Get inspired at royalmarsden.org/support-us
Contact The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity 020 7808 charity@royalmarsden.org Visit royalmarsden.org Registered Charity No. 1095197
Want to know more? Sign up for the trek at royalmarsden.org/snowdon
“This will drive forward truly lifechanging research”
it on to their children or grandchildren if their partner has the same recessive gene. And 38 participants had genetic changes linked to specific responses to medicines.
Being able to identify these genetic alterations could change the way patients and their families are treated by doctors by offering monitoring, screening or other measures to prevent disease.
Professor Ros Eeles, Professor of Oncogenetics at The Institute of Cancer Research, London (ICR), and Honorary Consultant in Clinical Oncology and Oncogenetics at The Royal Marsden, and Dr Michael Sandberg, General Practitioner at 90 Sloane Street, led the 90S study.
Professor Eeles says: “Our study is the first to assess whether whole-genome sequencing can be delivered by GPs, demonstrating that it is feasible and likely to benefit patients. These findings could be the start of a revolution for healthcare, by helping to pave the way for a future where genomic screening is provided routinely to patients in primary care.”
RESULTS FROM a recent study show that sequencingwhole-genome(WGS)aspart of routine primary care can spot genetic changes, which may have significant implications for health.
The 90S study is the first in the UK to demonstrate that WGS in primary care settings is able to assess the risk of conditions such as cancer and heart disease. Research shows that WGS can detect genetic changes that would then allow preventive measures or counselling to be made available.
Between 2020 and 2022, 102 healthy people had their entire genetic code read from samples taken at The London Genetics
Centre at 90 Sloane Street. The researchers looked for 566 separate genetic changes linked to disease – including 84 related to cancer and 77 related to heart conditions – as well as others that affect how patients respond to, or break down certain medicines.
A quarter of the participants had potentially ‘actionable’ genetic changes – ones for which there is a treatment or therapy – that increased their risk of diseases such as cancer, as well as heart and blood-clotting conditions. Six in 10 participants carried an inherited mutation in a recessive gene, meaning that while they did not have the condition themselves, they may risk passing
The ICR and The Royal Marsden conducted the study in partnership with cardiology consultants at the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals and The London Genetics Centre at 90 Sloane Street. The study received funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research Biomedical Research Centre at The Royal Marsden and the ICR, the Oppenheimer Foundation, the David de Boinville Fund and several anonymous donors. RM
The National Institute for Health and Care Research-funded Biomedical Research Centre for cancer is a partnership between The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research, London. It supports the rapid translation of leading-edge cancer research from the laboratory into a clinical setting. Find out more at cancerbrc.org is the Biomedical Research Centre?
Dates for your diary
PublicMeetingBoard 28 2.30pm-4.30pmSeptember, MeetingGeneral 285.30pm-7pmSeptember, 11am-1pmOctober, attend any of these meetings,onlineemail governance@corporate.rmh.nhs.uk
SIR DOUGLAS FLINT CBE (above) has been appointed as the new Chairman of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, succeeding Charles Alexander CBE after his six-year term.
Sir Douglas trained as a chartered accountant at KPMG and became a partner in 1988.
He joined HSBC as Group Finance Director in 1995 and was appointed Group Chairman of HSBC Holdings plc in 2010, before retiring in 2017. In 2018, he received a knighthood in recognition of his services to the finance industry.
Throughout his career, Sir Douglas has gained valuable experience through a varied
non-executive director portfolio in both the private and charitable sectors. He has been a Trustee of the Charity since 2017.
“I am proud of my involvement with The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, and through this I have learned a great deal about the work of the hospital and its extraordinary staff,” Sir Douglas said. “I have found the experience both humbling and inspiring –the commitment to excellence, the empathy for those who enter its care, the pride at all levels in the hospital in what it does and the understated yet real contribution that is being made to fundamental research and clinical excellence for the benefit of current and future generations.”
Mark Aedy, Independent Senior Director of the Trust, said: “Douglas’s breadth of business experience and his passion for The Royal Marsden and The Royal
Marsden Cancer Charity will be of immense value to all of us.”
Dame Cally Palmer, Chief Executive of the Trust, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Charles Alexander. His contribution has enabled the Trust to go further and faster in improving quality of life and survival for patients locally and globally through his support for treatment, care and research.
“Under his chairmanship, The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity has also excelled in its support for the patients and staff of the Trust, supporting the Trust throughout the pandemic and developing the wonderful new Oak Cancer Centre. My deep appreciation and thanks go to Charles for his dedication and hard work.
“Douglas, now Chair Designate, and Charles will work together until Douglas officially takes over in December.”
Keep in touch Call 020 7808 2844 or email foundation@rmh.trust.nhs.uk
. Contact your Governor by email at governors@rmh.nhs.uk
To sign up and become a member, visit royalmarsden.nhs.uk/membership or call 020 7808 2844 to request a membershipform CHAIRMANNEW
We welcome Sir Douglas Flint CBE to the role and thank Charles Alexander CBE for his contribution
“It’s been humbling and inspiring to learn about the hospital’s work”
The lucky winner of our prize crossword receive £50 John Lewis Partners
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 24 October 2022. See below for prize draw rules.
Summer 2022 crossword solution 1 Bacon Accra Ontario Hens Reins Outer Loch Bleak Babyhoods
Congratulations to Marie Hartland-Swann, the winner of the summer 2022 issue’s crossword prize.
One-storey houses (9)
6 Rainwear (3)
7 Flowers (7)
8 Grain used in brewing (6)
9 Country in Asia (4)
11 Classical song for solo voice (4)
12 Tropical thorny tree (6)
16 Sailor (7)
17 Tree (3)
18 From an east African country (9)
1Down
Release from military service (5)
2 Brand of rum (7)
3 Push gently (5)
4 Very dry (4)
5 Girl’s name (5)
10 North American animal (7)
11 Let in (5)
13 Breed of dog (5)
14 Part of the lower leg (5)
15 South civilisationAmerican(4)
Director of Marketing and Communications
Abby Samuel
Head of PR Communicationsand
Catherine O’Mara
Senior PR ManagerCommunicationsand
Francesca Vitale Senior StudiesCaseOfficer
Georgia Tilley Senior PR OfficerCommunicationsand
Ella Crumpton
Senior PR OfficerCommunicationsand
Ella Griffiths
Senior PR OfficerCommunicationsand
Orla Anandarajah PR AssistantCommunicationsand
FOR SUNDAY
Marc Grainger Editor
Robert Hearn Lead Creative
Nina Whitley-Jones Creative
James Doorne Subeditor
Emma Franklin Group Account Director Richard Robinson Content Director
Sam Walker Creative Director
Toby Smeeton Managing Director
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 24 October 2022. 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.
RM magazine is published by The Royal Marsden in partnership with Sunday: wearesunday.com
© The Royal Marsden 2022. All GeoffF1magazine.byforacceptMarsdenthepriorprohibitedinreserved.rightsReproductionwholeorpartiswithoutpermissionofEditor.TheRoyalandSundaynoresponsibilitytheviewsexpressedcontributorstotheReprobyColour.PrintedbyNealGroup.
Join the conversation on Twitter @royalmarsden and @royalmarsdenNHS
Facebook @royalmarsden, @royalmarsdenchelsea and @royalmarsdensutton Instagram @royalmarsden
Mark Swords @theMRswords
Very proud of @stuart_swords. 5 years on and hopefully his last visit to @royalmarsdenNHS
It’s been a long journey but you’ve done so well [right]
Harley Farley @farley_x @royalmarsdenNHS my nephew Ollie goes back into hospital next week for his bone marrow transplant. I’ve got everything crossed it works for him after everything he’s been through & fighting cancer for a year thank you for looking after him & saving his life .
Lisa Jayne @LisaJay44390284
#SuperSurgeons on @Channel4 has been not
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 rm-magazineroyalmarsden.nhs.uk/
only fantastic to watch but an amazing lesson in how AMAZING these Surgeons really are! Thank you for sharing all of the life stories on this series
Minesh Patel @minesh1112
In absolute awe of the work of surgeons and wider staff at the @royalmarsdenNHS
Instagram Michael Vinsen-Carnall @michael_vinsen
A moment of reflection today… 10 years Cancer free! ... Yes I lost my hair, yes I lost my confidence but I survived it thanks to the people around me, the incredible team @royalmarsden & my amazing body [right].
Louise Bailey @100loopylou The Marsden is one of the best hospitals in the world. Proactive and ready to try anything to save a life
Facebook Julie Wixey
The staff at The Royal Marsden are wonderful and literally life changers and savers
CONTACT THE ROYAL MARSDEN HELP CENTRE
For confidential chat, support and information, call 0800 783 7176 or visit
help-centreyour-care/royal-marsden-royalmarsden.nhs.uk/
For general compliments,feedback,concerns or complaints, send us a message contact-us/get-in-touchroyalmarsden.nhs.uk/
STAY IN TOUCH WITH THE ROYAL MARSDEN CANCER CHARITY
CALL US
020 7808 2233
EMAIL US charity@royalmarsden.org
VISIT US ONLINE royalmarsden.org
Registered Charity No. 1095197
Mhari @mhairi.f The amazing Ms Nobbenhuis carried out surgery on me in 2014 with Mr Butler. I’m still a patient and loving life. RM
Celeste Heilpern
The whole hospital is wonderful - each and every one. Saved my Mum xx
CONTACT THE FRIENDS OF THE ROYAL MARSDEN, CALLCHELSEAUS
020 7352 3875
EMAIL US @gmail.comfriendsroyalmarsden
VISIT US ONLINE formc.uk
Registered Charity No. 222613
Don’t miss out on 50% off tickets for The Banham Marsden March 2023 when you sign up for our early bird alert. Walk together for everyone affected by cancer in May 2023. royalmarsden.org/march MarsdenBanhamMarch
