RM M A G A Z I N E WINTER 2020
PROTECTING PATIENTS Celia Noblett’s vital role in the fight against infection HRH The Duke of Cambridge breaks ground in Sutton Spotlight on our latest research
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 Breaking new ground A look back at HRH The Duke of Cambridge’s visit to Sutton 14 Research in the spotlight Promising results presented at the ESMO Congress 17 It happened to me Young William’s clinical trial journey, as told by mum Ursula 18 A day in the life With Celia Noblett, Lead Antimicrobial Pharmacist 20 Praise indeed What our patients say about our wonderful nurses 22 Bright ideas How a new scheme is funding staff suggestions for improving patient experience and safety 25 Helping men live longer The BRC’s prostate cancer research is extending lives 26 Fundraising News from The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity 28 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
WELCOME to the winter 2020 edition of RM, the magazine for our staff, patients, carers and Foundation Trust members. In this issue, we look at some of the research being carried out across The Royal Marsden. Our experts presented their world-leading work at the virtual European Society for Medical Oncology Congress this autumn. Read more on page 14. We were delighted to welcome our President, HRH The Duke of Cambridge, back to Sutton in October, albeit under unusual circumstances due to COVID-19 restrictions (page 12). The Duke laid a foundation stone to mark the breaking of ground on the construction of the new Oak Cancer Centre. He also launched the public phase of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity’s appeal to enable the building of this amazing facility after major donors raised more than £62 million of the £70-million target. Our staff flu vaccination programme (page 10) is vital for safeguarding our immunocompromised patients, as well as our colleagues, families and friends. Celia Noblett, Lead Antimicrobial Pharmacist, is working on the campaign on behalf of the Pharmacy team to ensure as many staff as possible receive the jab. Read more about her work on page 18. I hope you enjoy this issue.
ON THE COVER Celia Noblett, Lead Antimicrobial Pharmacist Some of the photographs in this issue were taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and may not reflect current social distancing guidelines
Dame Cally Palmer, Chief Executive, The Royal Marsden
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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
Saving face THIS IS A NEW type of face shield to be worn by patients undergoing electron radiotherapy – the result of a project to replace shields made from lead with a more effective alternative. It was created on a 3D printer by The Royal Marsden and the ICR’s Joint Department of Physics, which has used the technique since 2012 to produce items ranging from mouthguards to probe holders. We are one of the first groups to work on this outside of the USA, and expect to start treating patients wearing the new masks in the coming months. The project was one of the successful pitches in the Innovation Den – a Royal Marsden Cancer Charity initiative in which staff pitch to a panel of experts for funding to develop their ideas for improving the lives of patients. Read about more Innovation Den projects on page 22.
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? DID YOU KNOW? The NHS celebrated its allied health professional (AHP) family on 14 October with AHPs Day. AHPs at The Royal Marsden include physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, dietitians, occupational therapists and radiographers, and make a significant impact on the lives of our patients.
Opening up options for young patients THE ROYAL MARSDEN is the first hospital in the UK to open an innovative clinical trial to test the benefits of treatment combinations that were previously unavailable for children and young people. ESMART allows several treatment options – including targeted drugs, immunotherapy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy – to be tested and made available for patients with relapsed cancers under one trial. Patients first have their tumour screened via the Stratified Medicine Paediatrics (SMPaeds) programme. Led by The Royal Marsden and its academic partner The Institute of Cancer Research, London, SMPaeds routinely analyses tissue from UK children with solid tumours whose cancers have come back. ESMART uses this molecular information to match patients to one of 10 treatment arms (with five more awaiting regulatory approval).
This speeds up access to targeted treatments for young patients, as standard clinical trials may only test one or two options. Dr Lynley Marshall, Oak Foundation Consultant in Paediatric and Adolescent Oncology Drug Development and Chief Investigator and UK lead of the ESMART trial, said: “We’ve spent years trying to get a more targeted approach to children’s cancers in place, and we’re really proud to have helped develop ESMART and to have it available. “The knowledge that we’re building up about molecular targets to attack in paediatric cancers is really exciting. It will drive future treatments and trials and really help patients.” TARGETED APPROACH Molecular screening of tumours helps to match young patients to new treatments
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COVID-19 RESEARCH UNDER WAY Hundreds of patients have been recruited to studies and thousands of samples have been analysed as The Royal Marsden’s researchers continue to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on cancer treatment and care. The CAPTURE study, led by Dr Samra Turajlic, aims to understand the biology and interactions between COVID-19, immunity, cancer and cancer treatment among patients and hospital staff. Preliminary data, presented at the American Association of Cancer Research conference, has shown that a wide range of antibody levels and COVID-19-specific T-cells were detected in 30 per cent of cancer patients, but the potential impact of cancer type on their immune response must be considered for further analysis. A commentary article titled Cancer, COVID-19, and Antiviral Immunity has been published in the journal Cell. Elsewhere, the OCTAPUS-AI study, led by Dr Richard Lee, is set to analyse almost 200 cancer patient scans using artificial intelligence. The aim is to provide clinicians with information on whether changes in the lung are due to COVID-19, another infection or a side effect of treatment.
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How we’re keeping children’s cancer trials going
CHALLENGING TIMES Trials involving young patients have continued, despite the pandemic
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC has meant changes to the way we operate clinical trials at The Royal Marsden. Although recruitment to our paediatric trials was paused at the start of lockdown in March, the team in the Oak Paediatric and Adolescent Drug Development Unit worked tirelessly to ensure trials got back on track safely. A key focus was to ensure the collection of valuable tissue samples for research, including the Stratified Medicine Paediatrics (SMPaeds) programme, was restarted. SMPaeds enables
experts to allocate young patients to early-phase trials based on molecular targets alongside their knowledge of the disease. Tracey Crowe, Lead Nurse for Paediatric Oncology Research at the Oak Centre for Children and Young People, said: “There have been challenging times for our patients, who often travel a long distance to our centre for treatment. Fear of the unknown was infectious, but regular contact and constant reassurance of the continuation of our service, albeit with slight changes,
“We found new ways of working to help trial patients continue treatment safely”
ensured that the families continued to receive the best care possible. “We found different ways of working to reduce footfall into the hospital where appropriate, and helped our trial patients to continue on treatment safely and in line with the trial protocol by supporting them closer to home. “We also converted some Royal Marsden visits to a local hospital review that included a telephone consultation with our team. This could be incorporated into future trial designs to increase recruitment.”
BULLETIN
Chief Pharmacist awarded MBE JATINDER HARCHOWAL, Chief Pharmacist and Head of Quality Improvement, has been awarded an MBE for his work during the COVID-19 pandemic and services to the pharmaceutical profession. Jatinder leads a team of 200 staff to support the care of cancer patients. In March, he was seconded to become Director of Pharmacy at the NHS Nightingale hospital in London, spending eight
“I’m proud that this award recognises the work of NHS pharmacy teams”
MBE HONOUR Jatinder Harchowal
weeks away from his family to set up and deliver safe care to seriously ill COVID-19 patients. Jatinder has also led a groundbreaking project to increase the adoption of a new generation of biosimilars, or ‘copycat’ drugs, across England, saving the NHS millions of pounds while providing the same benefits for patients. A passionate believer in coaching those from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds into senior leadership positions, he also chairs a new forum for BAME men. He said: “I am incredibly honoured, humbled and proud to be receiving this award. I’m also particularly proud that this award recognises the important work of pharmacy teams in the NHS.”
AI used in lung cancer screening
? DID YOU KNOW? NHS patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer with an EGFR mutation are set to benefit from the drug osimertinib after it was recommended as a treatment by NICE.
Clinicians from The Royal Marsden are working with NHS England’s Lung Health Check programme to improve the diagnosis of lung cancer using artificial intelligence (AI) as part of the nationwide DART trial. Low-dose CT scans from about 100,000 patients will be used to test new AI tools that aim to diagnose lung cancer earlier. About 5,000 people who need further investigations – such as PET scans – will then be invited to donate a blood specimen. These specimens will help the development of biomarkers that could make a real difference to how people with suspected lung cancer are investigated. Dr Richard Lee (above), Consultant Respiratory Physician and Champion for Early Diagnosis, whose role is funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, is the clinical lead for blood biomarker research on the DART trial. He said: “The results could help us reduce the need for further invasive tests for patients, reduce costs to the NHS, increase capacity and improve the accuracy of diagnosis.”
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USING MRI TO PREDICT RELAPSE A Royal Marsden study has revealed a new marker that is a better indicator of which rectal cancer patients will relapse. The study, published in the Annals of Surgery journal, looked at how MRI scans are interpreted to select patients at high risk of relapse for extra treatments. Professor Gina Brown, Consultant Radiologist and Professor of Gastrointestinal Cancer Imaging, who led the study, said: “The standard treatment for rectal cancer is currently radiotherapy if an MRI scan shows enlarged lymph nodes. But our study looked at other factors that should be taken into account, such as the spread of tumour into the veins and their related deposits. “If scans are interpreted in a better way, patients who were previously thought of as being ‘high risk’ could possibly not be, and vice versa. This could lead to hundreds of patients avoiding unnecessary radiotherapy; instead, therapy could be targeted to high-risk tumours to save lives.”
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POST-SURGERY OPTION Radiotherapy can be used to treat recurring prostate cancer
Men can avoid radiotherapy after prostate surgery THE LARGEST-EVER trial in postoperative prostate cancer patients has found that they can be spared radiotherapy after surgery. The RADICALS-RT trial results found no difference in disease recurrence at five years between men who routinely had radiotherapy shortly after surgery and those who had radiotherapy later, if the cancer came back. The trial, which was run through the MRC Clinical Trials Unit at University College London and funded by Cancer Research UK, enrolled 1,396 patients from the UK, Denmark, Canada and Ireland. Men were given either postoperative radiotherapy or
the standard approach of observation only, with radiotherapy an option if the disease returned. After five years, 85 per cent of men in the radiotherapy group and 88 per cent in the standard care group had survived without their cancer worsening. Chief Investigator Professor Chris Parker, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden and Professor in Prostate Oncology at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: “This is good news for future patients as it means that many men will avoid the adverse side effects of radiotherapy, which can include urinary incontinence.”
Another milestone for MR Linac The radiotherapy team completed 1,000 treatments on the MR Linac in September, nearly two years to the day since they treated the first UK patient on the pioneering machine. Since 2018, the MR Linac has been used to treat more than 80 patients with prostate, bladder, rectal, gynaecological,
breast, and head and neck cancers and oligometastatic tumours in the pelvis and abdomen, as part of clinical research trials. The MR Linac combines an MRI scanner and linear accelerator to precisely locate and define tumours, and to adapt radiotherapy treatment to a changing anatomy on a daily basis.
BULLETIN
Nurses join BAME leadership scheme TWO ROYAL MARSDEN nurses have been selected to take part in the Florence Nightingale Foundation’s Windrush Nurses and Midwives leadership programme. Sarah Adomah, Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Breast Unit, and Jericho Velasco, Senior Staff Nurse in the Clinical Assessment Unit and The Royal Marsden Macmillan Hotline, are among 44 successful candidates out of more than 500 applicants. FUTURE LEADERS Jericho Velasco (below) and Sarah Adomah (bottom)
The course was created in partnership with Health Education England to celebrate medical professionals who are either descendants of the Windrush generation or from a black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) background. Sarah said: “My matron asked if I was happy to be put forward for the programme. When I received the news that I had been accepted, I was thrilled. “When I complete the course this December, I’ll use the skills I’ve learned to conduct a project that creates positive change at The Royal Marsden around improving treatment outcomes and services for women and people from BAME backgrounds.” Jericho said: “Joining this year’s cohort was like a breath of fresh air, given how things have changed over the pandemic. It served as a reminder to keep on pushing and strive for career growth and personal development. We also got to meet fellow BAME peers with whom we share similar experiences and celebrate our achievements.”
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FAST FACTS Radiotherapy at The Royal Marsden
75,000
treatments are delivered by The Royal Marsden’s Radiotherapy Department every year
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state-of-the-art CyberKnife machines are in operation at The Royal Marsden
40% 5,000
of all cancer patients are cured by radiotherapy
Royal Marsden patients are treated with radiotherapy every year
“I plan to conduct a project that creates positive change at The Royal Marsden”
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cancer centres – including The Royal Marsden and the ICR – are in a global consortium developing the MR Linac technology RM magazine 9
IN BRIEF
VITAL VACCINE Andy Dimech provides a flu jab
Fellowship honour
Congratulations to Professor Christopher Nutting (above), who has been elected as an Honorary Fellow of the British Institute of Radiology. Professor Nutting, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden, was honoured for his work in clinical trials that have had a significant impact on patients and enhanced the field of radiation oncology.
MP visit
In September, Jo Churchill MP visited The Royal Marsden in Chelsea to learn more about how we delivered the Cancer Hub and how we are recovering cancer services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minister for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care met with Chief Executive Dame Cally Palmer, plus other Trust leaders and representatives.
Green Matters
A new group has been set up to enable staff to share ideas on how to make The Royal Marsden a greener Trust. Through Green Matters, we want to be as green as possible by making progress in several areas, from water and energy use to waste and buildings. Staff can post ideas on Microsoft Teams or email the Green Matters team.
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Q&A: FLU VACCINATION PROGRAMME Andy Dimech, Acting Chief Nurse, explains why it’s even more important that Royal Marsden staff get their flu jab this year Q What is the flu vaccination programme? A Every year, starting around September, we vaccinate as many staff as we can against the flu virus. We aim to get as many jabs done as possible by the expected peak of the flu season, which is normally November/December. It’s free for all staff and volunteers and we have a great take-up – but this year, we want to increase the number of staff who have it.
Q Why is getting a flu jab so important for staff at The Royal Marsden? A Cancer patients are often immunocompromised and are at particular risk if they contract the flu, so anything more we can do to keep our patients safe is crucial. It’s even more important this year, as the COVID-19 pandemic has the ability to further compromise our patients and our health. Contracting flu and COVID-19 together increases the risk of complications and harm
“Our ‘peer vaccinators’ will visit staff where they work to give them a jab”
– that’s why we strongly advocate all staff having the flu vaccine if they are fit to do so. Q How do you manage to vaccinate thousands of staff working all over the Trust? A Last year, we held a series of ‘jabathons’ where staff could come to specific areas of the hospitals and get their jabs – they were incredibly popular, and we vaccinated over 1,000 staff in just one day. Unfortunately, due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, we can’t do that this year, so we have a team of more than 100 ‘peer vaccinators’ who will be visiting staff in their wards, units and departments to give them their jab where they work. It’s really important to make it as easy as possible for staff to get the vaccination – it takes five minutes and could save a life. Q What are some of the myths about the flu jab? A We hear quite a few imaginative reasons why people don’t want it! These include “the flu jab gives you flu”, “it’s just a bad cold” and “I had it last year, so I don’t need it this year”. These are all untrue. We make sure that all our staff have the most up-to-date information about the vaccination so we can ensure everyone can make an informed decision. We also encourage anyone with concerns to speak to a peer vaccinator or Occupational Health.
BULLETIN
New CyberKnife begins treating patients THE FIRST PATIENTS have been treated on The Royal Marsden’s new CyberKnife machine in Sutton – the only one of its kind in the UK. Davina Colton, 58, from Devon, was one of the first patients to receive treatment on the new machine, which was funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. She was also the very first patient to benefit from a brand-new feature: the multileaf collimator, which has halved the length of her treatment sessions.
“My treatment only took about 20 minutes rather than an hour”
Davina said: “After seven years of being free of cancer following my original diagnosis of ovarian cancer, I was told it had returned in my lymph nodes, and that having radiotherapy on the CyberKnife would be the best way to target any remaining cancer cells that couldn’t be removed through surgery. “Knowing that my treatment sessions were only about 20 minutes long rather than an hour, and to be able to have such focused sessions over three days, has made a huge difference. Treatment on the CyberKnife was pain-free, straightforward and quick. “The team were all amazing, so thorough and kind – they made me feel at ease the entire time and even played Motown music for me during my last session!”
Developing nursing academics
? DID YOU KNOW? World Pharmacists Day took place on 25 September. The Royal Marsden’s Pharmacy Department prepares over 70,000 doses of injectable anti-cancer medicines every year. Read about the work of Celia Noblett, Lead Antimicrobial Pharmacist, on page 18.
Helen Pearson (above) is the first nurse from The Royal Marsden’s paediatric team to be awarded an NIHR Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship to support her development into a clinical academic nurse. The fellowship allows experienced clinicians to complete a PhD and build research skills that can then be transferred into practice. Helen’s PhD will focus on developing a decision aid for parents of children with relapsed neuroblastoma, who currently have various treatment options available but no standard treatment protocol. The aid will help parents to make repeated treatment decisions and assist in discussions with healthcare professionals. Helen, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner, said: “Many healthcare professionals leave the NHS to pursue academic careers, so this training means that high-quality staff can be retained in practice.”
SHORTER SESSIONS Davina (centre) with the CyberKnife team
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BRE A K ING NE W GROUND We look back at HRH The Duke of Cambridge’s visit to our Sutton hospital in October, when he laid the foundation stone for the new Oak Cancer Centre
IN CONVERSATION The Duke took time to speak to staff and patients in socially distanced groups
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R OYA L V I S I T
WE WERE DELIGHTED to welcome our President, HRH The Duke of Cambridge, to a socially distanced ground-breaking ceremony in October to mark the start of building works for the Oak Cancer Centre, our new cancer research and treatment facility in Sutton. Following in the footsteps of his mother, The Duke laid the foundation stone 30 years after Diana, Princess of Wales, laid a ceremonial stone at our hospital in Chelsea to commemorate the building of the Chelsea Wing. He also launched the public phase of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity’s appeal to make the Oak Cancer Centre a reality (read more on page 26). In his speech, he said: “Every time I visit the Marsden, I am struck not just by the significant advances that are being made in research and treatment, but also by the hope and belief embodied by each patient and member of staff, even in the darkest of times.”
LAYING FOUNDATIONS The Duke helped lay a commemorative stone at the Oak Cancer Centre in Sutton (above) – 30 years after Diana, Princess of Wales, did the same in Chelsea (right) – and launched the public appeal to fund the new building (below left)
The Duke also reflected on the particular challenges that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has presented to those going through cancer treatment. The Duke has been President of The Royal Marsden – a position previously held by his mother – for 13 years. We are incredibly grateful for his regular visits and for the time he commits to learning about our work and, on this occasion, celebrating new milestones. Dame Cally Palmer DBE, The Royal Marsden’s Chief Executive, says: “Our Sutton
“I’m struck by the hope and belief embodied by each patient and member of staff”
hospital remains an outstanding hospital, but it’s now time to modernise and build a state-ofthe-art facility to help us meet some of the most pressing challenges in cancer research and treatment today. “I am delighted that our President joined us to mark the breaking of ground on this centre and the new generation of cancer treatment. I’d also like to thank The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and all its supporters for making the Oak Cancer Centre a reality. Without them, this wouldn’t be possible.” RM
Want to know more? Register your support for our public appeal at royalmarsden.org/appeal RM magazine 13
RESEARCH IN THE SPOTLIGHT Experts from The Royal Marsden presented the results of their pioneering research to a global audience during the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress, which this year was held virtually IN A NORMAL year, thousands of attendees from all over the world would visit the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, the most influential cancer conference in Europe, to learn about the latest advances in oncology and to translate science into better patient care. However, 2020 has been no normal year – so this September, the congress instead took place virtually, with more than 30,000 people attending. And for The Royal Marsden, it was a huge success: our experts presented groundbreaking research across a number of areas including breast, skin, ovarian and prostate cancer, which generated headlines across national media outlets. Here are some of the highlights of our research, and the stories of three of the patients involved in the trials. 14 RM magazine
Targeted drug represents step forward for ovarian and prostate cancer patients
Positive news came from The Royal Marsden’s Gynaecology Unit, as Dr Susana Banerjee, Consultant Medical Oncologist, presented five-year follow-up results from the SOLO-1 trial. The findings showed that almost half of patients who received the targeted drug olaparib during treatment for newly diagnosed BRCA-mutated advanced ovarian cancer remained disease-free after five years. Olaparib, a PARP inhibitor that targets inherited genetic faults in tumours and is also used to treat breast cancer, continued to benefit patients substantially beyond the end of treatment. “These results represent a significant step forward in the treatment of newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer and
“These results give us real hope for more longterm survivors”
give us real hope for more longterm survivors,” says Dr Banerjee. “Previous research in PARP inhibitors in ovarian cancer has only been in patients with relapsed disease, so SOLO-1 has given us the evidence to show that, as a first-line therapy, they can have substantial benefit for patients earlier in the cancer pathway.” Olaparib was revealed to also have benefits for prostate cancer patients. The final results from the PROfound trial, co-led by Professor Johann de Bono, Consultant Medical Oncologist, demonstrated that olaparib can extend the lives of some men with prostate cancer and should become a new standard treatment for the disease. The trial showed that the drug was more effective than the hormone treatments abiraterone and enzalutamide at slowing down the growth and spread of prostate cancer in patients with advanced disease. Dr Banerjee was also elected as ESMO Director of Membership for 2020-22. She is the first oncologist from the UK to serve on the executive board in more than a decade, and the first ever from The Royal Marsden.
ESMO
A PATIENT’S PERSPECTIVE Preeti Dudakia, 53, ovarian cancer patient on the SOLO-1 trial “I was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer six years ago, and had a full abdominal hysterectomy followed by six cycles of chemotherapy. “My mum was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 60. Because of my family history, the 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. “The trial gave me a sense of purpose and I know the findings will benefit patients for years to come.”
LEADING THE WAY Professor James Larkin (left) has conducted pioneering research into immunotherapy; Dr Susana Banerjee (above) presented results from the trial of olaparib in ovarian cancer patients
Adjuvant immunotherapy treatment leads to improved melanoma survival
Positive results from the CheckMate 238 trial of the immunotherapy drug nivolumab, led by Professor James Larkin, Consultant Medical Oncologist, were presented at the ESMO Congress and published in The Lancet Oncology.
The trial showed that using nivolumab as an adjuvant therapy led to a significant improvement in recurrence-free survival in stage 3 melanoma patients whose cancer had been removed. More than half of patients who received the drug survived for four years or more following treatment without their cancer returning. >
A PATIENT’S PERSPECTIVE Nic Sanger, 37, melanoma patient on the CheckMate 238 trial “I joined the trial in May 2015 and received immunotherapy treatment for a year following surgery. Since then, there has been no evidence of the disease returning. “Having the opportunity to take part in this trial has been incredible – it’s given me hope and my future back. Over the past four years, I’ve seen my children grow up, start school and celebrate birthdays. I even ran a half marathon last year.”
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ESMO
REDUCING RECURRENCE Professor Stephen Johnston (seen here with HRH The Duke of Cambridge in 2016) presented promising results
Breakthrough offers new hope for high-risk patients with HR+ breast cancer
The results of a major trial into hormone-receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer represent one of the most promising breakthroughs for patients with this type of disease in the past 20 years. The global monarchE study found that the drug abemaciclib – one of a new generation of treatments known as CDK 4/6 inhibitors – reduced the risk of cancer recurrence in patients with early-stage HR+ breast cancer. Roughly 70 per cent of breast cancer patients have HR+ tumours – and of those, around 30 per cent will have a higher risk of
“This research could potentially save many lives in the future” 16 RM magazine
relapsing in the first two years. The study found that when abemaciclib was added to standard hormone therapy, there was a 25 per cent reduction in recurrence compared with patients who were treated with hormone therapy alone for two years. Involving 5,637 patients in 38 countries, monarchE was led by Professor Stephen Johnston, Consultant Medical Oncologist and Head of The Royal Marsden’s Breast Unit. He says: “The research has given us confidence that we’ll soon be able to offer our high-risk HR+ patients a greater chance of keeping them cancer-free. “While there have been many advances in other early breast cancer subtypes such as HER2+ disease, there have been no significant advancements for the large group of patients who have HR+ breast cancer since the late 1990s, when aromatase inhibitors were introduced. This research could potentially save many lives in the future.” RM
A PATIENT’S PERSPECTIVE Sarah Ryder, 57, breast cancer patient on the monarchE trial “When I was referred to The Royal Marsden last year and Professor Johnston told me about the monarchE trial, I was so pleased to be part of something that could stop cancer recurring and potentially save many lives, including my own. By that stage, my cancer had spread to 23 lymph nodes and I was feeling very low. “The trial has helped me believe in a future again and I feel so much more positive. I can see my daughter grow up, go off to university next year and maybe have a family of her own one day.”
IT HAPPENED TO ME
A CLINICAL TRIAL AT THE ROYAL MARSDEN HAS HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON OUR SON’S RARE CANCER Ursula Runicles, mum of brain cancer patient William, 7
spreading. This has offered many benefits, including fewer and more manageable side effects, allowing us to spend more time together. This trial has had a huge impact on our lives. In the first year after William’s diagnosis, we spent a total of 106 nights in hospital, but it’s now been a year and a half since he has been an inpatient. He really enjoys being able to go to school on most days, which means my husband and I can go to work. He is almost never ill, and the trial doesn’t affect his appetite either. It’s about as normal as our lives can be, and we are just so grateful. When you are told your child has cancer, your mind goes to a dark
“Our lives are as normal as can be, and we are just so grateful”
IN MAY 2013, at just four months old, my son William was diagnosed with a glioneuronal tumour, a rare form of brain cancer. After a complicated operation that caused him to lose most of his vision and develop hydrocephalus – a buildup of fluid on the brain – he was placed on chemotherapy and, aged three and a half, was referred to Dr Lynley Marshall, Head of the Oak Paediatric and Adolescent
Oncology Drug Development Unit at The Royal Marsden. We were running out of options, but our oncologist told us about a clinical trial under Dr Marshall. We were relieved to find out that William met the criteria, and he started the trial in September 2016. William was put on the trial of a ‘targeted inhibitor’ drug that aims to manage the progression of his cancer and prevent it from
place – but we can really lean on our team at The Royal Marsden. They always go above and beyond to help us with anything we need. If ever I call or email, they are always quick to respond and extremely supportive. Even though his treatment can be challenging, William has grown to trust them. He knows their voices and can identify them by their watches and rings. The Paediatric Drug Development Unit has done more for us than we ever could have imagined. The feeling at The Royal Marsden is so different to anything we have experienced before. No matter what happens, there is always a discussion about what we can do next. Their commitment to making progress and learning more every day gives us hope, and that is something we hold on to. RM
Dr Lynley Marshall
Head of the Oak Paediatric and Adolescent Oncology Drug Development Unit “It is a privilege to help care for Will and his family. He is taking a combination of two new drugs that jointly target the genetic abnormality within his brain tumour in a more effective yet gentler way than chemotherapy. “Seeing him developing and thriving on this personalised medicine strategy over the past four years has been a real joy – it is helping him live his best life.”
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A DAY IN T HE L IF E OF
CELIA NOBLE T T LE AD ANTIMICROBIAL PHARMACIS T
I JOINED THE ROYAL MARSDEN in April 2018 as a Clinical Rotational Pharmacist and moved into my current role as Lead Antimicrobial Pharmacist a year later. I oversee the Trust’s antimicrobial stewardship programme, which involves making sure we use antibiotic, antifungal and antiviral treatments appropriately so that they continue to be effective and we prevent antimicrobial resistance. I also contribute to the care of patients who need treatment for an infection. This is a part of my job that I enjoy hugely, as I can work with all patients, no matter what their diagnosis, as well as with healthcare professionals and teams from different clinical specialities. Improving care I start my day at 9am by reviewing the notes of every patient at the Trust to see if they are prescribed an antimicrobial treatment. I assess why they were admitted, what antimicrobial they’re receiving, what infection we’re treating, and whether there’s anything we can do to improve this area of the patient’s care. This is a substantial task, as about half of our inpatients are receiving treatment for an infection at any one time, so I usually finish this around 1pm. 18 RM magazine
A D AY I N T H E L I F E
“Vaccinating staff against flu is more important this year than ever before” I also participate in the paediatric, Critical Care Unit (CCU) and haematology multidisciplinary team meetings. Here, I advise on the care of any patients under their supervision who are being treated for an infection. At 2pm, I meet the microbiology consultants. We assess the identified patients and devise individual plans to ensure that we’re optimising their antimicrobial treatment, or stopping it if the infection has been cured. I then go on the antimicrobial stewardship ward rounds, which take place in Chelsea on Mondays and Thursdays, and in Sutton on Tuesdays and Fridays. These involve visiting the ward doctors, nurses and pharmacists to update them on the agreed plans, and finish at around 5.30pm. I’m supported by my colleague Gillian Kiely, our other Antimicrobial Pharmacist, on a Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Alongside this work, I support the provision of the Pharmacy
service to the Medical Day Units and CCU, and participate in the Pharmacy on-call service. I’m also supporting the flu campaign, as vaccinating staff is more important this year than ever before. For every patient, having or being treated for cancer increases your risk of contracting an infection. My goal is for every member of staff at The Royal Marsden to feel confident when identifying and
CONTRIBUTING TO CARE Celia ensures that cancer patients who have an infection receive the most appropriate treatment
managing infections in cancer patients, particularly to ensure that we’re working effectively to tackle antimicrobial resistance. Training and advice I really enjoy working at The Royal Marsden. It’s a fantastic environment where everyone aims to learn from one another and develop their skills. Every staff member strives to be excellent at what they do, and provide outstanding care to our patients. One of my favourite parts of my day is working on the wards with our junior pharmacists. I provide training and advice to help expand their confidence in interpreting microbiology results, optimising antimicrobials, and discussing their findings with other healthcare professionals in the multidisciplinary team. It’s incredibly rewarding to return to the ward a few weeks later and see that their confidence has grown, and they are putting that learning into practice to improve patient care. RM RM magazine 19
PR AISE INDEED As the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife draws to a close, our patients pay tribute to the dedicated nurses at The Royal Marsden
“I could share so many stories of how the nurses have gone above and beyond, from making me more comfortable when I was wide awake in my hospital bed at 2am, to a nurse taking bloods who sees hundreds of patients but remembered me. That’s the culture at The Royal Marsden” Ian
Jane
“The nurses make you feel like a person and not just a cancer patient”
“When our daughter was receiving treatment, the nurses really looked after us as a family, for which we’re eternally grateful. They were everything to us and we became good friends” Sarah 20 RM magazine
“I am in awe of how The Royal Marsden can be such an incredibly uplifting place in the face of adversity. All the nurses appear to have so much time for you. It gives you that overriding feeling of safety”
Laura
“I can honestly say I met some of the bravest people in the world at The Royal Marsden – and that includes doctors and nurses as well as patients. The nurses made everything easier and were so welcoming. I can never thank them enough for all the work they did” Lily
NURSING
“The nurses at The Royal Marsden have compassion, empathy and a personal approach, which makes you feel at ease. From a tremendous sense of fear at the start, I have walked quite bravely through, thanks to the doctors and nurses supporting me” Anna
“Katy, my CNS, was patient, kind and supportive – not only to me but to my partner too, which has made a huge difference to us both. She was my rock”
“All the staff were so nice, upbeat and positive... I can’t praise them enough” Reija
“My nursing team at The Royal Marsden were phenomenal. I travelled to Pakistan for parts of my treatment and they took care of all my appointments and scheduling to ensure that everything was in place when I got back to London. I knew that they were just a phone call away if I had any issues, which gave me a lot of ease” Shama
Jonathan
“The nursing team are OUTSTANDING, wearing their uniforms with pride and delivering nothing less than the best” Graham
“I’ve been a patient of The Royal Marsden since 2015 and Nikki, my CNS, has been with me throughout. She has been just magnificent - a calm, kind and reassuring voice who has guided me through every step of my diagnosis and treatment” Alex RM magazine 21
BRIGH T IDE A S THE ROYAL MARSDEN CANCER CHARITY is always looking for new ways to improve the lives of patients at The Royal Marsden and beyond – and the Innovation Den initiative is enlisting the help of hospital staff in order to do just that. Loosely based on TV’s Dragon’s Den, the Innovation Den is a forum in which staff from every area of the Trust are encouraged to put forward their ideas to help enhance the patient experience and safety. After an initial application process, the shortlisted entrants present their ideas to a panel, who decide which ideas should receive a Charity grant of between £5,000 and £60,000. Here, we take a closer look at some of the ideas that have successfully made it from pitch to practice.
Small changes to the way we work can make a big difference to cancer patients – and with the Innovation Den, our staff can bid for funding to put their proposals into practice
Podcast for cancer patients everywhere
The idea of Oncoplastic Surgeons Mr Marios-Konstantinos Tasoulis and Miss Victoria Teoh (left), a new podcast aims to be an educational resource for all cancer patients receiving care at The Royal Marsden or elsewhere. The first series – titled BreastTalk – is due to launch next year and will focus on all aspects of breast cancer care. Featuring Royal Marsden experts, the
22 RM magazine
podcast aims to be recognised as a trusted and reliable source of information. The goal is to expand the show into other cancer types in future series. Mr Tasoulis says: “We hope these podcasts will be a useful resource for patients. The aim is to empower them and increase their engagement with their treatments and ultimately improve their experience.”
I N N OVAT I O N D E N
Helping radiotherapy patients drink more and waste less
When patients have radiotherapy, they need to drink a certain amount of water in order to fill their bladders before treatment. Previously, the Radiotherapy Department provided single-use plastic cups alongside the water fountains for patients to use. Patients were told how much water to drink, and signs in the department reiterated this. But with 60,000 single-use plastic cups being used every year, Therapeutic Radiographers Gillian Smith and Helen Barnes had the idea of giving patients specially designed, reusable water bottles that would help them drink the right amount of water, improve their general hydration and be kinder to the environment. After the idea was pitched to the Innovation Den, patients began using the bottles in June as part of the Go Green and Drink Clean! pilot project. Earl Williams, 77, who is having radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer, says: “The water bottle is a great idea. I have never come across a bottle like this before. It is not just the shape that’s different, but it also has the actual measurements so I can easily monitor how much water I am drinking. “It gives me the impetus to drink more water and the radiotherapy team are always pleased because I have a full bladder for my appointments. This bottle is not only better for the environment, it also saves me from going to the tap every five minutes. All in all, it’s a handy tool.”
DRINK CLEAN The idea of Therapeutic Radiographers Gillian Smith and Helen Barnes (left), the reusable bottle (above) helps patients to drink enough water before radiotherapy
Clinical guidelines app content
The Innovation Den has helped to fund the development of Royal Marsdenspecific content for MicroGuide, a mobile app used in hospitals around the world that gives staff easy access to clinical guidance that they may use infrequently but need in emergencies. Pitched by Dr Jaishree Bhosle (above), Consultant Medical Oncologist in the Lung Unit, the app has 400 registered users at the Trust and has proved invaluable during the COVID-19 pandemic. The app puts our clinical guidelines at doctors’ fingertips, helping them to make decisions on which antimicrobial to prescribe, and at what dose. The antibiotic guideline, for example, replaces the current 160-page PDF document and averages 2,500 hits every month. It also improves how junior doctors are integrated into the Trust, as it includes key guidelines on areas such as the acute oncology service, chemotherapy dose reductions, immunotherapy toxicity management and how to get things done. >
The app helps doctors to make decisions on which antibiotic to prescribe RM magazine 23
I N N OVAT I O N D E N
Online self-care videos
Making radiotherapy shields with 3D printing
Dr Michael Thomas, Head of Radiotherapy Physics in Sutton, and Superintendent Radiographer Craig Lacey pitched their idea to use 3D printing technology to make radiation shields to safeguard healthy areas of a patient’s body during radiotherapy. These shields are usually made from a thick sheet of lead with a hole in it to expose the treatment area to the radiation. The aim of the project is to produce better shielding with less
effort, replacing the complex and highly manual current method of making shields. The innovative 3D-printing process, using CT scans and computerised design, was developed by Mechanical Engineer Jim Sullivan. “This is a truly innovative project driven by collaboration between scientific, technical and clinical colleagues,” says Dr Thomas. “It will be a huge improvement on current practice.” IN PRINT From left to right: Jim Sullivan, Craig Lacey and Dr Michael Thomas
The brainchild of Rebecca Martin, Advanced Nurse Practitioner in the Urology Unit, and Nikki Holloway, Advanced Nurse Practitioner for Prostate Cancer, the Patient Procedures Portal features a series of short clinical teaching films designed to help patients care for themselves at home. The first 11 films – including instructions in effective hand washing, how to attach a catheter valve and how to change a vacuum bottle – are now live on a dedicated page on The Royal Marsden’s website, and a further nine films are in production.
Want to know more? Watch the videos at royalmarsden.nhs.uk/ welcome-patient-procedures-portal
Exercise pathway for prostate cancer patients
STEP BY STEP A prostate cancer patient walks as part of an exercise plan
24 RM magazine
Designed to address the unmet physical and psychological needs of prostate cancer patients, the THRIVE project – available to Sutton patients – includes education, triage, exercise sessions, a consultation with a clinical exercise specialist and a personalised care plan. The project was proposed by consultant oncologists Dr Alison Reid and Dr Alison Tree, Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist Siobhan Cowan-Dickie, and Head of Therapies Ione de Brito-Ashurst. It is a cross-discipline initiative in collaboration with The Exercise Clinic, a company that works with clinicians to provide cancer patients with personalised exercise programmes, including virtual classes and exercises such as walking to keep fit during lockdown. RM
HELPING MEN LIVE LONGER Pioneering clinical trials are paving the way for improved outcomes for prostate cancer patients PROSTATE CANCER IS the most common cancer in men in the UK, with 130 cases diagnosed every day. Improving outcomes for these patients by developing targeted treatment options and achieving earlier, faster diagnosis is among the key aims of the Biomedical Research Centre’s (BRC) Prostate Cancer theme. Two pioneering clinical trials being carried out by researchers from The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, show how this is being achieved. STAMPEDE is a landmark trial for men with high-risk prostate cancer that, since opening in 2005, has recruited more than
12,000 participants and tested 10 different therapies. The trial has changed practice worldwide by, for example, demonstrating that adding two different drugs – abiraterone hormone therapy and docetaxel chemotherapy – to standard hormone therapy can significantly improve survival. Linked to the trial is a vast and growing translational research resource that includes more than 5,000 tumour blocks, a germline DNA set – led by Professor Ros Eeles (pictured), the BRC’s Prostate Cancer theme lead – and an image bank from over 5,000 participants. “Not every drug works for every patient, and the goal of
STAMPEDE is to use this huge translational resource to figure out who responds to certain drugs, who doesn’t, and why,” says trial lead Professor Nicholas James. “This helps us tailor treatment options. “When the trial started, men with advanced prostate cancer survived for around three and a half years, on average. Now, it’s around seven to 10 years – and STAMPEDE can claim much of the credit for that.” Meanwhile, BARCODE 1 is the first trial in the UK to assess genetic screening for prostate cancer in the general population. Recent results from the pilot study of 300 men, led by Professor Eeles, suggest that it could be a lifesaver. The team genetically tested and then selected for screening men with the highest levels of inherited risk and, of these, more than a third were diagnosed with new prostate cancers. A larger study that could prove the potential of a new screening programme for the disease is set to be launched. “A man’s risk of prostate cancer is determined in part by which combination of at least 170 different genetic changes they happen to inherit,” explains Professor Eeles. “Our pilot study showed that genetic barcoding of men can safely and effectively identify those at the highest level of risk for prostate cancer, so they can be targeted for follow-up checks. “Our hope is that the next phase of BARCODE 1 will definitively show that population genetic screening for prostate cancer can cost-effectively improve diagnosis and ultimately save lives.” RM
What is the Biomedical Research Centre?
The National Institute for Health 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 and into a clinical setting. Find out more at cancerbrc.org RM magazine 25
BUILDING HOPE Giving a vital gift
FUTURE VISION An artist’s impression of the Oak Cancer Centre
HRH THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE launched the public phase of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity’s appeal to raise the final millions needed to build the Oak Cancer Centre at a ceremony to mark the start of the building work in October (read more on page 12). Due to open its doors to patients in 2022, this state-of-the-art research and treatment centre will help The Royal Marsden save more lives by diagnosing and treating more cancers at an earlier stage, and by speeding up the development of new cancer treatments. The Oak Cancer Centre will bring together more than 400 researchers, currently dispersed around our Sutton hospital, in spaces designed to encourage collaboration across teams working on different types of cancer. It will also house a new rapid diagnostic centre, a spacious Medical Day Unit and an Outpatients department. Thanks to the incredibly generous support of donors including Oak 26 RM magazine
Foundation – after whom the new facility is named – Mr Basil TD Larsen, Kuok Group Foundation, The Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust, Alex Beard and Emma Vernetti, and the dedicated Appeal Board chaired by Mike Slade OBE, we have raised £62 million of the £70-million target to date. With so many events cancelled in 2020, we’ll be making up for lost time in 2021 and 2022 and will be calling on all our supporters to help build hope for people affected by cancer everywhere. The Duke said in his speech: “I am delighted to launch the public appeal to raise the final millions needed to make the Oak Cancer Centre a reality. I am in no doubt that the wonderful supporters of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity will ensure that it won’t be long before you reach that target.”
Want to know more? Visit royalmarsden.org/appeal
After being diagnosed with bone marrow cancer in 2013, Keith Thomas had a stem cell transplant at The Royal Marsden. Last year, he and his wife Ros (below) decided to leave a gift to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity using the Charity’s Free Will Service. Keith said: “It’s great that the Charity offers this service. I was impressed by how easy the process was. Once we had signed the Wills, it was done and no longer a worry for us. “I wanted to leave a gift to the Charity, not only as a way of saying thank you to the hospital for saving my life, but also to help them carry out research in the future – something that is now more important than ever.”
Want to know more? Find out more about our Free Will Service at royalmarsden.org/freewill
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
MARATHON JOURNEY Patient Amy took part in The Marsden Marathon two years after her surgery
Going the extra 26.2 miles IN SEPTEMBER, The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity held The Marsden Marathon, its first-ever virtual running event, which saw hundreds of people take to the streets, running machines and local parks to run 26.2 miles across 26 days. One of the runners taking on the challenge was Amy Van Wyk, who was diagnosed with low-grade serous, a rare form of ovarian cancer, in 2018. “This September marked two years since being urgently referred to The Royal Marsden for major surgery,” said Amy. “Five weeks after surgery,
“Being able to run at my own pace felt very poignant”
I started chemotherapy and immunotherapy, which finished in February this year. “Being able to run The Marsden Marathon at my own pace and across the month felt very poignant. Two years ago, I was so unwell I even struggled to walk. Today, I remain stable and don’t need any more treatment. I continue to be monitored because I am not cancer free, but The Royal Marsden saved my life. “The Marsden Marathon has been a chance for me to pay back what the staff at this very special hospital have done for me. It has been a challenge, but was well worth it.”
Want to know more?
Welcome to two new Trustees
Designer Anya Hindmarch CBE (above left) and Baroness Bloomfield (above right) have been appointed as Trustees of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Anya founded her eponymous business in London in 1987 and has since grown it into a global brand. She is also a non-executive director of the British Fashion Council and an emeritus trustee of both the Royal Academy of Arts and the Design Museum. She has been a supporter of the Charity since a family member was treated at the hospital in 2009. Educated at Oxford University, Olivia Bloomfield has had a varied career encompassing executive search, private equity and energy infrastructure projects. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 and underwent a mastectomy at The Royal Marsden. She became involved with the Charity after joining the Oak Cancer Centre Appeal Board, which is supporting the Charity in raising £70 million to build the Oak Cancer Centre in Sutton. Anya and Olivia take over from Richard Turnor and Richard Oldfield, who leave after nine years on the board.
Interested in joining The Marsden Marathon in 2021? Find out how at royalmarsden.org/marsden-marathon
Contact The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity Telephone 020 7808 2233 Email charity@royalmarsden.org Visit royalmarsden.org Registered Charity No. 1095197 RM magazine 27
AGM GOES VIRTUAL
A look back at the highlights of the 2020 Annual General Meeting, which was held online this year
DUE TO THE COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Annual General Meeting was held virtually, with attendees watching online from their homes and offices. As is customary, Chairman Charles Alexander, Chief Executive Dame Cally Palmer and Chief Financial Officer Marcus Thorman first updated attendees
More than 2,000 patients have been able to access surgery via the Cancer Hub 28 RM magazine
on the Annual Report and Accounts for 2019/20. Following this, Dr Nicholas van As, The Royal Marsden’s Medical Director and Consultant Clinical Oncologist, and Mr Simon Jordan, Consultant Thoracic Surgeon at Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals, spoke about the Cancer Hub. The Royal Marsden and RM Partners, our local cancer alliance, established the hub at the height of the pandemic to provide patients whose operations were cancelled with access to urgent cancer surgery. Using existing networks and new partnerships enabled by
AGM SPEAKERS Dr Nicholas van As (above) and Eamonn Sullivan
a landmark deal the NHS made to buy up capacity in the private healthcare sector, the hub enabled surgical teams from 10 different hospitals to operate across 13 theatres at The Royal Marsden and the Bupa Cromwell Hospital. To date, more than 2,000 patients from across London have been able to access surgery. Chief Nurse Eamonn Sullivan then spoke about his experiences at the NHS Nightingale Hospital London, for which he was the Nursing Director. When NHS England established seven Nightingale field hospitals in March to provide additional intensive care capacity during the pandemic, Eamonn was seconded to help lead the setup of the first, in London’s ExCel Centre. He was joined by four other Royal Marsden colleagues, who all returned to the Trust in May when the Nightingale was placed on standby.
Want to know more? Watch a video of the AGM at royalmarsden.nhs.uk/royalmarsden-annual-generalmeeting-2020
F O U N DAT I O N N E W S
Dates for your diary TRUST APPOINTMENTS From left to right: Councillor Janet Evans, Debra Hoe and Dee Loughran
Council of Governors meeting 9 December 2020 Board of Directors meeting 2 March 2021 Council of Governors meeting 17 March 2021
LATEST APPOINTEES Councillor Janet Evans (left) and Debra Hoe were elected this year
NEW GOVERNORS TAKE THEIR SEATS FOLLOWING THIS YEAR’S elections, Councillor Janet Evans, Debra Hoe and Dee Loughran were elected to serve as Governors of The Royal Marsden for a three-year term. Councillor Evans has taken her seat as a nominated Governor for the local authority of Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, while Debra has been elected as a Public Governor for Kensington and Chelsea and Dee as Patient Governor for Elsewhere in London. Janet, whose constituents are in Courtfield Ward, a neighbouring ward to The Royal Marsden, has a personal relationship with the hospital dating back 16 years to when her husband was a patient. “My husband received the most wonderful palliative care at The Royal Marsden,” she said. “Having followed the advances
in research and treatment at the Trust since then, I wanted to support the hospital and staff in the groundbreaking work that they do. “I’m incredibly proud to have been appointed as a Governor of a world-class hospital and research centre, with the added benefit of it being in the borough where I serve as a councillor.” Debra, whose background is in corporate law, has volunteered at The Royal Marsden since 2002. “I’d been thinking about taking on more responsibility for a while, and engaging in a cause I truly believe in,” she said. “I’m looking forward to taking part in the discussions about longer-term objectives for the Trust, particularly in the context of a post-COVID world.” Dee was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and treated at
“I’m incredibly proud to have been appointed as a Governor of a worldclass hospital and research centre” The Royal Marsden. Her mum was also treated at the Trust in 1998, under the care of the late Professor Martin Gore. “The hospital gave me hope and represents all that a cancer hospital should be,” she said. “It is full of compassion, dedication and commitment from all staff. It’s an honour for me to be elected Governor and I will strive to represent patients, especially in decision-making.”
Board of Directors meeting 6 July 2021 For details 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
RM magazine 29
PUZZLES & PRIZES
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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 Wednesday 27 January 2021. See below for prize draw rules. Autumn 2020 crossword solution Across 1 Abbreviated 6 Lad 7 Ragweed 8 Beech 9 Tabby 11 Basil 13 Genet 15 Cayenne 16 Lid 17 Neighbourly Down 1 Ad-lib 2 Badgers 3 Earth 4 Ingot 5 Daddy 10 Bungler 11 Bacon 12 Lunch 13 Greco 14 Teddy Congratulations to Gillian Dastey, the winner of the autumn 2020 issue’s crossword prize. 2
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Rachael Reeve Director of Marketing and Communications Elaine Parr Head of PR and Communications Abby Samuel Senior PR and Communications Manager Catherine O’Mara Senior PR and Communications Officer Francesca Vitale Senior PR and Communications Officer Georgia Tilley Senior PR and Communications Officer Emma Dowse Senior Case Studies Officer Orla Anandarajah PR and Communications Assistant
FOR SUNDAY Marc Grainger Editor Mark Wheeler Art Director Robert Hearn Senior Designer Jenny Hogan Account Director Richard Robinson Content Director Sam Walker Creative Director Toby Smeeton Managing Director
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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 Wednesday 27 January 2021. 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.
© The Royal Marsden 2020. 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 Geoff Neal Group.
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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
Grace @_gracelatter Five years ago today, I started my six weeks of hardcore radio. Big up @royalmarsden Sutton. I went in full of coffee, with all guns blazing [right].
teeswee @tirnasweeney thanks to everyone who donated... raised £2250!!!! Here’s some pics of me looking sweaty over the past 26 days x @royalmarsden [right]
Richard Cull @cullyscancer Currently on an extended stay at the Royal Marsden Sutton! Getting looked after very well by the team. Post round 2 of the new chemo!
Michelle Stepney Only seems like yesterday I came to the Royal Marsden pregnant with our twins having cervical cancer. You saved both their lives and mine. Now aged 13 years old our beautiful girls are doing The Marsden Marathon to say thank you for the exceptional care we received and keeping our family together. You will always have a special place in our
Sonja Hamman @SonjaHamman In my personal experience, I have had seamless treatment for cancer throughout this year at the Royal Marsden, and no treatment has been
denied. The doctors and nurses at the Marsden have not missed a beat. They have been truly exceptional. Maria Grech @Maria_Valletta 1 year since my dad beat Liposarcoma! I can’t wait to climb Mount Snowdon next year and to raise money for all you incredible people!!
Jackie Kelly Brilliant, the wonderful Royal Marsden always striving for the best for everyone x x Paula Marks The Royal Marsden was our second home. Couldn’t recommend it highly enough. Thank you to everyone
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
STAY IN TOUCH WITH THE ROYAL MARSDEN CANCER CHARITY
CONTACT THE FRIENDS OF THE ROYAL MARSDEN, CHELSEA
CALL US
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VISIT US ONLINE royalmarsden.org
VISIT US ONLINE formc.uk
Registered Charity No. 1095197
Registered Charity No. 222613
020 7808 2233
020 7352 3875
Look out for the spring 2021 issue of RM – coming February 2021 RM magazine 31
Write your Will for free
Registered Charity No. 1095197
Give back to the future
Writing or updating your Will can feel like a big decision, which is why The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity has a simple and free service that can help you. We hope that once you have included your loved ones, you’ll be inspired to leave us a gift in your Will – although there is no obligation to do so. Your gift can help fund our life-saving research that will make a vital difference to cancer patients long into the future. To sign up visit royalmarsden.org/freewill or call 020 7808 2233