This is a blog post by a very good friend, and Womb Cancer Ambassador, Margaret Chandler.
"As a result of somebody from CRUK viewing my CancerStories video, I was invited to the Cancer Research Centre at Leicester University on March 13th 2015 during a visit by Leicester West MP Liz Kendall.
We heard from two top scientists at the centre, Prof Bayliss and Prof Fry, who felt the way forward with cancer was to raise awareness and improve its early detection. Prof Bayliss also explained about Targeted Therapy which he is developing in Leicester. This aims to target tumours directly,whilst leaving healthy tissues and cells undamaged,unlike conventional chemotherapy/radiotherapy at present.
I was asked to tell my story, in which I explained about my emotional/psychological struggle with my cancer diagnosis and treatment. I felt it is not enough to remove cancer and feel the job is done. With more people set to be diagnosed with cancer, it is essential that their mental health and wellbeing is considered if people are to lead valuable and meaningful lives once treatment has finished.
I also had the opportunity to raise awareness of womb cancer by explaining the symptoms to look out for. Liz Kendall felt the training of GP's needed to be improved so that they were no longer of the belief that womb cancer was a disease of post-menopausal women.
I have since been informed that the Profs at the Research Centre are now working more closely with the Psychology Dept following the points I raised.
Liz Kendall's assistant thanked me for raising awareness and confided that she was experiencing gynae problems and was now going to get herself checked out.
Overall I found it a powerful experience. It was interesting to find out about the scientific work being undertaken,but as a patient I hope my experience can lead to an improvement in the psychological outcome for future cancer patients."
"As a result of somebody from CRUK viewing my CancerStories video, I was invited to the Cancer Research Centre at Leicester University on March 13th 2015 during a visit by Leicester West MP Liz Kendall.
We heard from two top scientists at the centre, Prof Bayliss and Prof Fry, who felt the way forward with cancer was to raise awareness and improve its early detection. Prof Bayliss also explained about Targeted Therapy which he is developing in Leicester. This aims to target tumours directly,whilst leaving healthy tissues and cells undamaged,unlike conventional chemotherapy/radiotherapy at present.
I was asked to tell my story, in which I explained about my emotional/psychological struggle with my cancer diagnosis and treatment. I felt it is not enough to remove cancer and feel the job is done. With more people set to be diagnosed with cancer, it is essential that their mental health and wellbeing is considered if people are to lead valuable and meaningful lives once treatment has finished.
I also had the opportunity to raise awareness of womb cancer by explaining the symptoms to look out for. Liz Kendall felt the training of GP's needed to be improved so that they were no longer of the belief that womb cancer was a disease of post-menopausal women.
I have since been informed that the Profs at the Research Centre are now working more closely with the Psychology Dept following the points I raised.
Liz Kendall's assistant thanked me for raising awareness and confided that she was experiencing gynae problems and was now going to get herself checked out.
Overall I found it a powerful experience. It was interesting to find out about the scientific work being undertaken,but as a patient I hope my experience can lead to an improvement in the psychological outcome for future cancer patients."
Many thanks to Margaret for sharing details of her informative trip to the Cancer Research Centre at Leicester University.
If you would like to write a guest piece for the blog then please email me at wcsuk@hotmail.co.uk.
xx Kaz xx
If you would like to write a guest piece for the blog then please email me at wcsuk@hotmail.co.uk.
xx Kaz xx
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