Macmillan Cancer Support is appealing for local residents who have recently received or are currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer at University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM).
Macmillan Cancer Support has sent us the following appeal:
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Have you recently received or are you currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer at University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM)?
We are seeking patients past and present to take part in an ongoing project, aimed at improving access to support during and beyond treatment, including the breast cancer telephone helpline.
Macmillan Cancer Support is working with social enterprise Bridges on the co-design project, which is currently in the information-gathering stage, and we want to hear about your breast cancer care experiences at Royal Stoke Hospital and County Hospital, Stafford, to help inform improvements. Participants will take part in short, one-to-one online interviews, where they will be asked questions and have the opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences.
Lisa from Staffordshire (pictured with her husband) was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2020. She underwent treatment at UHNM and recently participated in the project.
Lisa said:
“I was interviewed about my cancer journey and the care I received. It was a one-to-one online interview, and Clare, the interviewer, really listened to me and was very knowledgeable and understanding. There were structured questions, but it was very much like an informal chat, and it was a good opportunity for me to discuss both positive and negative parts of my cancer care journey.
“I had brilliant care during my treatment, but I personally had a lot of questions after treatment had ended. I wasn’t aware of the helpline, and often waited a couple of days for responses or spoke to different people each time, meaning I sometimes felt unsupported.
“I think this project is a great opportunity to improve the service for other people going through breast cancer and would encourage anyone else who has had or is having treatment at UHNM to take part and share their experiences too.”
If you are currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer at UHNM, or have received treatment in the last five years, and would like to find out more information or participate in the project, please get in touch. Your input is greatly valued and will help inform any improvements to the telephone helpline and the support offered to breast cancer patients.
For more information or to participate, please contact katie@bridgesselfmanagement.org.uk
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