Life demands excellence
RM M A G A Z I N E SPRING 2018
SPECIAL TALENTS
The amazing work of our clinical nurse specialists Royal treatment: HRH looks in on robotic surgery How we’re improving the outlook for lung cancer
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At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. And when people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That’s why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.
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EXECUTIVE NOTES
CONTENTS 4 Bulletin What’s happening around The Royal Marsden 12 Friends indeed How The Friends are helping to enhance the patient experience 14 The royal treatment HRH The Duke of Cambridge meets our robotic surgery team 18 A new era How advances in lung cancer treatment paint a brighter future 21 It happened to me Neuroblastoma patient Jordan Chalk is ready to face the world 22 Moral support Exploring the unique role of the clinical nurse specialist 24 A day in the life We spend time with Clinical Nurse Specialist Janet Hanwell 26 Fundraising News from The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity 28 Foundation news Updates from our Foundation Trust and Governors
WELCOME to the spring 2018 edition of RM, the magazine for our staff, patients, carers and Foundation Trust members. In this issue, we look back to early January when our President, HRH The Duke of Cambridge, visited theatres and Burdett Coutts Ward at our Chelsea hospital. He watched two groundbreaking robotic procedures and spoke to the surgical teams about the difference the da Vinci robots are making to patient treatment and care. Read more on page 14. Something many of our patients comment on is the quality and compassion of our nursing staff. We pioneered the role of the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) at The Royal Marsden – on page 22, we hear from three of our specialists and a patient about why this relationship is so important. We follow this by spending a day in the life of one of our CNSs in drug development, Janet Hanwell (page 24). Finally, in November last year, we celebrated the work of our fantastic staff at the annual Staff Awards ceremony (page 11). It was a real inspiration – congratulations to the nominees, and especially to those who won an award. I hope you enjoy reading this issue of RM.
30 Puzzles and prizes Test your wits and win a prize with our crossword 31 Stay in touch Your comments on social media, plus hospital contacts
Cally Palmer CBE, Chief Executive, The Royal Marsden
ON THE COVER Janet Hanwell, Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Oak Foundation Drug Development Unit
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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
Shape shifters WHEN CANCER SPREADS through the body, the cells make journeys through different environments with different compositions – from soft, fluid-like tissues to hard bone – which requires them to assume different shapes. This image shows metastatic melanoma cells feeling their way through their environment using adhesions (shown in blue) at the plasma membrane, changing their shape to suit the tissue they are invading. This is the winning photograph from The Institute of Cancer Research’s (ICR) Science Photography and Imaging Competition 2017, taken by Dr Chris Bakal, Leader of the ICR’s Dynamical Cell Systems Team, and undergraduate student Oliver Inge, using the new total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscope. Open to all staff at The Royal Marsden and the ICR, the competition showcases the beauty found in scientific and medical images and how they can tell a story about our groundbreaking work. A selection of entries will be on show in the two new photography gallery spaces in The Royal Marsden’s Rapid Diagnostic Assessment Centres at Chelsea and Sutton in the spring.
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Breakthrough breast cancer drugs given the go-ahead for NHS ? DID YOU KNOW? Professor Martin Gore, Consultant Medical Oncologist, has been awarded a Fellowship of the Association of Cancer Physicians, and Professor David Cunningham, Consultant Medical Oncologist, has been made Chair of its Speciality Advisory Committee.
CLINICAL TRIALS LED BY The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) have resulted in two breakthrough drugs being approved for NHS use in patients with advanced breast cancer. Palbociclib and ribociclib, which are used in combination with an aromatase inhibitor to block the production of the hormone oestrogen, have been shown to slow down advanced breast cancer for at least 10 months, potentially delaying the need for chemotherapy. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said that women with oestrogenreceptor-positive breast cancer diagnosed after the disease has spread will now be eligible for palbociclib, while postmenopausal women will be eligible for ribociclib. Trial lead Professor Nicholas Turner, Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden
SLOWING CANCER’S ADVANCE Professor Nicholas Turner (above) has led the trial of two life-changing drugs
and Professor of Molecular Oncology at the ICR, said: “The development of this brand-new class of cancer drug is one of the most important breakthroughs for women with advanced breast cancer in the past two decades. “In clinical trials, palbociclib and ribociclib have made a huge difference to women’s lives – slowing down tumour growth for nearly a year, and delaying the need for chemotherapy with all its potentially debilitating side effects.” Breast cancer patient Vikki Orvice, who was prescribed palbociclib as part of a trial at The Royal Marsden, said: “I had slight fatigue, but it was manageable and I was on the highest dose possible. It’s a life-changing drug.” RM magazine 5
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Offering the right care
HEARING THEM OUT The Out There pilot will listen to what young patients need
The Royal Marsden is sharing its insights and expertise to help improve ageappropriate care and treatment for teenagers and young adults throughout the south of England. As a principal treatment centre, The Royal Marsden receives referrals from south London, Kent, Surrey and East Sussex. Young adults aged 16 to 24 are offered the choice between having their care and treatment at The Royal Marsden or at one of nine designated trusts closer to where they live.
Young people give their views Lottie Weston, Lead Nurse for Teenagers and Young Adults (above), said: “By working collaboratively with other trusts and sharing knowledge, we can help provide the best possible age-appropriate care for young people, regardless of where they choose to have their treatment.”
TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS who have been treated at The Royal Marsden are collaborating with hospital staff to help shape future services. Thanks to supporters of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, the Out There pilot project aims to develop end-of-treatment services, such as clinics and events, for patients aged 16 to 24. “Young people have very different needs to children or older adults, so it’s important to offer appropriate services,” said Lottie Weston, project leader and Lead Nurse for Teenagers and Young Adults at The Royal Marsden.
“By having staff and patients work together, we are able to identify priority areas to work on and find ways to implement them in practice.” Georgina Haynes, 26, who was treated at The Royal Marsden’s purpose-built Teenage Cancer Trust Unit after being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in January 2014, said: “I wanted to take part in the Out There project to help other patients. The Royal Marsden are doing most things brilliantly, but they wanted to hear our stories and for us to tell them where we felt they could improve.”
POSITIVE RESULTS IN CQC SURVEY Children and young people have praised the care they’ve received at The Royal Marsden. The Care Quality Commission’s Children and Young People’s Survey looked at the experiences of 34,708 patients aged 0-15 across England who were treated as an inpatient or day case during November and
December 2016. The survey asked children and young people, plus parents and carers, for their views on their care, such as whether they felt they were well looked after and involved in decisions about their treatment. The Royal Marsden performed above the national average for the 8-15 age group.
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BULLETIN
Lymph node staging for melanoma THE ROYAL MARSDEN is now offering a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for melanoma patients to determine the staging of their disease. Mr Myles Smith and Mr Kieran Power, Consultant Surgeons at The Royal Marsden, perform the operations, which are done as a day-case procedure. “This procedure identifies the relevant lymph nodes that can be removed for testing to see if there is any spread of the disease,” said Mr Power. “Previously, if the biopsy was positive, we would remove all nodes, which is a big operation and can cause lymphoedema. What’s exciting is that now, most patients
“This pioneering biopsy will define the patient pathway of the future”
can avoid this surgery and have ongoing follow-up with ultrasound.” The procedure involves injecting both a radioisotope and a fluorescent dye, which illuminates lymph nodes that may be cancerous. A SPECT scan – an advanced type of CT scan – then provides a 3D image of the area. Mr Smith said: “The Royal Marsden is pioneering in nuclear medicine. Using advanced imaging to guide a biopsy allows us to identify affected nodes with even greater accuracy, telling us even more about the disease. This will define the patient pathway of the future.” Patients whose biopsy results come back negative for spread of melanoma can be discharged. Those who are positive can be followed up with regular ultrasound scans and may be eligible for clinical trials of adjuvant treatment, which may include immunotherapy.
Oncologist honoured
? DID YOU KNOW? RM magazine recently won an award for Best Printed Corporate Publication at the 2017 CorpComms Awards.
Leading oncologists from The Royal Marsden took the stage at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the world’s largest breast cancer conference, in December last year. Professor Nicholas Turner, Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden and Professor at The Institute of Cancer Research, was presented with the 2017 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Outstanding Investigator Award for his research on novel targeted therapies and circulating tumour DNA analysis.
CHEMO IN COMFORT
GREATER ACCURACY Surgeons Mr Kieran Power (above) and Mr Myles Smith (right)
Haemato-oncology patients at The Royal Marsden can now avoid lengthy stays in hospital thanks to new ‘chemo backpacks’. Blood cancer patients need intensive chemotherapy and are admitted as inpatients for a month at a time to receive it. Now, thanks to a generous donation from the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, they can use a chemotherapy pump – carried in a rucksack – which can be set to deliver treatment at particular hours of the day for specified lengths of time. This allows them to have most of their treatment at home, only having to visit the hospital once a day to change their medication. While the pumps can be used to treat other types of cancer, the current initiative will see them used for patients with leukaemia, myeloma and lymphoma. RM magazine 7
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THROUGH THE KEYHOLE A new video by the Urology Unit aims to explain what patients can expect from a robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy – a keyhole procedure to remove the prostate gland using the da Vinci robot. The Trust performs some of the highest numbers of this procedure of any centre in the UK, and the service is led by internationally recognised surgeons. “The video was made in response to patient feedback about having resources about their surgery available online,” said Dr Ramanathan Kasivisvanathan (below), Consultant Anaesthetist and Clinical Lead for Perioperative Services, who worked with David Magee, Clinical Fellow in Anaesthesia, and Bradley Russell, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, on the video. “It is part of a package to provide patients with as much information as possible about their perioperative care.”
Want to know more? To watch the video, visit royalmarsden.nhs.uk/ prostate-video
STUDY LEADER Professor David Dearnaley
Prostate cancer trial boost LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP results from one of the first clinical trials studying intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) show that the technique has dramatically improved outcomes for patients with prostate cancer. As many as 71 per cent of patients were alive and disease-free five years after treatment with IMRT, which shapes radiation beams to fit the area of the tumour. Between 2000 and 2010, 447 patients took part in the study, led by a team at The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), including William Burley, 76. Mr Burley said:
“It seems to have killed my cancer. I’m healthy and can swim and cycle.” Study leader Professor David Dearnaley, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden and Professor of Uro-Oncology at the ICR, said: “The pioneering work done here has already been carried forward into later-stage Phase II and Phase III trials.”
“Radiotherapy seems to have killed my cancer. I’m healthy and can swim and cycle”
Prostate cancer study to recruit Afro-Caribbean men The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) have launched a study to find out why men of African or Caribbean descent are at a higher risk of prostate
cancer than other ethnic groups. Recruitment to the study is open to AfroCaribbean men who do not have prostate cancer and are aged 40 to 69. Both parents and all four grandparents of
participants should also be from a similar background.
Want to know more? Email prostate.research@ rmh.nhs.uk or call 020 8722 4283
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BULLETIN
Asian collaborations SHARING KNOWLEDGE Dr Catherine Wilson with students
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FAST FACTS The Royal Marsden School
520
organisations have sent students to learn here since 2003
EAST MET WEST in November last year, when The Royal Marsden’s Head of School, Dr Catherine Wilson, travelled to Nanjing Health School in China with Lloyd Allen, one of the School’s Lecturer Practitioners. Working in partnership with King’s College Hospital’s Nanjing Health School Collaboration, Dr Wilson and Lloyd spent five days teaching ‘Cancer nursing, diagnosis and treatment’ to cancer nurses from across Jiangsu province. A further three days were spent training staff to teach the course in the future. Dr Wilson said: “It was fascinating to find out about cancer care in China and to be part of this valuable exercise in sharing best practice.”
Meanwhile, Dr Justin Roe, Head of Speech and Language at The Royal Marsden, was invited to share his expertise at the Foundation for Head and Neck Oncology National Conference in Mumbai. Head and neck cancer is one of the leading causes of death in India, where tobacco consumption is rising and there is no HPV vaccination programme in place. Dr Roe said: “It was the first time they chose to have a dedicated speech and swallowing workshop. I focused on areas such as improving communication and swallowing following treatment, standardising patient evaluation before treatment and interventions for late-treatment effects such as radiation-associated dysphagia.”
GOOD RESULTS FOR HAEMATO-ONCOLOGY UNIT The Haemato-oncology Unit has received a glowing inspection report from JACIE, the Joint Accreditation Committee of the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) and the European
Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT). In particular, the report highlighted our adult services, which it said had the best nurse training programme the inspector had seen.
1,500 assignments were marked in the academic year 2016-17
12,782 students have studied modules at The Royal Marsden School
6 4,561
degree pathways are on offer
members of Royal Marsden staff have studied at the School since 2003
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IN BRIEF
of colorectal cancer. In the future, we could potentially alter the microbiome to reduce the risk of this cancer occurring. Learning more about the microbiome could also help facilitate diagnosis and improve treatment options for patients, with fewer side effects.
Funding for head and neck cancer
The Medical Research Council has awarded The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research a £1.9-million grant to run a clinical trial using a blood test to detect human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in patients with head and neck cancers.
Top scores for Sutton
The Royal Marsden’s Sutton catering service has retained top marks for its National Food Hygiene Rating. The most recent inspection confirmed that the catering team scores highly in food handling, the cleanliness and condition of facilities and building, and food safety.
Now we’re cooking
The Royal Marsden Cancer Cookbook has won the top prize in the Eating Well category at the Live Better With Spotlight Awards. Created by The Royal Marsden’s Consultant Dietitian in Oncology, Dr Clare Shaw, the cookbook was nominated by the cancer community for its 150 delicious and healthy recipes that help patients and their families eat well before, during, and after cancer treatment.
Q&A: MICROBIOME Professor David Cunningham (above), Consultant Medical Oncologist, Head of the Gastrointestinal Unit and Director of Clinical Research, explains why researchers are increasingly looking at the role of the gut microbiome in gastrointestinal cancers Q What is the gut microbiome? A The human body has trillions of microbes such as bacteria, fungi and viruses, which are collectively known as the microbiome and mainly live in our gastrointestinal tract. Our microbiome affects our digestion, immune system, mood and cognitive function.
Q Why are researchers interested in this? A Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, with more than half of all cases linked to major lifestyle and other risk factors, such as diet and body weight. There is evidence to suggest that an imbalance in the gut microbiome may have a role in the development
Q What is The Royal Marsden doing? A While this is a really exciting area of work with enormous potential, microbiome science is very complex and a lot more research is needed. The Royal Marsden is working collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team of experts from Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre, with the aim of rapidly translating research discoveries into medical advances. Q How might the microbiome influence anti-cancer treatment? A Changing the microbiome could influence the response to some anti-cancer agents. For example, transplanting the microbiome from the gastrointestinal tract of responding tumour models into a non-responding model may increase the sensitivity of tumours to immunotherapy treatment. We think this may be because a change in the microbiome can influence the inflammatory response, which are the same cells involved in successful immunotherapy.
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BULLETIN
THE WINNERS Lifetime Achievement Award MARIA LAW, Sister on Kennaway Ward, received a standing ovation from her colleagues. She has worked at The Royal Marsden for over 30 years.
Working Together Award There were two outstanding teams this year, so a second Working Together Award was presented. The CATERING TEAM has been recognised by the Department of Health as one of the leading providers of hospital food in the NHS. The THEATRES TEAMS at Sutton and Chelsea have increased capacity to meet unprecedented levels of patient demand.
Driving Transformation and Innovation AMANDA SADLER, Musculoskeletal Manager, has transformed the musculoskeletal service in the community and improved efficiency.
Excellence in Education Award DR AISHA MIAH and DR EMMA ALEXANDER, Clinical Oncology Education Leads, have cemented the Trust as a leader in clinical oncology training and provided bespoke programmes for their trainees.
True stars THE ANNUAL STAFF AWARDS Ceremony took place on Saturday 25 November 2017 at Supernova, Victoria Embankment Gardens. Seven individuals and teams were awarded trophies, which were presented by Chief Executive Cally Palmer, Medical Director Dr Nicholas van As, and Chairman Charles Alexander. “This was my first time presenting the awards as Chairman,” Charles said. “It
was a pleasure to be involved in such a wonderful event celebrating the hard work of staff; they are a credit to The Royal Marsden.” A host of celebrities, including Paloma Faith and Claudia Winkleman, showed their support by pre-recording video announcements of the winners. AND THE WINNER IS… The spectacular venue (top); Maria Law receives the Lifetime Achievement Award (above left); guests enjoy the night (above right)
Above and Beyond Award, Non-clinical LEISA SPINK, Assistant CBU Manager, has helped develop the Acute Oncology Service and gone the extra mile to improve experiences for our junior doctors across both sites.
Above and Beyond, Clinical LORRAINE HYDE, Sister in the Medical Day Unit in Sutton, is a true nursing role model and has been at the forefront of major service changes, including the creation of a satellite unit at nearby Kingston Hospital. RM magazine 11
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FRIENDS INDEED A new play area in Chelsea is just one of many generous contributions made by the Friends of The Royal Marsden
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THE FRIENDS
THE FRIENDS IN NUMBERS
REST AND RELAXATION Ward Sister Gemma Kane and volunteer Henty Fellowes entertain a patient’s children in the play room in Horder Ward (left); the garden (below), grand piano (below right) and blood test machine (bottom)
“We wanted to create a space for happy moments in difficult times”
20,000
hours of their time are volunteered by the Friends at Chelsea each year. They make 25,000 sandwiches for patients and serve more than 40,000 drinks –
£270,000 CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS are receiving palliative care on Horder Ward can take home some positive memories of their time at The Royal Marsden thanks to a new, specially designed play area funded by the Friends of The Royal Marsden, Chelsea. The ward now has a dedicated play area in the day room with purpose-built toy storage and children’s furniture, and two comfortable rooms for movie nights, sleepovers and counselling. Horder Ward volunteer Henty Fellowes, a Friend of Chelsea, says: “We wanted to create a space where patients and their children could get away from the clinical setting and have some happy moments in difficult times.” Henty’s husband Nick and his friend, Bill Lord, funded the facilities by raising almost £17,000 in sponsorship after taking part in the 100-mile Prudential RideLondon. This is just one example of the Friends’ work. Friends volunteers run the hospital shop, tea trolley and Wallace Wing café, and provide a meet-and-greet service for patients. Each year, the Friends at Chelsea commit to spending more than £200,000 to improve the patient experience – for example, by maintaining the rooftop garden,
donating the grand piano at the base of the Regency staircase, organising wellbeing events and information videos, and buying equipment. Linda Wimble, Vice Chair of the Friends at Chelsea, says: “This year, we have funded portable and fixed ultrasound machines, genetic testing equipment, a defibrillator, orientation screens for patients with dementia, computer monitors and patient education videos.” They have also provided a blood test machine for the CT scanning department. Cate Savidge, Superintendent Radiographer, says: “The machine has reduced waiting times for blood tests from half an hour to two minutes.”
The Friends of The Royal Marsden, Sutton, is run separately but follows a similar model. With an army of almost 200 volunteers, the Friends run the shop in the main Sutton entrance, the tea bar in Outpatients and the mobile shop trolley. They also maintain the courtyard gardens and provide non-professional assistance across wards, day units and Outpatients – which underwent a Friends makeover in 2015. Last year, the Friends at Sutton funded an additional portable X-ray machine for the hospital’s Rapid Diagnostic and Assessment Centre. Consultant Breast Radiographer Victoria Sinnet says: “Having this X-ray machine has led to patients experiencing quicker breast biopsy procedures, and the improved image quality of the samples has resulted in some patients requiring less tissue to be removed while still achieving an accurate diagnosis.” RM
Want to volunteer? Friends, Chelsea: office open 9am-1pm, Mon-Fri. Call 020 7352 3875 or email friends.chelsea@rmh.nhs.uk Friends, Sutton: office open 10am-4pm, Mon-Fri. Call 020 8661 3082 or email friends.sutton@rmh.nhs.uk
was spent in 2017 for the benefit of patients by the Friends at Sutton –
£1m+
has been donated by the Friends at Chelsea during the past five years –
£5.4m+ has been provided for amenities and equipment by the Friends at Sutton since records began being kept in 1974 –
£49,000+
was the biggest amount spent on a single item by the Friends at Chelsea in 2017 – for an ultrasound scanner RM magazine 13
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T HE ROYA L T RE AT MEN T Robotic surgery is transforming the way we treat patients, as HRH The Duke of Cambridge saw first-hand on his recent visit to The Royal Marsden
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HRH VISIT
HRH THE DUKE of Cambridge visited The Royal Marsden, Chelsea in January to find out more about our robotic surgery programme, the largest and most comprehensive of its kind in the UK. The Duke, who is President of The Royal Marsden, met Professor Vinidh Paleri, Consultant Head and Neck Surgeon, and his team as they performed robotic surgery on a patient with adenoid cystic carcinoma. He then joined Mr Asif Chaudry, Consultant Upper GI/Oesophagogastric Surgeon, as he performed a robotic oesophagectomy, a procedure only available at The Royal Marsden. In both theatres, he had the opportunity to sit at the dual console of the da Vinci Xi robot, where the surgeons talked him through the procedures and showed him how the robotic arms are manoeuvred by the hand and foot controls. Professor Paleri says: “The Duke’s visit made for an exhilarating day for the whole team. Judging from the intelligent questions he asked, he clearly knows the anatomy of the body and is genuinely fascinated by what we’re doing.
“The Duke’s visit was exhilarating for the whole team. He was genuinely fascinated by what we’re doing” “The operation The Duke joined me in was reduced from what would be 12 hours of open surgery to a two-hour procedure with the da Vinci Xi. Patients can be home in three days rather than two
weeks, and they are saved from having visible scars.” Later, The Duke met patients on Burdett Coutts Ward, including William Cowell, who was recovering from robotic surgery. He also met > WARM WELCOME Clockwise, from far left: The Duke in theatre with Mr Myles Smith (seated), Mr Asif Chaudry (upper right) and colleagues. The green lighting accentuates contrast and reduces glare during robotic surgery; The Duke inspects the da Vinci Xi robot with Professor David Nicol; at the robot’s console; meeting Chairman Charles Alexander
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A DECADE OF ROYAL VISITS January 2008 The Duke visits just days after fire broke out in the Chelsea hospital – May 2008 We show The Duke around the new Endoscopy Unit before an hourlong private visit with patients on Wilson Ward –
September 2011 TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge open the Oak Centre for Children and Young People –
November 2013 After watching live operations, The Duke hails our surgical teams as “incredible” –
November 2015
The Duke speaks to patients in clinical trials and learns about the latest cancer research –
May 2016
With Ralph Lauren, The Duke opens the Ralph Lauren Centre for Breast Cancer Research –
May 2017 The Duke marks 10 years as President by visiting our Radiotherapy Department, the Oak Centre for Children and Young People and the new MR Linac
WATCH AND LEARN The Duke follows on screen as a robotic operation takes place
patient Joe Omar, a retired anaesthetist from Sutton who worked at The Royal Marsden in the 1980s, where he met his wife, who was a radiographer. The Duke told Mr Omar: “It’s fascinating watching the robot work. It’s so precise – you see it up close and you can really see how the human body is and how it works. You’re literally going right into the tumour, so you see exactly with precision where the tumour is – it’s incredible. I was really, really impressed with it.” Mr Omar was thrilled to meet The Duke. He says: “He chatted to us like an old friend. His visit cheered us up and boosted the morale on the ward.” Cally Palmer, Chief Executive of The Royal Marsden, says: “It was
“It was an honour to welcome back our President and we were delighted that he was keen to view robotic surgery” an honour to welcome back our President and we were delighted that he was keen to view robotic surgical operations. “As a specialist cancer centre, it is our responsibility to innovate and ensure that we pioneer new treatments, prove their efficacy through research, and shape best practice throughout the UK and beyond. We’re thrilled that we have the support of The Duke of Cambridge in this area.” RM
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HRH VISIT
DOING THE ROUNDS The Duke chats with William Cowell, who was recovering from robotic surgery on Burdett Coutts Ward (top), greets Beth Hendry, Ward
Sister on Burdett Coutts Ward, Chief Nurse Eamonn Sullivan and Dr Nicholas van As (above), and meets patient Joe Omar and his daughter (left)
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A NE W
ER A
Advances in lung cancer treatment over the past decade have transformed outcomes for patients, even when surgery isn’t possible
THE PAST 10 YEARS have seen a dramatic shift in the way we treat lung cancer patients. Thanks to the advances of immunotherapy, genetic sequencing, targeted therapies, new radiotherapy techniques and a programme of research investigating how best to combine all these treatment options, there’s palpable excitement at The Royal Marsden around the future of lung cancer treatment. More than 46,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK every year, making it the third most common type of cancer. But largely due to the fact that three-quarters of cases are diagnosed at a late stage, patients presenting with lung cancer have historically received a poor prognosis and treatments have been mostly palliative.
Dr Mary O’Brien, Head of the Lung Unit, says: “For early-stage lung cancer, surgery remains the main treatment option and can be curative. But lung cancer often doesn’t cause symptoms and isn’t diagnosed until it has spread, when surgery isn’t possible. In these cases, new targeted therapies, immunotherapy and new radiotherapy techniques are offering viable alternatives.” In 2016, the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab, and then in 2017, nivolumab – both of which harness the body’s own immune system to attack cancer cells – were approved for use on the NHS to treat lung cancer patients. Dr Jaishree Bhosle, Consultant Medical Oncologist, says: “Research has shown that immunotherapy drugs increase the number of
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LUNG CANCER
patients alive after three years two- or three-fold, depending on the type of lung cancer they have. This is a landmark step and means a shift not only in survival but also in patients’ quality of life.” Combination treatments The next stage of research is investigating how these immunotherapy drugs work in combination with other treatments. For example, the PEAR trial is looking at the use of radiotherapy in lung cancer in combination with pembrolizumab. Dr Merina Ahmed, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, explains: “We’re trying to find out if different doses of radiotherapy in stage 4 lung cancer patients stimulate more of a response to immunotherapy. We are also doing this with the
STILE trial in stage 1 cancer, hoping to improve cure rates even further and delay disease progression.” The PACIFIC trial will study the use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy followed by immunotherapy, aiming for a cure for patients with locally advanced lung cancer. Meanwhile, the HALT study, led by Dr Fiona McDonald, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, is investigating the role of stereotactic radiotherapy in patients with specific driver mutations who are being treated with targeted therapy. She says: “Some of these patients develop limited progression of their disease in only one or two places while on such drugs. We are investigating whether adding stereotactic radiotherapy can delay disease progression
AT THE FOREFRONT Dr Mary O’Brien (left); Dr Merina Ahmed (above); a patient takes a lung function test with research nurse Derya Sahin (right)
and prolong the time that patients derive clinical benefit.” Although older people who have a history of smoking are still the most likely to develop lung cancer, over the past 10 years there has been an increase in younger non-smokers – particularly women – also being diagnosed. Dr Sanjay Popat, Consultant Medical Oncologist, says: “We don’t yet know why this is – it could be a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors. But what we do know is that this type of patient is likely to have a genetic mutation that we can treat with a targeted drug.” There are two known genetic mutations in lung cancer that are now routinely tested for: EGFR and ALK. Both of these can be treated with targeted molecular therapies. Previously, patients with these genetic mutations would have gone through standard chemotherapy and had an average survival of a year. With these targeted therapies, combined with some chemotherapy, the average survival time is three to four years, with half of these patients alive beyond this and experiencing a better quality of life due to fewer side effects than standard chemotherapy alone. Patients are also spared the risky and invasive biopsies of the past, thanks to the introduction of blood tests to look for circulating tumour DNA. >
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LUNG CANCER
A PATIENT’S PERSPECTIVE Simon White, 45 “I was diagnosed with nonsmall-cell lung cancer after experiencing shortness of breath and a persistent cough. Luckily, it was at a stage where surgery was possible, and I had a good prognosis. After surgery, I had chemotherapy and was cancer-free, but I agreed to take part in a Phase III trial called LungART, which is investigating whether having radiotherapy after surgery can help stop lung cancer coming back. I’m happy to take part in research to improve the outcomes for lung cancer patients in the future.”
Matching mutations The Royal Marsden is a leading recruiter on the multi-site, multi-arm Matrix trial, involving patients with metastatic or locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Dr Popat says: “First, we take a sample of a patient’s tumour and look at which genetic mutations they have. We find out which ones might be simple ‘spelling mistakes’ that won’t cause any trouble and which ones are likely to drive
“One patient with mesothelioma now has no evidence of the disease”
tumour growth, and then we match them to one of eight new drugs.” Dr Popat is also the Chief Investigator on the PROMISE-meso trial, which compares pembrolizumab with chemotherapy for patients with mesothelioma – the type of lung cancer caused by asbestos. “In earlier Phase I and II trials with pembrolizumab, we’ve seen 61 per cent of mesothelioma patients showing evidence of tumour shrinkage,” he says. “I hesitate to use the word ‘cured’, but we have one patient with mesothelioma who now has no evidence of disease.” Screening pilots As well as kinder, more effective and less invasive treatments, early detection and rapid diagnosis are key to changing the face of lung cancer.
TRIAL BLAZERS Dr Sanjay Popat and Dr Fiona McDonald, who lead the PROMISE-meso and HALT studies respectively
Dr O’Brien says: “Mature studies in the USA have proven that screening high-risk groups of people for lung cancer before they present with symptoms saves lives. Now in the UK, we’re running a number of screening pilots to see if we can emulate this. “In our lead role in RM Partners, a cancer alliance of healthcare providers, we are funding a pilot for west London that is due to start this spring. We are also working with the NHS to speed up the patient pathway from diagnosis to treatment. When caught early, lung cancer is curable.” Dr Popat concludes: “Ten years ago, a lung cancer diagnosis was bad news for patients. Now, for some, lung cancer can be managed as a chronic disease. We’re talking about surviving for longer and having a better quality of life.” RM
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IT HAPPENED TO ME
I WAS TWO YEARS OLD WHEN I WAS DIAGNOSED. NOW, AFTER 17 YEARS, I HAVE FINALLY BEEN DISCHARGED Jordan Chalk, 19, neuroblastoma patient
IN MARCH 2000, when I was two years old, I was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma. Thankfully, I have no memory of these early days, but for my parents it is a different story. They had taken me to the GP after I’d started walking strangely, and were referred to our local hospital. I was initially diagnosed with juvenile arthritis, but when I stopped eating and started losing weight, I underwent three weeks
of tests and scans before my family were given the earthshattering cancer diagnosis. I was transferred to The Royal Marsden’s children’s unit for treatment. My memories of being at the hospital are hazy, but I do remember sitting on my dad’s lap looking at a huge array of exciting needles – little did I know what was in store! Over the next nine months, I spent a huge amount of time
at The Royal Marsden for treatment, including high-dose chemotherapy and a stem cell harvest. It was a very scary time for all of us but the unit was brilliant. Nothing was ever too much trouble for the nurses. One of the things that my mum found difficult was when my hair started falling out during intensive chemotherapy, so my dad, grandad and nana all shaved their heads in solidarity and to raise money for charity, including the children’s unit. Following my first round of chemotherapy, the results on my MIBG scan were incredible. The scan is used to look for uncontrolled or abnormal cell growth in the body – mine went from a black skeleton to one that looked a lot clearer. Remission was never really talked about – just getting to the end of the treatment was the goal. Now, after 17 years, I have finally been discharged from The Royal Marsden. Hearing that news was such a relief because it meant no more hospital visits. The cancer journey is very difficult so all you can do is take it one day at a time. I’ve completed a college course in electrics and I’ve passed my driving test. Cancer is scary but I refused to let it define me – life is good. RM
“Remission was never really talked about – just getting to the end of the treatment was the goal”
Mary Taj
Paediatric Oncologist, says: “Jordan and his family came through the difficult treatment for stage 4 neuroblastoma with great courage and fortitude. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to look after him and see him grow up and become the young man he is. I wish him well for the future.”
Emma Potter
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Long Term Follow Up, says: “I met Jordan for the first time in the Long Term Follow Up clinic. He has always been an incredibly positive and enthusiastic young gentleman. I remember he had started his own gardening business at 15. It’s been lovely to work with Jordan and his family, preparing them for life beyond cancer. Discharge is a positive step but it has been sad to say goodbye.“ RM magazine 21
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MOR A L SUPPOR T Clinical nurse specialists provide vital emotional and practical assistance for patients during their cancer journey
IT IS ALMOST 40 YEARS since The Royal Marsden’s former Director of Nursing, Robert Tiffany, pioneered the role of the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) in the late 1970s – and the role continues to evolve to this day. Eamonn Sullivan, Chief Nurse, says: “Today’s CNSs are the lifeblood of The Royal Marsden. Their diverse role spans emotional support through to advanced
practice, running clinics, prescribing, and providing continuity for specialist teams and patients alike. Evidence has shown their positive impact on patient outcomes.” Amanda Baxter recently retired after 23 years as a CNS specialising in urological and gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. She says: “I always had a passion for urology and GI
KEY WORKERS CNS Katy Hardy with patient Jonathan Brown (above); Sarah Irving chats to a patient (top right); Amanda Baxter (right)
because patients have to deal with so many life-changing side effects from treatment. “As well as looking after the patient, I shared my expertise by training ward nurses. For example, when I started as a CNS, I was the only nurse at The Royal Marsden that was trained in stoma management, so I spent a great deal of time training nurses in the care of stomas so patients
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THE ROLE OF THE CNS
A PATIENT’S PERSPECTIVE Jonathan Brown, 35
didn’t have to wait for me in order to receive the appropriate care.” Amanda has known some patients since her early days as a CNS and believes that those long-lasting relationships have kept her going. She says: “It’s one thing to treat the patient’s cancer but another to support them and help them learn how to live with cancer and beyond. In the past 20 years, there have been advances with radiotherapy and innovative surgical techniques such as bladder reconstruction. Our patients are living longer, so the role of the CNS has become even more vital.” Katy Hardy, CNS in colorectal oncology, has also seen the role change. She says: “I became a CNS four years ago, working as the patient’s advocate and key worker. New surgical techniques have transformed the patient pathway. My work is now also moving towards one-stop support groups for patients to learn about survivorship as more complex surgery presents new challenges.”
Sarah Irving, breast cancer CNS, explains: “More women are being diagnosed and surviving breast cancer than ever before, and the care pathway can be long and complex. The patient’s journey is about them and we are there to make sure they are as involved in their treatment as they want to be. “As well as providing emotional and psychological support, we ensure that their voices are always heard. We are also a valuable resource for the other professionals involved, so that we can work as one big team to provide patients with the best possible level of care. “We have been described as the ‘glue’ between patients and all the other professionals involved in their treatment. It’s so rewarding to help patients through their journey and support them as they come out the other side.” RM
“Our patients are living longer, so the role of the CNS has become even more vital”
“I can’t stress how integral Katy has been to my treatment for colon cancer at The Royal Marsden. She has been patient, kind and supportive – not only to me but to my partner too, which has made a huge difference to us both. “I had suffered with anxiety and depression in the past, partly due to my prior experiences of cancer, having lost my father to the disease as a teenager. My own cancer brought these difficulties back to the surface. “Katy not only supports me with this but she recognised it early on in my follow-up and referred me for the specialist support I needed. “Ultimately she sees the whole picture of me, and not just the disease.”
Turn the page for A Day in the Life of Janet Hanwell, Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Oak Foundation Drug Development Unit RM magazine 23
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A DAY IN T HE L IF E OF
JANET HANWELL CL INIC A L NUR S E S P E CI A L I S T, OAK FOUNDATION DRUG DE VELOPMENT UNIT
THE PATIENTS WE see in the Oak Foundation Drug Development Unit (Oak DDU) have advanced cancers that have become untreatable with other standard therapies. By the time someone attends our ‘new patient’ clinic in Sutton, they have already been through a lengthy journey as a cancer patient. It is my role as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) to give patients information about the complexities of new drug trials and to support their participation in them. It’s an exciting, diverse role that is unique to The Royal Marsden, and combines hands-on care with co-ordinating Phase I clinical trials. Our unique relationship with The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and the pharmaceutical industry enables our patients to access early-stage trials. Our remit is translational research – translating science from the laboratory into treatments to benefit patients.
BEING THERE Janet Hanwell attends weekly multidisciplinary team meetings (left) and catches up with patients (right)
Covering all bases I work three days a week alongside two other CNSs. I start each day at about 8am when I check messages, then the rest of my day is usually spent between clinics and meetings and on the phone to patients and 24 RM magazine
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A D AY I N T H E L I F E
other healthcare services such as hospices, GPs and district nurses. Patients travel from all over the UK to come to the Oak DDU, so making sure they are well supported where they live is important. I am a core member of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) that meets every Wednesday morning to discuss our 60-plus patients. This is a chance for clinical colleagues to offer their professional opinion and agree the next stage of each patient’s treatment. As a CNS, I provide a holistic perspective, which often promotes discussion about patients’ symptoms and psychological and social aspects of care.
require ongoing support and assessment. I’m often asked to see more complex situations on the ward by the nursing team. We tend to get to know our patients really well as the trial protocols require them to come in weekly for check-ups. It is an exciting time in drug development. Our improved understanding of the molecular basis of cancer has led to a focus on targeted therapies, which means we are now seeing some good-quality, life-extending treatments. RM
Keeping in touch After the MDT meeting, I head straight to one of our two weekly outpatient clinics. A large part of my role is building up a relationship with the patient. It’s vital that they feel they can talk to me. Drug development is a team effort and the patient is central to this. All our trial patients come to the Oak DDU for their treatment and regular check-ups. During the afternoon, I hold telephone clinics with patients at home who may RM magazine 25
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A giant thank you, George!
UP, UP AND AWAY Seaton House School in Sutton set off on their My Marsden March
Do it your way IF YOU MISSED out on a place for The Marsden March, why not organise your own for you and your friends this year? Inspired by the annual 14-mile or five-mile Marsden March, My Marsden March gives supporters the chance to take part at any time, anywhere, and over any distance. Over the past seven years, it has become increasingly popular with corporate supporters, schools, families and groups of friends. Reed Business Information holds its My Marsden March every September, in memory of three colleagues who were treated at The Royal Marsden. Organised by Laura Crowe and Kerry Tomney, it sees more than 100 staff take part. Laura said: “We follow the 14-mile route of the main walk and raise about £15,000. We are proud to be doing something to help cancer patients. It is quite an emotional day. One of our staff does both The Marsden March and our walk, which is true dedication.” Jo Bell, Senior Community Events Manager for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, said: “My Marsden
March has become really popular with schools and businesses as they can set their own distance, time and place. We understand 14 miles is not achievable for everyone so My Marsden March is a great opportunity to still take part.”
Want to know more? For support, advice and materials, go to royalmarsden.org/my-marsden-march ANYTIME, ANYWHERE With My Marsden March, you can choose your distance, time and place
Congratulations to five-year-old George Woodall and his family, who have won the JustGiving Outstanding Commitment Award. Little George was diagnosed with a rare tumour in January 2017 and has received treatment at The Royal Marsden’s Oak Centre for Children and Young People. His parents, Vicki and James, set up the George and the Giant Pledge fundraising campaign to help beat children’s cancer with an initial target of £100,000. Incredibly, they reached this within two weeks, so they set their sights higher – to raise £1 million for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. In writing a daily blog and through their own fundraising, they’ve inspired more than 10,000 people across the world to donate and hold their own events, raising £670,000 for the Charity. To date, the money has funded a range of posts and work in the Oak Centre for Children and Young People, including two play specialists, a clinical fellow who will work in paediatric drug development in sarcomas, and a full-time paediatric psychologist to support children like George and their families through their cancer journey.
Want to know more? Visit giantpledge.com/team
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T H E R O YA L M A R S D E N C A N C E R C H A R I T Y
A ROARING TR ADE SHERLOCK STAR BENEDICT Cumberbatch represented The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity at the sixth annual Bloomberg Tradebook charity day in October last year, alongside family friend
and actor Siobhán Hewlett. They joined other celebrities, Bloomberg employees and clients in trading activities to raise money and awareness for worthy causes. Siobhán, whose mother has
TRADING PLACES Siobhán Hewlett and Benedict Cumberbatch get involved
a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, said: “Without The Royal Marsden, my mum wouldn’t be here. I’m permanently amazed and overwhelmed by the impeccable level of care and love from everyone at the hospital.” Benedict said: “At The Royal Marsden, the standards of patient care and research into the causes and possible cures for cancer are respected the world over. “Whenever I have visited friends or relatives there, I’ve experienced the exemplary teams of highly skilled staff that treat their patients as people, not statistics. It’s an honour to be helping them raise funds to continue their brilliant work.” In addition, Bloomberg employees volunteered through the company’s Best of Bloomberg programme to create ‘thank you’ hampers for nurses, doctors and staff at The Royal Marsden.
Remembering Emmy Coates Royal Marsden Cancer Charity supporter Jake Coates won the Pride of Britain 2017 Fundraiser of the Year Award in November, on behalf of his late wife Emmy. After being diagnosed with terminal cancer at the age of 30, Emmy was determined to live life to the full. She and Jake (pictured) cycled 2,000km from London to Copenhagen, wrote a series
of Tara and Tyrone children’s books, and completed The Marsden March in 2017, raising more than £142,000 for the Charity. Sadly, Emmy passed away last June. Jake said: “The Royal Marsden is the most incredible hospital and I feel so privileged to be able to raise funds for them. Each and every one of them is like my extended family.”
Les Curistas ride again In just four years, the annual Le Cure de France fundraising challenge has raised more than £1 million for breast cancer research at The Royal Marsden. For four days every summer, 80 ‘Curistas’ – including Royal Marsden patients, staff, family and friends – cover around 400km and climb almost 12,000m of the French and Italian Alps. The challenge, founded by friends and relatives of breast cancer patient Marianne Butler, will be taking place again this year. So far, Le Cure has funded four research fellows and part-funded blood test trials. Professor Ian Smith, Consultant Medical Oncologist and veteran Curista, said: “It is mentally and physically exhausting but it is all worthwhile.”
Want to know more? Visit lecure.org
Contact The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity Telephone 020 8770 0279 Email charity@royalmarsden.org Visit royalmarsden.org Registered Charity No. 1095197 RM magazine 27
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RESE ARCH M A DE RE A L MEMBERS ARE INVITED to a members’ event on Tuesday 3 July in Chelsea titled ‘Translating research from bench to bedside.’ The event will focus on the pioneering research being carried out at The Royal Marsden and the benefits it brings to patient care. Jane Lawrence, Assistant Director of Clinical Research and Development, will host the event. Dr Naureen Starling, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, and Natalie Doyle, Nurse Consultant for Living With and Beyond Cancer, will present. Members will also hear from Antonia Dalmahoy, Director
of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, on how the Charity helps and supports the research agenda.
Want to know more? Space is limited, so to reserve your place, please contact the Member and Governor Lead on 020 7808 2844 or email trust.foundation@rmh.nhs.uk
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F O U N DAT I O N N E W S
Dates for your diary Board of Directors meeting 21 March 2018, Chelsea Council of Governors meeting 12 April 2018, Chelsea SPEAKING UP Governors Fiona Stewart (above) and Duncan Campbell (below) talk to members during Members Week
COME AND MEE T YOUR GOVERNORS FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS of last year’s Members Week, in which the Governors recruited 262 new members, we will be holding another event on 16-20 April 2018. During the week, the Governors will be out and about in Chelsea and Sutton. On 17 April between 12pm and 3pm, Governors will hold a ‘meet and greet’ drop-in session in the boardroom in
Chelsea, where you can meet them over refreshments and hear about their role as your representative. We will also have information stands manned by Governors at both Sutton and Chelsea. Look out for your Governors – they will be wearing their ‘Governor’ sashes – and feel free to ask them about their role. If you are not already a member, it is free to become one, plus you get exclusive discounts and offers at high street stores and local traders via MyTrustBenefits.co.uk. You will also be invited to attend members’ events, which sometimes include ‘behind the scenes’ tours.
Want to know more? For further information on Members Week or how to become a member, please contact the Member and Governor Lead on 020 7808 2844
Board of Directors meeting 27 June 2018, Chelsea Council of Governors meeting 4 July 2018, Chelsea To attend any of these meetings, please call 020 7808 2844 or email trust. foundation@ rmh.nhs.uk
Keep in touch Become a member and/or contact your Governor: telephone 020 7808 2844, email trust. foundation@ rmh.nhs.uk or visit royalmarsden. nhs.uk/ membership
COULD YOU HELP US ASSESS OUR ENVIRONMENT? All hospitals providing NHS-funded care must undertake an annual self-assessment of the quality of their care – and you could help us do this. Patient-led Assessments of the Care Environment (PLACE) look at areas such as privacy and dignity of patients, food, cleanliness and general building maintenance, as well as the care of people with dementia and those with disabilities. Patient assessors must make up at least half of each assessment team, with the rest being staff. Any service user can be a patient assessor, and you do not need any specific knowledge of healthcare to take part.
Want to know more? Email trust.foundation@ rmh.nhs.uk or call 020 7808 2844 if you are interested in taking part in a PLACE assessment
GOODBYE AND THANK YOU In December 2017, our longest-serving nonexecutive director, Richard Turnor, and longest-serving Governor, Ann Curtis, reached the end of their three terms of office. We would like to express our sincere thanks to both individuals for their contribution and commitment to the Trust over the past nine years.
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PUZZLES & PRIZES
PRIZE CROSSWORD
SUDOKU
THE TEAM
Try the fiendishly tricky numbers puzzle – it’s just for fun
FOR THE ROYAL MARSDEN
The lucky winner of our prize crossword will receive a £50 John Lewis gift card. 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 Friday 11 May 2018. See below for prize draw rules. Winter 2017 crossword solution Across 1 Uncle 4 Clams 6 Screech 8 Empty 9 Bijou 11 Laden 13 Masie 14 Samosas 16 Ready 17 Steak Down 1 Umbrellas 2 Clamped 3 Essay 4 Carib 5 Ale 7 Housework 10 Justice 12 Nasty 13 Masts 15 Moa Congratulations to Pat Ward, the winner of the Winter 2017 issue’s crossword prize. 1
2
6
3
4
5
7
8
9
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15 17
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SPRING 2018 PRIZE CROSSWORD ENTRY FORM Fill in your details below when sending in your crossword competition entry. See above for details of our address. NAME ADDRESS
POST CODE TELEPHONE
2 1 5 9 2 3 9 1
8 2
4
6 5
6
8 8 7 9
8 3 4 4
7
1 5
4 3 8
6 7
CROSSWORD CLUES Across 2 Rodent (6,3) 6 Carp (3) 7 Held firmly (7) 8 Relatives (6) 9 Alcoholic drink (4) 11 Rush of wind (4) 12 Expresses an opinion (6) 16 Open a gate, for example (7) 17 Strange thing in the sky! (1,1,1) 18 Light ocean wind (3,6)
Down 1 Voucher (5) 2 Leg coverings (7) 3 Fireplace (5) 4 Arab ruler (4) 5 Fish of the cod family (5) 10 Leave out (7) 11 Sticks (5) 13 Earthy pigment (5) 14 Group of fish (5) 15 Celestial body (4)
FOR SUNDAY Marc Grainger Editor Mark Wheeler Art Director Sian Purdy Designer Gill Tait Account Director Richard Robinson Group Editor Matt Beaven Creative Director Toby Smeeton Managing Director RM magazine is published by The Royal Marsden in partnership with Sunday: wearesunday.com
PRIZE DRAW TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1. The Prize Draw is open to all readers of RM except employees of the Press Office at The Royal Marsden and Sunday, who produce RM magazine. 2. The closing date for receipt of all entries is Friday 11 May 2018. 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.
Rachael Reeve Director of Marketing and Communications Elaine Parr Head of PR and Communications Abby Samuel PR and Communications Manager Catherine O’Mara Senior PR and Communications Officer Belinda Lock Senior PR and Communications Officer Kelly Cook Senior PR and Communications Officer Miriam Evans PR and Communications Officer
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 gift card will be the first correct entry drawn out of the bag. 9. The Promoter is The Royal Marsden, 203 Fulham Road, London SW3 6JJ.
© The Royal Marsden 2018. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without prior permission of the Editor. The Royal Marsden and Sunday accept no responsibility for the views expressed by contributors to the magazine. Repro by F1 Colour. Printed by Pureprint.
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S TAY I N T O U C H
COMMENT, LIKE, SHARE Join the conversation at twitter.com/royalmarsden twitter.com/royalmarsdenNHS facebook.com/royalmarsden Twitter
Lynne Omar @LynneOmar It was so lovely meeting Prince William @royalmarsdenNHS [right]. He was charming and spent ages speaking to several patients including my husband. He was genuinely interested in what patients had to say. winnieayers @winnieayers Big heartfelt thanks to the receptionists, nurses, consultant, Drs and radiographers @royalmarsden who all helped my dad out today. Above and beyond. Mark Copeman @mark_copeman 13.5 years in remission for the very rare Hairycell Leukaemia.
Jacqui Dziedziela Whatever I seem to throw at the Royal Marsden Sutton, they come up with another treatment… a very big thank you to both Sutton and Chelsea RM staff, you all do such a wonderful job.
Another all clear today. Going to the Royal Marsden sobers me up twice a year. Thank you for keeping me alive. Rags Martel @RagsMartel Just out @RoyalMarsdenNHS after 4 days of radiotherapy. Brilliant and amazing staff. Was in isolation – but never alone.
Sandra Willans Lifesavers. The last place you’d want to be, but the only place to be in those darkest moments. Everyone is on your side and selflessly working to get the best outcome possible. “Thank you” just isn’t enough. Sarah Cumming Hi Nadia [Freri, a nurse in our children’s unit] – Evie [above right] came to see if
you were working on Tuesday. You are still her favourite! 2.5 years complete remission. You sat and held her hand on Christmas Eve 2014 as her hair started to fall out that day. One of my bittersweet memories and what would we have done without you then. Look at her now. Thank you we will never forget xxxx
CONTACT US CALL THE ROYAL MARSDEN, CHELSEA
020 7352 8171
CALL THE ROYAL MARSDEN, SUTTON
CONTACT THE ROYAL MARSDEN HELP CENTRE For confidential chat, support and information, call
020 8642 6011
0800 783 7176
VISIT US ONLINE royalmarsden.nhs.uk
or visit royalmarsden.nhs.uk/your-care/ royal-marsden-help-centre
WANT TO WORK AT THE ROYAL MARSDEN? Visit jobs.royalmarsden.nhs.uk READ RM MAGAZINE ONLINE royalmarsden.nhs.uk/rm-magazine
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 CALL US
020 8770 0279 EMAIL US charity@royalmarsden.org VISIT US ONLINE royalmarsden.org Registered Charity No. 1095197
Look out for the summer 2018 issue of RM – coming June 2018 RM magazine 31
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Up for a challenge? We have many exhilarating events for you to take on, from cycling, trekking and running to open water swimming, parachute jumping and abseiling. Every pound you raise will ensure our expert nurses, doctors and research teams can provide patients with the very best care and develop life-saving treatments. Find out more at www.royalmarsden.org/challenge Registered Charity No. 1095197
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