The Christie Charity
Press release posted 8 October 2024
As an increasing number of patients now live with cancer for an extended period of time and many have to cope with the side effects of cancer treatment, a new service has been launched at The Christie to provide extra support.
The supportive oncology service aims to support around 2,000 of The Christie's 60,000 patients each year who have complex problems requiring specialist interventions.
The service is the first of its kind in the world to combine a wide range of support services, including psychological support, pain and symptom management, medication optimisation, occupational therapy, and end-of-life care.
Other key services provided through supportive oncology include dietary advice, endocrinology for the hormonal side effects of cancer treatment, cardio-oncology and access to a specialist senior adult oncology team for patients with high levels of frailty.
Half of people diagnosed with cancer in England and Wales now survive their disease for 10 years or more and live, on average, almost 6 times longer after their cancer diagnosis than was the case 40 years ago. Many are living with advanced or 'incurable' cancer for 15 years or more, which means that the support patients need is changing.
Patients living longer with cancer that is treatable but not curable may have complex psychosocial care needs along with practical, financial and employment challenges. Cancer survivors also cope for decades with life-changing treatment side effects.
Leading the new service is Dr Richard Berman, Consultant in Supportive Oncology and Palliative Medicine, a leading international expert who has worked with NHS England previously to redesign supportive care services. He said: "The Christie is the first cancer centre in the world to launch an innovative, supportive oncology service. Our aim is to help patients live well for as long as possible with access to appropriate care, including end-of-life care if required.
"The number of patients we need to support is set to grow. Macmillan estimates that 3m people are currently living with cancer, and by 2040, there will be 5.3m living with cancer.
"In addition to helping to improve patients' lives, timely access to supportive oncology can also save the NHS money.”
One of the patients who has already benefited from the new service is Helen Hyndman MBE, age 50, from Bury in north Manchester. Helen had been working as an assistant director of nursing when she was diagnosed with advanced endometrial cancer in 2018.
The experience inspired Helen to work for the gynaecological charity, The Eve Appeal, where she runs the free and confidential nurse information service Ask Eve. She dedicated her recently awarded MBE to the Supportive Oncology team at The Christie for helping her overcome the severe side effects of cancer treatment.
"Even though I'm a nurse, the diagnosis came as a shock," she says.
Helen had an operation at The Christie to remove her womb, cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries and pelvic lymph nodes. The operation was followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which left Helen with a lot of side effects that made her life almost unbearable.
"My stomach was hurting constantly, and my joints felt like they were on fire. I couldn't eat, I couldn't do anything. I tried loads of things to make it better, but nothing was working; it was unbearable," Helen continues.
Helen's team at The Christie took a holistic approach. They put a pain management plan in place, working closely with the pharmacy team as the medications needed were quite complex. Her consultant, Dr Richard Berman, referred her to the hospital's complementary therapy team to help alleviate some of the symptoms.
"The cancer treatment helped, but it was the wider support that Richard and his team gave and continue to give that had the most impact on my quality of life, says Helen. "The team saw me as a whole person, not just as someone with cancer. We work together to make decisions that are right for me. Without them, I wouldn't be here, let alone be well enough to collect my MBE.”
Commenting on Helen's ongoing care, Dr Berman said, "There is still a misconception that a cancer diagnosis, and especially an advanced cancer diagnosis, means that there's no hope, but more and more people are now living good lives with and beyond cancer.
"Advances in treatments mean that the number of people in Helen's situation will increase, and our approach needs to reflect this. By taking a person-centred and holistic approach to care and bringing in experts in areas like physiotherapy, pharmacy, psychotherapy, and complementary therapy, we can make sure we're giving patients the best possible life. Helen's story shows how much difference a supportive oncology approach can make."