Leading Cancer Specialists to hold talk at World Cancer Event

Two of NNUH’s leading specialists will be holding ‘bitesize’ talks about Cancer at the hospital’s World Cancer Day event.

Mr Ed Cheong, the face of the 2015 national ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ campaign and NNUH Upper GI Cancer Lead as well as NNUH’s Head of Radiotherapy Mark Gilham will be presenting talks to staff and the general public.

Mr Cheong specialises in Oesophageal cancer, a very aggressive cancer that affects the oesophagus (gullet), Mr Cheong will be discussing the range of treatments available as well as the risk factors and symptoms to look out for.

Mark Gilham concentrates on the cancer treatment radiotherapy and will be taking us through how the treatment works as well as the latest developments in treatment at NNUH.

Mr Edward Cheong said: “We are very fortunate to have an excellent and forward thinking cancer team at NNUH. The key messages are always to see your doctor if you have one of the two most common signs; having heartburn, on most days for three weeks or more, or if food is sticking when you swallow. The earlier we pick this up, the better your outcome is. In addition, the some of the very early cancer can be successfully treated by a camera (endoscopy).”

Mark Gilham added: “There have been many advances in radiotherapy treatment which NNUH has been very lucky to benefit from. Radiotherapy is one of the very effective methods of treating cancer but not many people understand how or why it works but the presentation will explain all!”

Mr Cheong and Mark Gilham will hold their talks from 1.30pm in Room 7, East Atrium beside the Benjamin Gooch Lecture theatre.

Notes to editors
The incidence of oesophageal cancer due to Barrett’s has risen by 500% in the last four decades. The incidence is rising faster than any other cancer in the Western world, and UK has the highest incidence in the world (Norfolk has the fifth highest incidence of oesophageal cancer in UK).

Mr Ed Cheong

Mark Gilham