Information evenings for cancer patients
New information open evenings are being held at the Big C Cancer and Information Centre for oncology patients about to start treatment.
All patients about to start chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapies and/or hormonal therapy will be invited to attend. They will take place from 4.30-6pm every Thursday from 13 March. Initially the sessions will be available for lung cancer patients with other tumour sites being invited in the coming months.
Led by Specialist Cancer Nurse Jenny Leeder and in collaboration with The Big C, they aim to bridge the gap between a patient receiving a diagnosis and their first treatment. Patients will receive information about how the different types of treatment work, potential side effects, and how to manage these, and who to contact if they have any concerns. A specialist nurse from The Big C will also talk about how the charity can help provide holistic support and will discuss topics including finances, nutrition and exercise, complementary therapies and counselling.
A nurse from the Weybourne Day Unit will also be on hand to answer any questions. Patients and their relatives/carers will then be taken on a tour of the Weybourne Day Unit.
Jenny said: “We know that being diagnosed with cancer can leave patients feeling anxious and worried about what lies ahead. There’s so much information to absorb when you’re newly diagnosed, and it can be hard to take it all in. We hope these information evenings will empower patients to manage the effects of their treatment, ease their anxieties, and help both them and their loved ones feel more at ease and confident about their treatment.”
Julian Pollard, Senior Big C Clinical Nurse Specialist, added: “This is such an important initiative which hopefully empowers patients and their families throughout their cancer treatment. The aim is to provide access to information delivered in an accessible way, within a calming supportive environment. By equipping patients and their families with information about their treatment, including side-effects, and the holistic support services available to them, we hope to mitigate some of the stress and anxieties caused from the point of initial diagnosis, through treatment and beyond.”