Choosing to have my treatment at The Christie was the best decision I ever made - Esther Parkinson

Esther Parkinson, Christie patient and fundraiser

Esther Parkinson

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2013. It’s a date that will always stick in my mind, and sometimes still feels like yesterday. Diagnosis day was a very dark day. 

Anyone who has been affected by cancer, directly or indirectly will know the impact it has on your life. Not just yours but others around you too. It turns your world upside down and rips up the rule book on emotions and how you should feel. You don’t know where to put yourself, what to do, what to say, whether to cry, whether to shout etc. It sends your head completely into a spin.

I was diagnosed at my local hospital in Blackpool. At the time, my mum and my sister were with me when I received the news.  We went home that day, very quiet and caught up in our own thoughts. 

Fortunately for me, my sister is a consultant oncologist (in Cambridge) and a few days later, she recommended The Christie as a place to have my treatment. Although I’d vaguely heard of The Christie, I wasn’t aware of its renowned reputation and the brilliant work it does. So for me, I was weighing up having my treatment just 15 minutes down the road in Blackpool, versus travelling more than an hour each way to Manchester every time. 

My head was still scrambled at that point, as I was still trying to deal with the news of my diagnosis. So in my eyes, the less travel involved, the better - especially if I was feeling unwell due to the treatment. I wasn’t focusing on the important bit, which was where would be the best place to have treatment.

Lengthy discussions took place with my sister, and thankfully she put her foot down and insisted that I go to The Christie. She explained all the reasons why and highlighted that it was a specialist cancer hospital and was not only the number one hospital in the North West, but the best in the country. I couldn’t really argue against that, so I agreed to go The Christie. 

It was the best decision I was ever to make. 

Upon walking through the doors of The Christie, it instantly feels welcoming and has a friendly feel that I’ve never experienced in any other hospital. 

All the professionals and staff always make you feel like an individual, they genuinely want to help you get better, and help make the journey as stress-free as possible. They are obviously aware that you are going through a traumatic time, and there is always someone to speak to or hold your hand (physically as well as metaphorically). 

I have a phobia of needles, and the very sight of one (and even talking about it at times) sends me white and wobbly! Apart from the obvious diagnosis, having to have treatment intravenously was my worst nightmare come true, not to mention all the blood tests required. They all involved a dreaded needle. It was just unthinkable, and I had no way of getting past how I would cope. 

On my first treatment day, I mentioned my phobia to the chemo team and they made a referral there and then to the complementary therapies team. Within about half an hour someone came to see me, and started talking me through some cognitive behavioural therapy techniques and ways to try to relax to cope with the forthcoming treatment. They were extremely helpful and patient with me, and although stress levels were still quite high, they had reduced somewhat by the time it came to chemo time. 

On the following treatment day, I was visited once again by the complementary therapies team, and again they talked me through some more relaxation techniques. This time they gave me an aromatherapy stick to sniff (a bit like a Vicks inhaler but with aromatherapy vapours) when I was feeling anxious, and explained how to associate this with pleasant experiences and happy times. This proved to be a successful technique and helped make the treatment a calmer experience for me.

The following few treatments I learnt to cope without help from staff, using the techniques I had been shown together with the aromatherapy stick. It was a genius invention but such a simple one too. As my treatments were coming to an end, I was just about managing my phobia. What started out as something I couldn’t even comprehend going through, ended up being something I could just about cope with, without passing out!! This is thanks to the wonderful help of the complementary therapies team. 

My penultimate treatment was on Christmas Eve. I had mixed feelings about coming in the day before Christmas. But actually, it turned out to be a really lovely day. The staff were very upbeat, with their Christmas hats on, and it was a positive place to be (as it always is). I remember being offered a foot massage that day, which I happily accepted, and treated it as a little Christmas present! This was another marvellous relaxation technique and I pretty much sailed through my chemo that day. Another one ticked off the list and without any dramas too. 

Christie charity fundraisers David and Esther

I can’t fault any of the staff at The Christie. All the nurses were brilliant with me. They were always very approachable and introduced themselves at all times. They had a great bedside manner, offered advice when needed and listened to me whenever I had any questions about my treatment. Most of all, they treated me like a normal human being, and not just a number. They would happily chat with me about everyday stuff, whilst carrying out their duties and looking after me.

Everyone at The Christie is fabulous, from the volunteers, to the porters, to the nurses, to the doctors and the administration staff. There is always a smile on a face and a helping hand whenever it’s needed. 

The Christie has never felt like a hospital to me. As many people have said before – it’s like a second home - and I will always be comfortable visiting the place. The corridors are filled with positivity, despite so much illness being around. 

It just goes to show that The Christie is a place that really does care, discover and teach.

My Blip - Kaye Sawyer

Kaye Sawyer, Christie mobile chemotherapy service patient 

Kaye Sawyer

In 2012 my mum was diagnosed with stage 3 aggressive breast cancer. Aged 71 and still with everything to live for, she didn’t give it the time of day! Mastectomy, chemo and radiotherapy, she held her head high and punched the cancer in the face. Fast forward four years and it was my turn.

Diagnosed in February 2016 with stage 3 invasive breast cancer and HER2 positive I only had one option and that was to give it what for, just like my mum. I was ready, I knew what was coming and I was going to be just like her, head held high and smiling my way through.

So, after all the appointments and checks, I had my left breast removed BUT had a reconstruction at the same time; I was going under with one and I was coming out with one regardless. I was advised there could be slight complications with the implant and my skin may become tighter after the radiotherapy but hey ho, I’ll meet that if or when it happens.

With surgery a success I was on to chemotherapy, slightly delayed as I wanted to go on a weekend away, and why not? My life’s for living regardless, I will do the things that I can while I can. Punch number 1 done and dusted! 

After a weekend away with my fab colleagues, I began the chemo. My hair began to fall out after the first session but I had short hair anyway and after three sessions I was completely bald. I had the caps and scarves but they didn’t really suit me. I wore one for work once and one of my friends asked me to cross their palm with silver! (It was funny at the time). But knowing I would have no hair I had decided prior to all this to re-invent myself so I had got myself a long-haired wig. I loved it - it was my costume, it was my confidence and it quite suited me (I think!). There were moments of sadness through all this, but not for long.

The Herceptin was introduced to my last three chemo sessions plus the chemo drugs were changed. I had a concoction of madness that put me to bed for a couple of days but only to watch TV and chill out and it was on a weekend so really wasn’t a big deal for me.

I had my chemotherapy nearer to home at the Churchill unit in Bolton. This was far more convenient for me as I had my bloods checked on the way to work on a Tuesday, chemo on the Wednesday and then back in work on Thursday. That’s right, punch number 2, I worked my cancer treatment around my work not the other way around.

I had 18 Herceptin injections to get through (one every 3 weeks) and I was given the choice of The Christie’s mobile unit situated just five minutes from work, in Tesco’s car park to be precise!

I couldn’t believe I was rocking up to a car park to get lifesaving treatment but it is amazing. 

On approach, it’s a big van but on the inside it’s like a Tardis! I have been there every three weeks since September 2016 and I can honestly say it doesn’t feel like I am being treated for cancer at all. Plus, I can nip into the supermarket when I need to and get back to work in plenty of time.

The staff are fabulous of course and I have made really good friends there. We talk about everyday things and as women we chat about hair, make up and nails, swapping tips and truthfully having a good coffee morning! And I was delighted to be part of BBC Radio 5 live’s day of broadcasts from The Christie a few weeks ago, talking about the friends I’d made on the mobile unit.

It’s hard to believe that treatment/chemo is being given when we are all sitting there smiling but that’s the beauty of the chemo bus. There isn’t any waiting around, or walking along corridors and trying to find your way around and feeling nervous as hell. In fact, most ladies I meet here come on their own, it’s that easy.

My radiotherapy started last October, three weeks of going every day and was done at The Christie at Salford, part of Salford Royal Hospital, two minutes away from work so I went there on my lunch break. Punch number 3, I am nearly there!

I had my last Herceptin injection in July 2017. My road will end at the mobile unit but my life will carry on with (in a weird way) good memories of the beautiful people I have met along the way and a few good pictures of me with long hair!

I am only 47. My son Ashley has recently got engaged to his gorgeous girlfriend Abby. My mum is on her last year of medication, Letrozole, and both she and my dad live with me, we take care of each other and now we have a wedding to plan!

My family and friends think I am brave, an inspiration. I just think I have another funny story to tell, it’s called my blip!

Just remember that before that knockout punch you need to ask a lot of questions about the nearest treatment facilities for you, because that’s half the job done. It’s tough enough without the stress of traffic, car parking, who’s taking you, who’s picking you up and what you need to take to keep you occupied throughout the day.

You need all the strength you can get.  Each facility I have been to, for each stage I’ve been through, has been small, intimate and friendly and I have never spent all day waiting anywhere. But the best thing is, I hardly ever felt like I had cancer!  My last words of wisdom will be, rest when you need to, enjoy when you can and listen to your body. Most importantly don’t let the damn thing change you. We all have blips.

IN YOUR FACE CANCER!

You can hear Kaye on BBC Radio 5 live at https://youtu.be/u5MJrj4OBqY

To find out more about our mobile chemotherapy service please visit www.christie.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/your-treatment-and-care/our-treatment-centres/mobile-chemotherapy-unit/

It is more important to me than ever that staff at The Christie get vaccinated against flu - Olivia Samuel

Olivia Samuel

Olivia Samuel, Christie patient and nurse

I am a 34 year old married mother of two. My oldest Ava is six and my youngest Finn is one. I work as a senior sister at The Christie and have worked here for over 10 years.

As a nurse it has always made sense to me to receive the flu vaccination, to protect myself from becoming ill and requiring time off work, but also to protect my patients from accidentally contracting the flu from me.

Every year around this time, I have been part of the team of nurses who offer and administer the flu vaccination to Christie staff. Part of this role has always been to help staff to understand the importance of having the vaccination, and encourage them to take it.

This year though, I won’t be part of the team of nurses vaccinating Christie staff. This is because at the beginning of May I experienced pain in my left arm and as I tried to establish the location, I came across a large lump deep down inside my armpit.

Running a busy ward and home and trying to prepare for a big brass band contest, I assumed that I was a bit run down and would soon come down with a virus.

After a few days I decided that a trip to the medical centre would be appropriate to 'rule out' anything nasty. On my second visit the GP alerted me to two breast lumps which came as quite a surprise. From here I was referred to the rapid breast clinic. This is the point where I diagnosed myself with breast cancer which I believed had spread to my lymph nodes.

Despite many peoples’ attempts at reassurance, I knew what this was. There was a painful two week wait to be seen at the breast clinic.

On the 18th May, I saw a breast surgeon who following examination performed an x-ray on the breast (a mammogram) and an ultrasound guided biopsy, which involved removing a sample of tissue from the breast and under arm lump for examination.

I went on to have a full body scan and bone scan to check for any further spread beyond my lymph nodes.

On the 3^rd of June, I was informed that I had stage 3 invasive breast cancer with extensive lymph node involvement. I was pleased to hear that the bone scan and body scan were clear. I didn’t feel like the diagnosis was much of a shock at this time, it was what I was expecting. It was incredibly difficult to deliver the news to my mum and dad and in particular my six year old daughter.

I was informed that I would need seven cycles of chemotherapy, followed by surgery, radiotherapy and then hormone therapy. I couldn’t believe that I would be going through the treatment I had watched so many of my patients go through.

I have taken time out of work to have this treatment and I am being treated at The Christie, I know I am in good hands.

Now that I find myself as the cancer patient and not the nurse, it is more important to me than ever that staff at The Christie get vaccinated against flu. I am pleased that The Christie takes such an active stance in vaccinating staff to protect them from getting flu and then risking passing it on to patients.

Since being diagnosed with cancer, I have become increasingly aware of my risk of infection from others, a situation that I can feel more in control of in my home environment by asking people to stay away if they are at all unwell. I don't have this control in hospital, so knowing that staff and volunteers I come into contact with have been vaccinated against flu helps puts my mind at rest. I spend so many of my days in bed recovering from the effects of the chemotherapy that getting flu would not only set me back with my treatment, but it could be life threatening to me.

Looking ahead I have nearly completed my chemotherapy and will have surgery and radiotherapy to follow. It is a long pathway of treatment but I hope to complete it and be back to work soon. And hopefully next year I’ll once again be part of the team vaccinating staff against the flu!

Only The Christie could offer me the surgery I most wanted for my breast cancer, a mastectomy and a natural tissue reconstruction - Bernadette Featherstone

Bernadette Featherstone, Christie patient

Bernadette Featherstone

Last year was a very difficult year for me. My wonderful father had been diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer in June. So life was difficult enough, but then I found changes in my breast purely by accident. I discovered a thickened area to my lower breast that seemed quite large to me – around 2 to 3 cm. I had become so caught up with what was happening to my dad that my own routine health checks were very much sidelined. 

I quickly went to see my GP, who wasn't unduly concerned but referred me directly to the breast clinic. That day was very lengthy with examination by a doctor, a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy; then we had to return later in the day for the results.  

We returned at the end of clinic and met with the doctor and breast care nurse. At this point, even before they told me, I knew what was going to be said. I was told I had breast cancer and would need to be referred to a breast surgeon. 

Whilst waiting for my appointment to come through, I busied myself researching options for surgery. After I had read about the various types of surgery and possible consequences of them, I was beginning to rule out available options that I did not feel where suitable for me. 

The day came for my appointment with the breast surgeon. Following discussions regarding the biopsy results, I was offered either a lumpectomy or a mastectomy, due to the size of the lump in comparison with the breast. After the appointment I was able to discuss my options further with one of the breast care nurses.

It was very important for me to reduce the risk of returning for further surgery and the offerings of implants and various types of reconstructive surgery suggested didn't offer me the long term solution I was looking for. 

Following a discussion with the breast care nurse, I enquired about any other available options. There was one further option which would involve being referred to The Christie for a DIEP flap reconstruction. This operation uses tissues from the stomach to reconstruct the breast, and although it is a much more extensive operation, it offered me the surgery that I most wanted - a mastectomy to reduce the risk and a natural tissue reconstruction. 

I was referred to The Christie and met with Mr Kosutic and a breast reconstruction specialist nurse. The operation was explained to me in great detail with the opportunity to see pictures of the surgery, and post operative photographs. I felt without doubt that this option was the best surgical option for me. 

Meeting Mr Kosutic calmed my nerves; he was so easy to talk to, reassuring and without doubt very dedicated to his patients. I had taken the opportunity to have a look at his profile online beforehand and was very impressed by what I found. 

Following an examination, I was told that I was a suitable candidate for surgery. I can honestly say that following my clinic appointment, I had no fears at all. I was calm and very reassured that I would have the best surgeon performing my operation. 

I was admitted the day before surgery so that I could be marked up in preparation for surgery the next morning. Being a patient at The Christie was a really positive experience. There was a lovely environment on the ward, with all staff members making the week’s stay as pleasant as possible. The anaesthetic team were amazing, very reassuring and helped me to have a calm demeanour as I entered the anaesthetic room. 

My stay in hospital was a week long, during which my reconstructed breast was monitored closely to ensure the tissue transplanted was a healthy colour and receiving a good blood supply. I continued to make good progress and was able to walk out of the hospital one week later. 

It has been some months now following my surgery I am absolutely delighted with the results of my breast reconstruction. Mr Kosutic is an amazing consultant, I have been truly blessed being his patient and I will be eternally grateful to him for giving me the surgery of my choice.

I realised that I had completely underestimated the effect having cancer would have on me - Nina Jackson

Nina Jackson, patient representative on the Macmillan Cancer Improvement Partnership (MCIP)

Nina Jackson

I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the Nightingale Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital in May 2012 when I was 45. I had the lymph nodes in my left armpit removed. I then had chemotherapy and radiotherapy at The Christie.

In April 2014 I had to have a mastectomy. I chose to have a reconstruction at the same time using fat from my abdomen. This was carried out by the plastic surgery department at Wythenshawe. I then had further chemotherapy at The Christie. 

It is now over a year since I finished my treatment and so far all is well. Getting back to work full time and doing my full range of work was an important milestone. Luckily I have a supportive team manager and an understanding team.

I have been lucky compared to some cancer patients, but I do have some lasting side effects including some permanent hair loss caused by the Docetaxel chemotherapy I received. I have mild lymphoedema in my left arm. It is well managed, but I have to take particular care of my arm to prevent problems developing. This includes massaging it nightly to encourage fluid to drain. I have also developed osteopenia due to my treatment. I take medication to hopefully prevent this from becoming osteoporosis. I have to make sure I eat plenty of calcium rich foods and do weight bearing exercise.

These side effects and my operation scars are a permanent and daily reminder that I have had cancer. When I was first diagnosed I said I was going to treat it as an isolated incident. However, as time went on I realised that I had completely underestimated the effect having cancer would have on me. Without being too dramatic, I didn’t anticipate that it would become part of me.

In the autumn of 2013 I went to a Macmillan workshop to give feedback on my cancer experience. I felt that I had had a mostly positive experience. I thought it was important to share good practice and what had worked well. Following the workshop I became involved in the Macmillan Cancer Improvement Partnership (MCIP) as a patient representative.

This is a partnership between Macmillan, the three Manchester clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), The Christie, St Ann’s Hospice, the main hospitals, Manchester City Council and people affected by cancer (patients and carers). The aim is to improve the experience of everybody affected by cancer in Manchester at every stage of their journey.

I have been involved in the ‘Primary, Palliative and End of Life Project’. This project developed a locally commissioned service which included identifying clinical and non-clinical cancer champions in each GP surgery, providing training, making sure cancer reviews happen and improving end of life care. The idea was to improve cancer services for patients and their carers at the GP level. This service has been a recognised success with 90% of GP surgeries completing the standards.

I was able to give the patients’ point of view using my experiences, ensuring patients’ needs were always taken into account.

As I had never been in the hospital system before I did not realise that my GP would be involved in my care. One area I felt strongly about was that GP surgeries should contact all patients within two weeks of their cancer diagnosis to say we know you may not be able to take it in yet, but we are here and can offer help. This became part of the locally commissioned service. I am particularly pleased about this as services can be improved but if patients aren’t aware that they exist they won’t be used and won’t be able to help the people they are designed to help.

In November 2015, MCIP and The Christie hosted a ‘Living With and Beyond Cancer’ event for the clinical and non-clinical cancer champions in Manchester Town Hall. They asked me to speak to give a patient’s view of living beyond cancer. Although it was rather daunting speaking in front of 100 people it was a good experience. I and the other patients who took part received positive feedback. Hearing true stories from real people helped give GP staff an insight into the issues faced by people affected by cancer. This increases awareness of patients’ needs.

I was able to talk about how I had found the effects of cancer don’t end when treatment ends. I still think about cancer more than I expected to. The fact that I have had treatment twice makes the worry of reoccurrence more real. I particularly worry about the cancer returning and not knowing it has. One unexpected experience was, when at one point two friends had just found out their cancer was terminal and another had just been diagnosed with secondarys, I felt bad for getting better. Some people laughed and thought I was crazy. It wasn’t until I spoke to another friend who had had similar feelings, that I was reassured and found this was not necessarily an odd reaction. 

A positive is that I have made some new friends through having cancer!

I have felt listened to and that my contribution has been valued. I feel proud that I have hopefully helped improve the cancer services and experience for other people affected by cancer in Manchester.

I will now be involved in phase three of the MCIP programme, which has been set up to improve breast and lung cancer services.

I have received treatment from my GP, district nurses, both the Nightingale Centre and plastic surgeons at Wythenshawe and The Christie. I know from my experiences and those of other patients that communication between all of these sectors is vital. They are all part of both the treatment and moving forward jigsaw. Hopefully the passage for people affected by cancer will run more smoothly.

Macmillan encourages people who use their services to give something back. This is something I have wanted to do. It has been rewarding and given me a sense of achievement. There are lots of opportunities and ways to do this – it doesn’t have to involve speaking in front of 100 people! Keeping the real needs of patients at the top of the agenda is vital. Every person’s experience is different, so the more people who become involved the more this can happen. Unless you have had cancer you really don’t know what it feels like from a patient’s point of view.

You can find out more about MCIP and how to get involved at www.macmillan.org.uk/aboutus/healthandsocialcareprofessionals/macmillansprogrammesandservices/cancerimprovementpartnership.aspx 

I had to try and find the very best cutting edge treatments that were being trialled - Diane Brooks

Diane Brooks - Christie Phase 1 Clinical Trials Patient

Diane Brooks

I became a patient at The Christie over 14 years ago when I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 36. It wasn’t unexpected as I had a strong family history of the disease and soon after I discovered that it was a genetic fault and I was in fact a BRCA2 carrier.

Breast cancer was always part of my family and that’s why I was always interested in being a part of the research and learning aspect of my disease. I knew it could be a huge game-changer in my family’s future health.

Following surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy I remained cancer free until the summer of 2008 when it returned. It was a day I had always dreaded but somehow knew would come, as my cancer was aggressive and I knew from watching my mum struggle, it was going to try and beat me too.  

Once I had come to terms with the fact that I wasn’t going to be cured, I set about trying to ‘live’ with my particular type of disease. Always thinking about the lack of understanding and choices of treatment my mum was probably faced with, I had to try and find the very best cutting edge treatments that were being trialled. Thankfully being a Christie patient meant that I was in the right place.

I was lucky enough to be part of trials involving existing chemotherapy treatments that were being aimed at my particular type of disease, but it was in September 2010 that I embarked on my first Phase 1 Trial for an unlicensed drug. I thought it would be scary but in fact it was such a relief, despite the fact that I didn’t know how it was going to effect me, or whether in fact it was going to give me any quality of life. 

I recognised that I was very lucky to be accepted onto the trial and that it was available to me at The Christie. I had done as much homework as possible on my disease and just felt that this was the right treatment for me to try at this time. I was so lucky that it did in fact give me three years of being able to get on with my busy life with my husband, four children and my career. 

To know that you are contributing towards future cancer treatments that can have far reaching effects on others, gives me such a worthwhile feeling, and of course, I am also keen to invest in my family’s future, as they are all going to be affected by this hereditary disease in years to come. I want the doctors to learn as much as possible about our hereditary disease whilst I am alive, so I am always happy to put myself forward for appropriate drug trials in order for them to do their invaluable work.

Being a clinical trials patient has it’s ups and downs and can be intense at times, but the Phase 1 team is expert at guiding me through and helping me manage side effects, at the same time as gathering all their important data which will form part of future cancer treatments – it’s such a privilege to be part of something that is so much bigger than just me. I continue to marvel at how fast things are moving forward in research, and even though I am a small part of it by trying these new treatments, it gives me hope for the future.

I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending a patient to speak to their oncologist about clinical trials - “You don’t get if you don’t ask” is always my motto. However, you do have to fit certain criteria for each trial so it is never a done deal and you have to be realistic. It is important to follow strict guidelines with new drugs, but I have always felt in safe hands with the Phase 1 Team at The Christie, who will spend as much time as is needed to talk me through every step of the protocol attached to each trial.  We always refer to them as our “hospital family” and we have got to know them very well over the years. In fact it says a lot when I have been there longer than a lot of the staff – they must be doing something right!  

I will be celebrating my 51st birthday next month and yes, I am still a Phase 1 patient at The Christie, trying something new, with my husband, family and “hospital family” holding my hand and helping me through, but most of all I am still “living” with my inherited disease, and I continue to hope that many people in the future will benefit from the knowledge gained from research and clinical trials that I have been so very lucky to be a part of at The Christie.

The Christie’s NIHR Clinical Research Facility is a large, high quality, dedicated clinical research environment where our patients can participate in complex and early phase clinical trials. Around 400 clinical trials may be taking place at any one time. In 2016, the NIHR is celebrating ten years of funding and supporting clinical research in the NHS.  

Forever hopeful - Manchester Cancer Research Centre - Jo Taylor

Jo Taylor - Christie patient

Jo Taylor

This summer I was honoured to be asked by Cancer Research UK to attend the opening of the new £28.5 million centre located across from The Christie, where I attend as a patient. I want to give you a feel for what happened on the day and what the fuss is all about.

The name of the campaign that the building was built for was the 'More tomorrows' campaign.

The Manchester Cancer Research Centre's (MCRC) main aim is to build a better quality of life for patients and families.

On arrival I meet Ali Barbuti from CRUK, Clare Dickinson from The Christie and Katy Holiday from MCRC.

I was delighted to meet Clare Callaghan @keepsmilingcsc who is surviving womb cancer and whom I was already following on Twitter. I also met Matt Dillon who blogs at www.cancercanwait.com and has a Facebook page about his experience with brain cancer. Matt had just finished radiotherapy for a reoccurrence and a week later was starting chemotherapy before flying back to his home in Australia. Good luck Matt with your treatment, thinking about you.

The day started with a video by Professor Nick Jones, who introduced the building and why there was collaboration between The Christie, Cancer Research UK and the University of Manchester. The main ethos is to drive personal medicine. New drugs rates are low and they want to match patients to the correct drugs that work for them. There was a BRCA 2 gene patient story where someone was being offered a choice of different treatments due to this new work.

The building is world class, bringing scientists, clinicians and other professionals together in one building to share information, learning and science.

There are five labs with different cancers being studied in each of them. Communication is key to developing new drugs which will be helped by bringing new talents together under one roof, which is why the MRCR will work so amazingly well. One example given was that there has been little impact on melanoma over the last 40 years but there are new treatments now coming through that have arisen through collaborations. There has also been research on small cell lung cancer and clinical trials to help patients live longer.
MCRC

MCRC building

PhD students at the research centre will be trained in the labs by world leading professionals. The MCRC is trailblazing by bringing scientists and clinicians together in one place.

In his presentation, Dr Allan Jordan advised that Manchester was THE best place to do work in cancer research and they are hoping to continue this with the new building.

In 1970, only 25% survived a diagnosis of cancer. Now, the cancer survival rate across the board has increased to 50%. Improving quality of life and overall survival are what researchers and clinicians are striving for.

Local statistics in the North West show that the death rates in Manchester total 35,000 people who die with cancer each year. The most prevalent diseases are breast, lung, bowel and prostate. Even though they are concentrating on these they are also looking at other cancers that may not be as common but may warrant research.

There were amazing facts and figures about your body. Did you know that in just one minute the body has made 300 million new red blood cells? We were told to hold our little fingers because there are more cells in your little finger than there have been people in the world! Mind blowing.

We need cells for growth, healing and making new cells. The reason why cancer happens is that there is an accumulation of faults. This can be due to the DNA, carcinogens, natural cell progressions, inheritance or a virus.

What the MCRC are trying to do is to help improve care by better understanding cancer - with better clinical understanding, better application of this understanding, and better clinical trials.

During the open day we also heard more about the history of The Christie. The hospital was 'born' in 1892 and was called "the home for the incurables" it was the first hospital outside London for the treatment of cancer. The Christie was named after Philanthropists Mr and Mrs Christie.

Interestingly, there was a development of a new practice called radiotherapy. The Christie had to buy lead radium and local brewery Joseph Holt helped to fund the purchase of radium so you can say that radiotherapy was originally was funded by beer! Cheers!

Manchester became world famous for its approach to radiotherapy through the use of the 'The Manchester Method' in the 1930s.

In 1969, Tamoxifen was a surprise discovery from work on oral contraceptives by three researchers. It went into clinical trials at The Christie with 46 patients as a targeted therapy. Ten patients showed immediate response and tumour shrinkage. This was the first clinical trial and the first real targeted therapy.

Manchester is also the first UK centre of excellence for prostate cancer research.

There are many new professionals that have been brought together from around the world to work at this new building and they will benefit from having access to one of the world's biggest early phase clinical trials unit across the road at The Christie. Did you know to get a new drug to market costs between $800m - $1300m? That's a staggering amount of money.

The NHS is an amazing community for being able to work with specialist cancer hospitals for clinical trials due to the amount of people that are in the system in the UK. This, we are told, is what is different to other countries around the world that have private healthcare. Many hospitals work in isolation. The NHS helps all patients across the board to get into trials. There are over 2400 patients participating in 400 different trials at The Christie this year.

An amazing story was about using a compound that was patented in Barcelona and two scientists chatting over a beer (cheers again - there seems to be a pattern developing…) helped to speed up the drug's use. This resulted in the drug being able to go into early trial instead of the usual lengthy approval process. This trial was for acute myeloid leukaemia and it has been very successful.

MCRC is able to provide cancer genome sequencing at a cost of £1500 now, instead of the huge amount of money it used to cost. Doctors will have the patient's gene sequence overnight after a sample of their tumour has been analysed.

It is important that MCRC collaborates around the world and fosters collaborations with other hospitals and pharmaceutical companies. There are around 30 new professional people employed working together bringing great minds together from all over the world. The Christie, Cancer Research UK and The University of Manchester are working together as partners, giving strength to cover huge areas in cancer research.

The presentation was extremely interesting and highlighted just what an amazing place Manchester is and the hope for the future of cancer treatment.

I for one was blown away by what Manchester has done and is still doing for the world, in relation to cancer treatments and therapies. Dr Allan Jordan provided a brilliant insight as to what they were doing. Thank you so much for this.

We were treated to a tour around the building and through the labs upstairs at the MCRC. It was very emotional to think that these pristine, white, empty (apart from chairs, tables and microscopes) labs will be a hub of activity soon when scientists and clinicians are moved into them to actually work. Not just that, but we could be standing in the exact lab that they find a cure for cancer in or for a specific cancer or specific treatment for a type of cancer.

At the MCRC they have seating and workspace areas all around for colleagues to work and talk to promote open discussions about what they are doing and a large cafe area for them to sit in and chat. It does seem very much like the 'Apple' of the science world and similar to these new start-up companies that work, chat and socialise together. It's a hugely exciting time for everyone involved.

Regan and Faron at the MCRC

On the following Saturday we returned as a family so my children Regan and Faron could see the building and have an understanding of what goes on in science. They were shown by a scientist how to extract DNA from a strawberry and we still have this in our fridge. I must say that Jeff and the children were completely blown away and it hopefully has fuelled an interest in the children into science. Who knows what the future holds.

If this is the way forward then they must be encouraged to do whatever they need to do to help these amazing minds unlock the secrets of cancer which will bring hope to all cancer patients.

Manchester is an amazing place that I'm hugely proud of and I'm sure that these advances in medicine will continue.

Thank you so much for inviting me to look around and to meet you all, it was an amazing experience and I look forward to hearing about great new discoveries in the near future!

I'm forever hopeful.

Jo runs a website to support primary and secondary breast cancer patients at www.abcdiagnosis.co.uk and can be contacted via Twitter at @abcdiagnosis or followed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/abcdiagnosis