I am so grateful that my oncologist and surgeon supported my decision to continue working - Geraldine Leydon

Geraldine Leydon, Christie Patient

Geraldine Leydon

I have just turned 50, feel very content and have so much to look forward to. My husband Tommy, our two girls and I are currently in New Zealand, part of a travelling fellowship from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust to research international best practice in early years care and education.  

It seems a long, long time since the night in 2011 when my husband and I were given some difficult news that left us dazed, that I had cancer.

I had made a number of visits to my GP with what could in hindsight be described as atypical symptoms.  Eventually I happened upon Professor Gordon Carlson, who advised a precautionary colonoscopy. The colonoscopy helped to diagnose a very aggressive bowel cancer, more specifically a T4 N0 bowel cancer. 

It came as a huge shock at 45 years old, particularly as there was no previous history of cancer in my family.  

It was a trying circumstance for obvious reasons, which coincided with me changing jobs. 

In hindsight however, this proved to be a useful distraction from the ongoing treatment. My surgeon and oncologist were remarkably positive and motivating people, urging me to work as I wanted to and felt able. 

The new job, gave the family as a whole something else to focus on outside of the cancer bubble in which we felt encircled. Interestingly, I did not find that this was something that some people understood.   

Some people suggested that I might want to give up work. For me, I chose to work part-time, as that was right for my family and I at that point in our lives. 

I went to Salford Royal for my colorectal surgery under the care of Prof Carlson and the treatment was first rate. There were very structured and focused opportunities to prepare for what the treatment had in store for me. 

This was followed up with six months of chemotherapy at The Christie under the diligent care of Dr Mark Saunders. The Christie is an infamous institution and was known to me, as I am local to the hospital and passed it and its visitors regularly.  

Becoming one of ‘those people’ who needed to go there was one of the most unexpected and hardest feelings that I had to overcome.  However, those feelings passed remarkable quickly and my monthly visits became part of life’s routine.  

Now, five years on, I have gained a distinction in my Master’s in Education Degree and I have been accepted onto the Educational Doctorate. 

Most exciting of all is the travelling fellowship from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. I have travelled to Germany to observe a programme called Baby Watching and I am now in New Zealand visiting universities, the world famous Dunedin project and preschool settings working with the Te Whariki curriculum. 

Geraldine and family in New Zealand

I hope that cancer patients reading this will be inspired and that it will give them hope. I am so grateful that my oncologist and surgeon supported my decision to continue working. My work is my passion (family excluded) and I feel glad I did not give up work as that was the right decision for me.

And of course whilst I am in New Zealand and Australia with Tommy and my gorgeous girls we are having a little holiday!

Geraldine's blog is at http://eyfs.info/forums/topic/46559-travelling-fellowship-research-study-in-new-zealand-and-germany/

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 didn’t get the usual lecture about smoking so I had nothing to rebel against, that’s how I finally gave up smoking - Sylvia Coleman

Sylvia Coleman, Christie patient

Sylvia Coleman

Around a year ago I was referred to The Christie for preventative surgery. My family has a strong history of female cancers and I found out I was at a significantly higher risk myself. To make matters worse, I was also smoker.

That is, until I met The Christie’s Health Promotion Advisor Charlotte Finchett nearly 12 months ago whilst coming to The Christie to have my ovaries removed and a double mastectomy.

I had attempted to give up smoking several times before and been to a stop smoking clinic, but the experience was not a good one. I had sat in a chair with a lady telling me how smoking makes you smell and showing me pictures of peoples’ lungs and a huge cancerous growth on someone’s neck. 

We discussed general health issues and then I was given a prescription for a patch or something else. I politely accepted the prescription and would then go away and have a smoke whilst waiting to pick up the prescription. 

I had also tried Champix, which was good because I could smoke for the first few days. It worked for me initially but then it made me feel sick and gave me strange dreams - so that was the end of that and I had another ciggy to make me feel better. 

When I tried patches they didn’t seem to be working – until I worked out that they were getting stuck on my jumper and not my arm. When I did manage to secure them to my skin they gave me a rash and so, you guessed it – I stopped using them and decided to have a smoke.

Before my first appointment at The Christie I was so anxious that I smoked five cigarettes and during my appointment I kept thinking about having a ciggy. 

After my first appointment at The Christie I was encouraged to attend The Christie’s Stop Smoking Clinic.

I had managed to reduce my intake to three cigarettes a day because I was having an operation but this would have been only temporary, I am sure about that. 

I met Charlotte and was very impressed as she did not give me the usual lecture about smoking and she believed me when I said that I had already cut down to three cigarettes a day.

I did not feel like she was forcing me to stop smoking so I had nothing to rebel against. And I think that’s what must have worked for me!

Charlotte gave me a plastic thing which looked like a female item and showed me how to use it. I was not hopeful, but it worked. It was lovely as I could be honest about my smoking and was not made to feel ashamed about it or feel like a failure.

I didn’t dread the smoking cessation appointment – and actually started to look forward to having a chat with the staff and I even had a relaxing head massage at one of the sessions. 

Charlotte and the staff understood that I smoked when I felt stressed or was being told not to smoke. They helped me to look at other ways of managing this. 

I can’t believe that it has been 12 months already. I still feel like a smoker, but I choose not to have a cigarette, and this is all thanks to Charlotte and The Christie - so thank you very much. 

I know as well as anyone how hard it is to give up. But if you are a patient or close to someone who is a Christie patient then it’s worth trying The Christie’s Stop Smoking Clinic.

If I can give up then anyone can. So give it a go. 

Visit www.christie.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/living-with-and-beyond-cancer/staying-healthy/going-smoke-free/ 

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to The Christie for saving my leg - John Burns

John Burns, Christie patient

John Burns

In the spring of 2015 I noticed a reddish spot on my lower left leg and went to get it checked out. It turned out that a tumour had developed over the previous 12 months, but due to me having Gross Lymphoedema in both legs, the tumor itself was not apparent until approximately six months prior to my referral to Manchester Royal Infirmary for various tests.

Following MRI scans, ECGs, blood tests, x-rays and other tests, my wife and I were told that the tumor was cancerous and that the only two alternatives were amputation of my leg or to try and remove the tumor by surgery. It was stressed that due to the cancer being extremely close to the shin bone it was considered doubtful of a good outcome. In spite of this I was referred to Mr Kosutic at The Christie.

When I met with Mr Kosutic, his first opinion was that amputation seemed the best option, but he and a colleague decided to check with a further scan. They confirmed that the cancer was only a few millimetres away from the shinbone.

Although a little doubtful, Mr Kosutic said he would operate and hopefully save my leg - a very brave decision – but somehow I had every faith in him, and six months later it is so far so good.

Prior to the operation it was explained to me that it would be a rather large wound, and so it turned out to be (19cm long by 14.5cm wide).

After the operation I needed special dressings that were put on in layers, with a 28mm thick sponge in between covering the wound. The outer layer had an outlet attached to a vacuum pump which compressed the dressing and sponge to the wound, and at the same time removed all the blood and lymph fluid, depositing it into a canister which was regularly changed. This marvellous machine allows healing to take place more rapidly.

The dressings were changed every five days for four weeks. This took a great deal of care and an unbelievable amount of patience, skill and good nature on the part of the nursing staff - angels every one of them! After I was discharged, I was transferred to the Bolton District nursing care.

In October 2015 I was re-admitted overnight for a skin graft operation. It went unbelievably well and I stopped using the vacuum pump after 10 weeks. I don't think the wound would have healed so quickly without the pump.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Mr Kosutic for his wonderful skill, the skill of his team both in and out of theatre, and also to all of the nurses and staff on Ward 10 and the Surgical Ward who looked after me during my time at The Christie. Thank you all.

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.  

I always considered (quite wrongly) that The Christie was a place where you go to die. How wrong I was! It's most definitely a place you go to live - Joan Campion

Joan Campion - Christie patient

Joan Campion

It's difficult to put into words exactly how you feel when someone tells you that you have cancer and I won't even begin to try to explain it - it's awful. Suffice to say that it resonates throughout your whole family and friends.

After my diagnosis with melanoma, things began to happen quite quickly. I was referred to The Christie and there began a journey which I shall always remember.

During my 71 years, I have been an inpatient in at least four or five different hospitals, but have never met staff with so much empathy before. From the consultant right through to Debbie, the dressings nurse, they were all considerate, supportive and warm-hearted. Importantly too, they answered my many questions intelligently and honestly.

I had my operation early in December 2014 and then had a traumatic wait for the results of the biopsy. I hoped to get the results before Christmas and thanks to the kindness of one of the nurses, I got a call from the specialist nurse practitioner just before Christmas with my results. The cancer hadn't spread and that was the most wonderful Christmas present I've ever had!

My joy was short lived however, because only days later my partner was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer, which unfortunately won't have the same positive outcome that I've had. But he's very philosophical and dealing with it with courage and positivity. I've been with him throughout his treatment and he has experienced the same warm support from all The Christie staff as I did.

It really does keep your spirits up when you're greeted with a smile and a cheerful disposition, when you can sit down with qualified staff and ask really difficult questions, sure in the knowledge that you will always receive truthful responses.

Before these experiences, I always considered (quite wrongly) that The Christie was a place where you go to die. How wrong I was! It's most definitely a place you go to live. I, and I imagine many other patients, can't sing its praises too highly. It's a remarkable hospital with remarkable staff!

I was surprised how everyone I asked from ticket collectors to taxi drivers spoke about The Christie with a sense of pride and gratitude - Omer Aziz

Omer Aziz - consultant colorectal and laparoscopic surgeon at The Christie

Omer Aziz

Just over a year ago, I made the decision to leave London, a city where I had lived for 26 years, and move to Manchester with my family. This came about because of the opportunity to join the Colorectal and Peritoneal Oncology Centre at The Christie as a consultant colorectal surgeon. 

It was the kind of career move you can't plan for, largely because there isn't a job like this anywhere else in the country, and perhaps only a handful of jobs like it in the world.

I remember my first trip here from London, where I was surprised how everyone I asked from ticket collectors to taxi drivers spoke about The Christie with a sense of pride and gratitude. It was endearing to see how this institution has touched so many lives. 

The next thing that would come up in my conversations about Manchester was football, with people passionate about either the 'red' of United or 'blue' of City. Being a Liverpool fan meant I had to try to avoid getting drawn into that discussion!

At The Christie I have joined a team offering highly specialised cancer surgery, performing procedures such as Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) and advanced keyhole operations for cancer. CRS involves removing all visible tumours and is most commonly performed in cases of Pseudomyxoma Peritoneii (PMP), appendix cancers or colorectal cancers that have spread to the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum).  Once the tumours are removed, HIPEC is then inserted into the abdomen and circulated for about 90 minutes. This is a highly concentrated, heated chemotherapy treatment that unlike systemic chemotherapy (which circulates throughout the body), delivers chemotherapy directly to cancer cells in the abdomen. The solution is then drained from the abdomen and the incision is closed. The Christie is one of only two UK hospitals commissioned to do this type of surgery.

We work closely with plastic surgeons, urologists, and gynaecologists all specialising in cancer, which means we can perform complex cancer surgery involving multiple organs routinely. Through our radiology colleagues we have access to scanning resources and interventions that mean we can offer high quality opinions to our patients and second opinions to clinicians seeking our expertise.

But it is the simple attention to detail, teamwork, and treating patients with compassion that I think makes this the best hospital for cancer treatment that I have worked in. Visiting times are flexible on wards such as the critical care unit, which is so important to patients and their families. Once referred to The Christie colorectal and peritoneal service, patients are assigned a clinical nurse specialist and given a contact number to call if they have any questions and run into any problems. These nurses are experienced and offer reassurance as well as picking up any warning signs of potential problems. Today, a patient attended my clinic and told me that the thing she appreciated the most throughout her care here, was that her husband was called right after her operation was completed, to let him know she was ok. I have rarely seen this happen in other hospitals, yet it has been a standard practice amongst colorectal surgeons here.  While there are many ways we can improve, we have a strong platform on which to build - as long as our patients remain at the centre of what we do.