Projects for cancer patients win awards for treatment of the disease

BY TOBY PORTER
toby@slpmedia.co.uk

Two cancer care projects have won honours at the inaugural awards for treatment of the disease.

Macmillan Move More Wandsworth’ were winners of the Personalised Care in Rehabilitation Physical Activity category.

Macmillan and St George’s Hospital’s Get Set 4 Surgery programme won first prize for Personalised Care in Prehabilitation.

The award-winning Macmillan Move More Wandsworth helps cancer patients from Wandsworth, Merton and Sutton get active. Recent research suggests exercise cuts the likelihood of dying from cancer, and may help prevent a recurrence.

It can also help some of the often life-changing side-effects of treatment. Louize Petch, from Tooting, who was diagnosed with Lymphoma, said: “I would recommend anyone affected by cancer to attend a Move More appointment.

The individualised nature is very good – they tune into what you did before, where you’re at now and what is realistic. So I’m very wholeheartedly positive about the programme.”

The other big winner of a Transforming Cancer Services Team (TCST) Award was St George’s Hospital’s Get Set 4 Surgery programme.

Developed in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, the weekly surgery school sessions support patients before surgery.

Dr Carolyn Johnston, consultant anaesthetist at St George’s Hospital, said: “In the waiting time before surgery, when patients feel most anxious, we are able to give them help and information to prepare themselves both physically and mentally for the challenges ahead.”

The sessions help the patients learn more about their hospital stay and improve their health for surgery.

This prehabilitation not only gives them a better experience in hospital but encourages active participation in their own wellbeing.

Victoria Heald, Macmillan partnership manager for South West London, said: “Both the Macmillan Move More Wandsworth scheme and the St George’s Get Set 4 Surgery project are fantastic examples of innovative programmes that are helping Londoners living with cancer find their best way through. Both teams should be very proud of all that they have accomplished.”

The TCST Awards are the first to specifically recognise cancer rehabilitation services in London and West Essex. This year’s competition focused on the provision of personalised cancer care.

TCST provides strategic leadership for cancer across London, working with key partners to support the delivery of cancer waiting targets, earlier diagnosis of cancer, those who are living with and beyond cancer and to increase the pace of improvement.

To take part in the Macmillan Move More Wandsworth scheme, or to find out more, contact Macmillan Move More Wandsworth on 020 3959 0031.

To learn more about Macmillan and St George’s Cancer Partnership’s Get Set 4 Surgery prehabilitation programme visit www.stgeorges.nhs.uk/service/surgery-prehabiltation/Macmillan is funded almost entirely by donations and receives no government funding.

Visit macmillan.org.uk/getinvolved today to donate or volunteer.