the hug magazinehugswindon.org.uk/download/hug_mag_2010-08.pdf · hormone called hcg, normally only...

August 2010(issued on 2nd Thursday of alternate months)

For HAEMATOLOGY and ONCOLOGY patients, being treated in the Day Therapy Centre and Dove Ward or under review

A break from refreshments at the Blunsdon Arms

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.hugswindon.co.uk

P1 H.U.G. SWINDON

HAEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY UNITED GROUP, G.W.H.

http://www.hugswindon.co.uk/

mailto:[email protected]

AIMS HUG aims to improve the environment for patients of the Day Therapy Centre and Dove Unit or under review following treatment in these areas at the Great Western Hospital, Swindon by:

Holding regular “get-togethers” where Haematology and Oncology patients and their relatives can make friends, share their views and experiences and receive information about hospital and other relevant services, in an informal atmosphere over refreshments.

Producing the HUG Magazine, a light-hearted and informative bi-monthly publication, which is available in Dove Unit, the Day Therapy Centre, the Osprey Waiting Area and Wren Ward or provided direct to members.

Pointing patients in the direction of specialist help, as required.

Following up on comments about Hospital Services and reporting back on progress made.

Fund-raising to provide items for the benefit of patients. We have provided mugs, bookshelves, redecoration materials, purchased Christmas gifts, magnifying glasses, slippers and thermometers for patients and donated to Dove Ward Charitable Funds. Ideas are welcome for future projects.

Maintaining a website and distributing leaflets to promote the group.

Get-Togethers away from the HospitalIn addition to the get-togethers at the Hospital, as advertised above, we meet for coffee and a spot of lunch, for anyone who wants it, at least once a month. Contact us for the next location, date and time, if you would prefer to meet us, away from the GWH. We are a small friendly group, who would be delighted to see you.

P2 H.U.G. SWINDON


H.U.G. Swindon Get-TogethersWe meet in the Academy (at the back of the Hospital), unless

otherwise stated, on the second Thursday of the month.

Turn up at any time between 10:00 am and 12:30 pm.

16th September 2010 – Seminar Room 414th October 2010 – Board Room 1-2, 2nd Floor

18th November 2010 – Seminar Room 4

INTERESTING HEALTH-RELATED NEWS

P3 H.U.G. SWINDON


Vaccine to help kill off deadly cancersA vaccine, which shrinks tumours and stops them from spreading, is being tested on patients. It could help to kill off many breast, bowel and cervical tumours and could also be effective against pancreatic, ovarian and bladder cancers. It has been developed by scientists led by Professor Ray Iles at Middlesex University and is being developed in conjunction with the U.S. company Celldex Therapeutics. It capitalises on the finding that some tumours produce a hormone called hCG, normally only found in pregnancy. The vaccine stimulates the immune system into destroying the hormone. This means that tumours shrink and don’t spread to other parts of the body.

Preliminary tests on people have shown it to be safe, following extremely good results on tests on animals. Large scale clinical trials will be needed before the approach can be regarded as successful, however.

Daily Mail, 12 July 2010

Bowel Cancer ScreeningA new five-minute screening test is set to cut the risk of bowel cancer still further. The Flexi-scope relays images of the bowel lining to a screen and allows doctors to detect and remove polyps on the bowel wall before they develop into tumours.

New research, part-funded by Cancer Research UK, found that having a single flexible sigmoidoscopy, or 'Flexi-Scope', test between the ages of 55 and 64 reduced the incidence of bowel cancer by one-third.

In contrast, the current screening method for bowel cancer - the faecal occult blood test - reduces mortality from bowel cancer by 25 per cent among those screened, and has not been shown to reduce the risk of developing cancer.

News-Medical.Net, 28 April 2010

Allergies may reduce the risk of cancerAllergy sufferers are far less likely to contract cancer than everyone else, say scientists. They believe that adverse reactions stimulate the immune system, helping to ward off other potentially fatal conditions. They found that asthmatics were 30 per cent less likely to get ovarian cancer than others, and children with allergies to airborne substances were 40 per cent less likely to develop leukaemia than other youngsters.

'More work is still needed, but the numbers show that allergy is a statistically significant protective factor,' said Dr Zuber Mulla, an epidemiologist at Texas Tech University, who led the ovarian cancer study.

Daily Mail, 24 May 2010

Hand Wipes suitable for neutropenic patientsClinell Hand Wipes are NHS-approved and clinically proven to kill bacteria, including MRSA, Norovirus, H5N1 and listeria. They are obtainable from

www.firstresponsesupplies.co.uk

http://www.firstresponsesupplies.co.uk/

http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Cancer.aspx




NHS Care

Like me you may have been confused to read some recent reports about the body’s need for vitamin D from the sun. There have been suggestions that protecting the skin with a high factor sun screen will mean that you will not be able to benefit from the sun’s rays in this way. The Cancer Research website is a useful source of clarification as follows:

“Vitamin D

We all need vitamin D to build and maintain strong bones. The main source of this vitamin is UV rays from the sun. If you are lacking in vitamin D for a long time then your bones may soften. In serious cases this leads to rickets in children and a condition called osteomalacia in adults.

A little sunlight can go a long way

By enjoying the sun sensibly, everyone can make enough vitamin D while not increasing their risk of skin cancer.

The amount of time you need in the sun to make enough vitamin D changes from person to person. It also depends on things like skin type, time of day, time of year, and where you are in the world.

But the amount of sun needed to make enough vitamin D is always less than the higher amounts that cause tanning or sunburn. These high amounts can increase the risk of skin cancer.

By taking steps to avoid burning, people can achieve a balance between reducing the risk of skin cancer and enjoying the beneficial effects of the sun.

If you are fair-skinned, have lots of moles and freckles or have a family history of skin cancer, it is important to use sun protection in summer to reduce your risk of skin cancer. Sensible sun protection shouldn’t prevent you producing enough vitamin D.

More sun doesn’t always mean more vitamin D

You don’t need to spend hours in the sun to feel the benefits of sunlight. In fact, extra time in the sun doesn't mean you keep on producing more vitamin D. When your body has healthy levels of the vitamin any extra is just broken down.

This means that spending a long time in the sun will not give you any extra vitamin D. But it will increase your risk of skin cancer.

Vitamin D in winter

From October to March our skin cannot make vitamin D because of low levels of UVB in winter sunlight. But for most people if normal levels are built up in the summer, our bodies store enough of the vitamin to last us through winter.

Who might not be getting enough?

People who are most likely to be lacking in vitamin D include:

P4

Sun Safety – The Update

H.U.G. SWINDON HAEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY UNITED GROUP, G.W.H.

• people with naturally brown or black skin• people who wear clothing that fully conceals them• older people who don’t go outside much• pregnant women• breast-feeding babies with vitamin D-deficient mothers

There are ways to raise your vitamin D levels other than increasing your sun exposure. Talk to your GP about vitamin D supplements if you are worried about your vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D is also present in foods such as eggs, fatty fish, fish liver oils and some fortified cereals.”

{Research commissioned by the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, NHS Devon, NHS Plymouth, NHS Tobay, Peninsula Cancer Network and reported in April 2010, has found that skin cancer prevention is ad hoc and led by individual enthusiasts, rather than systematically by the NHS.}

0000000000

Patient Notes: Unintentional Blunders

The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993. Discharge status: Alive, but without my permission.

Healthy appearing, decrepit 69-year old male, mentally alert, but forgetful.

Occasional, constant, infrequent headaches.

Skin: somewhat pale, but present.

When she fainted, her eyes rolled around the room.

Patient was seen in consultation by Dr. Smith, who felt we should sit on the abdomen and I agree.

Between you and me, we ought to be able to get this lady pregnant.

Patient was alert and unresponsive.

Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.

P5 H.U.G. SWINDON


P6

HUG

fridge magnet

fun

Two cannibals were eating a clown. One said to the other, "Does this taste funny to you?"

Two cannibals were eating a clown. One said to the other, "Does this taste funny to you?"

The heaviest thing I can carry is a grudge.

A pessimist is a man who looks both ways before crossing a one-way street.

Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.

Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a gift.

That's why it's called the present.

You can't change the direction of the wind, but you can adjust your sails to always reach your

destination.


Beetroot is back in fashion and sales are said to have leapt by more than 10% this year and there is an abundance of recipes around. So no need to mess with the pickled variety if you don’t want to. The vegetable is a rich source of folic acid and contains high levels of minerals as well as vitamins A, B6 and C. It also has antioxidant properties and is said to help to lower blood pressure.

You can now buy beetroot juice in the supermarkets. However, in our house, we were introduced to beetroot smoothies a couple of years ago by our son’s Peruvian girlfriend. She has been disappointed not to be able to buy any in Spain, where they have been living, and was overjoyed to find it in the UK. She mixes peeled raw beetroot with apples or strawberries (around half and half in volume) adds water or half water and half orange juice and liquidises. We find it better to refrigerate for an hour or two to chill before use for a really delicious and refreshing drink.

Here are some more recipe suggestions:

Mackerel and Beetroot Salad

450g new potatoes cut into bite-size pieces 3 smoked mackerel fillets, skinned 250g pack cooked beetroot100g bag mixed salad leaves 2 celery sticks, finely sliced 50g walnut pieces

6 tbsp good-quality salad dressing 2 tsp creamed horseradish sauce

Boil the potatoes for 12-15 mins until just tender. Meanwhile, flake the mackerel fillets into large pieces and cut the beetroot into bite-size chunks.

Drain the potatoes and cool slightly. Mix the salad dressing and horseradish sauce together in a salad bowl and season. Tip in the potatoes - they should still be warm.

Add the salad leaves, mackerel, beetroot, celery and walnuts, and toss gently. Serve with crusty bread.

For the dressing, whisk together 3 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp wine vinegar or lemon juice and 1 tsp Dijon or other mild mustard. Season to taste, then mix with the horseradish.

Serves 4( 645 kcalories, protein 24g, carbohydrate 29g, fat 49 g, saturated fat 3g, fibre 3g, sugar 11g, salt 2.37 g per portion)

P7

Beetroot: Another Super food


Beetroot and Onion Frittata

1 onion, thinly sliced Olive oil 2 cooked beetroot, sliced 100g feta cheese, crumbled a small handful dill , chopped 4 eggs, beaten with seasoning

Cook the onions in 2 tbsp oil in a small frying pan until golden. Layer the beetroot, feta and dill over, and then pour the eggs in.

Cook on medium high heat until nearly firm. Put under grill for 2 minutes until the top is set.

Serves 2 (462 kcalories, protein 25.4g, carbohydrate 12.8g, fat 34.7 g, saturated fat 11.5g, fibre 2.4g, salt 1.98 g per portion)

Chicken and Beetroot Salad

2 tbsp sunflower oil 4 chicken breasts, skin on 400g jar baby beets in vinegar 3 tbsp clear honey 100g bag watercress

Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Season the chicken on both sides, then fry, skin-side down, for 7 mins until almost cooked through and the skin is crisp. Turn over, cook for another 3 mins, then take out of the pan and keep warm. Meanwhile, drain the beetroot, reserving the vinegar, and cut into wedges.

Add the honey to the pan with 3 tbsp of the vinegar, and then reduce until you have a syrupy glaze. Add the beets and any juices that will have come out of the chicken, then toss for a few mins until hot through.

Divide the watercress between 4 plates, and then top with the beetroot and the chicken. Spoon the syrupy sauce over to serve.

Serves 4 (282 kcalories, protein 34g, carbohydrate 16g, fat 10 g, saturated fat 2g, fibre 2g, sugar 15g, salt 0.77 g per portion)

P8 H.U.G. SWINDON


H.U.G. News – read all about it

Get-togethers were held at the Great Western Hospital on 10th June and 15th

July 2010 in the Academy at the GWH, with social events at the Blunsdon Arms at the beginning and end of July.

___________________________________________________________________

1. Recent Get-TogethersIn June we had a visit from Macmillan Benefits Advisor SW and her Citizens Advice Bureau colleague JB. Appointments can be made to see them either at the CAB or at Pinehurst on Tuesdays by ringing the direct line 01793 496154. As well as providing help with the appropriate benefit from the confusing range on offer, they can advise on one off grants for items like heating costs and the expense of getting to hospitals.

In July Dominic West from the GWH Arts Committee brought along Alan Sinclair to give us a demonstration of the Sky Factory products, which provide back-lit ceiling panels of three dimensional digital photograph of a sky scene. These fit into existing ceiling tiles and are designed to help patients to relax, feel less stressed and are said to be a treatment for SAD. The effect of being in the open air, looking at the sky, was really impressive. These had been suggested as a possible HUG project. Further discussions will take place among group members at the next meeting, now that possible locations for them at the GWH have been viewed.

MM an Oncology researcher from the University of Bristol also sat in the meeting as he is collecting information on how cancer services function.

2. SpendingThe seabands, sourced at less than £1 per pair, said to reduce nausea, whether from pregnancy, travel sickness or chemotherapy, proved too good to be true and the order could not be fulfilled by the supplier. We have now obtained some from another source, albeit at a higher price and these will have been delivered to Osprey for new patients by the time you read this. Things have moved rather more quickly than anticipated on the guidelines for provision of complimentary therapies. Guidelines have been drafted for the Thames Valley Cancer Network, covering acceptable qualifications of practitioners, evidence to be provided and so on. This has happened more quickly than anticipated because guidelines used by another NHS region were made available.

HUG is very keen for this project to progress further, since we would like to be able to pay for suitable complimentary therapy sessions for patients, subject to clinical approval.

P9 H.U.G. SWINDON


Photodynamic Therapy Cutaneous Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is now on offer at the GWH. So what is it exactly? It is a treatment used for pre-cancerous conditions such as Actinic Keratosis, Bowen’s Disease and Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma.

It works by exposing skin treated with a topical photo-sensitiser cream to a very specific wavelength of pure red light. Exposure to this light can kill cancerous cells but not affect healthy surrounding tissue.

Scalp CoolingScalp cooling equipment was delivered in May, having been postponed from last year. This is a positive for patients undergoing chemotherapy, since it can reduce or avoid hair loss. It should be noted, however, that it is not suitable for use on all patients, depending on their condition and the type of chemotherapy they are receiving.

Staff changesTP is now in post as the Skin Care Nurse for dermatology and plastics. A replacement Breast Clinical Nurse Specialist is being recruited to replace SL, who has joined Maggie’s Centre in Oxford.

Peer ReviewTwo of us from HUG took part recently in Peer Review of areas of Cancer Services at the GWH. This involves checking paperwork and then discussing the outcome with staff from the department. The internal team from other areas of Cancer Services are checking whether the relevant department meets national guidelines for cancer care. A patient representative is included since patient information leaflets and questionnaires are part of the requirements. It proved an interesting exercise for both of us.

An external quality audit is carried out every five years, to check that the peer review opinion can be corroborated.

P10

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