This year’s race of choice is the London to Brighton run – yes, that’s ‘run’ not ‘ride’! In my 40th year I thought it was about time to take ultra marathon running a little more seriously and attempt my first, and potentially last 100km or 60 mile race from Richmond in London to Brighton on the south coast with only my trusty Asics and a couple of packets of Jaffa cakes to see me though.

In return for an estimated 12+ hours of blood sweat and tears and with your help I’m hoping to raise £500 for Macmillan Cancer Support. Any and all donations are hugely welcome and will help people with cancer across the UK. 

Thank you, Graham

‘A bit about what we do’ – by Liz Rushbrook, Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist

A diagnosis of cancer can be a shocking and frightening life event for anyone, but never more so than for those diagnosed with a head and neck cancer. 

The symptoms of a head and neck cancer and the side-effects of treatments are challenging. As well as physical discomfort, patients often experience, swallow, taste and speech difficulties and can also experience changes to the way that they look. These affects can be long lasting and it can take time for patients and those close to them to adjust to their lives after treatment. It can be an incredibly tough time for everyone involved. 

As one of a team of Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialists in this area, it is our job to offer support to patients and their families throughout their cancer journey. We aim to be there from diagnosis, through treatment, rehabilitation and throughout 5 years of follow-up. Sadly our support can sometimes be required through the palliative and terminal stage of a patient’s illness too.

The support that we offer needs to be flexible and can range vastly, reflecting the patient and their loved ones needs at various points in their journey. Listening and supporting patients with their fears and concerns, providing information about treatment, giving symptom control advice, applying for Macmillan grants on behalf of patients, advising patients about talking to their children about cancer, helping patients build their confidence after surgery that involves voice box removal or facial disfigurement, are just a few examples of what our job involves.

Our team also works very closely with a team of Macmillan Head and Neck Cancer dietitians, speech and language therapists and a radiographer, whose skill and expertise help patients through demanding treatments and rehabilitation.

I know that our type of Macmillan team working is replicated throughout the country and with various different patient groups. A Macmillan post allows each of us to dedicate our role completely to our cancer patients and also to those close to them. It is tremendously rewarding.

On behalf of Macmillan Cancer Support and on a personal note, I would like to offer my heart- felt thanks to Graham, for taking on such an amazing challenge on behalf of our cause.

I would also like to thank each of you for any sponsorship you feel able to offer, no matter how small. Without such generosity, Macmillan would be unable to continue to reach out to people, at a time when they need them most.