I am hoping to raise a significant amount of money for James Cook Chemotherapy Day Unit which helps numerous people every day with their treatment. After discussion with the nursing staff of that Unit, put in place improvements that will alleviate some of the stress and discomfort people go through while undergoing chemotherapy.

My Story

My world fell apart in 2017 and impacted greatly on my wife and family. My wife and I were looking forward to a holiday that we had booked and one week before going a Medical Consultant used the words that shatters lives, He said, “You have cancer”. Missing out on that holiday was the least of our worries.

The cancer, I’m glad to be using past tense, was pancreatic.

I had a series of ten sessions of Chemotherapy at James Cook Day Unit. This was planned to take place every two weeks, however, as my blood did not recover fast enough, this happened every three weeks. Each time I attended the day unit feeling fully fit only to be coupled up to my chemotherapy treatment via a Hickman Line, which had been permanently fitted to me. This was connected to a drip containing various drugs a process which took five hours in the day unit followed by a further 45 hours of portable treatment at home, at the end of which I felt quite unwell. I then needed to return to the day unit for this to be removed. My immune system was then wiped out and I was housebound until my blood recovered. The Hickman Line needed to be flushed through every week and my bloods checked the morning prior to the next chemotherapy treatment. This was all done in the Day Unit.

The chemotherapy treatment was successful and I was able to undergo a Whipple procedure, a major surgical operation, at Freeman Hospital Newcastle. At my follow up clinic I was told there was no sign left of any cancer, however, I will have regular checkups for five years before getting the all clear.

Looking back, undergoing chemotherapy was a very bad time for me. McMillan staff have a strong presence in the day unit, giving out tea/coffee, sandwiches/cakes etc. but after a few hours into my treatment my taste buds did not work, I had a strong metallic taste in my mouth and I felt unwell and did not feel like eating anything.

Patients undergo chemotherapy treatment at James Cook Day Unit for conditions relating to the full spectrum of cancer types. Some patients are able bodied and others have mobility problems using wheelchairs and hospital trolleys. Some have a hopeful prognosis and others have treatment to extend their life.

Some of the pumps on the drips were in need of repair and being a sterile area the general décor was harsh. Although there was a selection of magazines on the tables, patients were reluctant to handle them due to having very weak immune systems. These are some of the areas which could be improved.