>>Katie: Diagnosis was a bit of a shock, quite a big shock actually. But throughout the whole
process the team here have been really supportive. They’ve pre-empted the feelings that I wasn’t
expecting to have.
>>Sian: Cancer care has changed significantly
since I started. When I started in Plymouth I was one of two cancer nurses supporting
patients along their journey, we now have over 30 that work with site specific teams
and care for patients from diagnosis onwards.
>>Liz: I did have a dedicated breast care
nurse and that took all the worries away from me. I know it wasn’t treatment, but it means
that I could really relax. And any query whether it was about an appointment or the medication,
or something stupid like I’ve forgotten something – I never felt ashamed to ask
>>Sian: The most striking development and significant change over the last few years,
has been the ability of the Cancer Nurse Specialist and Support Workers to undertake individualised
Holistic Needs Assessments, which really look at individualised packages of care for patients
and families. It means that we look at every aspect of a
patient’s needs so we may look at what help they need to cope with the disease. So it
might be a referral to our counselling service or to mindfulness.
>>Katie: In terms of appointments and meeting people and
speaking through future plans and the way the process will affect me and my family,
it’s been very, very good. I’ve felt really supported.
>>Rachel: As part of this we offer health and wellbeing clinics. These Health and Wellbeing
Clinics are run as a group event here at the Mustard Tree. They enable patients to ask
questions about their treatment, it’s an opportunity for them
to meet others going through the same experiences. It also enables them to come into the Mustard
Tree and be aware of the further support the Mustard Tree and Macmillan have to offer.
>>Katie: Knowing their availability, they’re always there just to ask those questions.
Knowing that the Mustard Tree is here to come in, speak to someone, have a cup of tea and
a biscuit, you know it’s the little things that you don’t expect to need, that really
provide, you can’t quantify how much support that actually gives you. Without you really
even knowing that you need it.