A cancer service given a national award for its commitment to patients has relaunched a support group to offer patients further support.
The haematology team at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust has set the myeloma support group back up for the first time since the pandemic.
The group, held regularly at the Butterwick Hospice beside the University Hospital of North Tees, is a place where patients with incurable blood cancer and their loved ones can support and advise one another.
The service was presented with the Myeloma UK Clinical Service Excellence Programme Award earlier this year for its efforts to improve patients’ quality of life and eagerness to listen to their needs.
Haematology specialist nurses Kerry Watson, Maxine Cooke and Stephanie Herman and cancer care coordinator Kirsty McDougall welcomed everyone who came along.
Offering support and advice
Kerry said: “We are so pleased to have the myeloma support group back.
“We were actually overwhelmed by the amount of people who came along – it was a great success.
“There is a need for a group like this. Having cancer can be an isolating and lonely experience.
“The group is here to offer that support to those who need to talk and to get any advice from people in a similar position.
“The service has had a fantastic year with the award which recognised the excellent care we all give to our patients.”
While it is incurable, myeloma is treatable in the majority of cases. Treatment is aimed at controlling the disease, relieving the complications and symptoms it causes, and extending and improving patients’ quality of life.
In feedback left following the first group meeting, one patient said: “I felt very apprehensive before coming to this group, but I am so pleased I came along.
“Now I have attended I feel so relaxed and happy I came, to share and relate to other patients stories which has made me feel that I am not alone on this myeloma journey.”