Posted 04 May 2018 - 10:37
Posted 04 May 2018 - 10:37
News
Specialist nurses’ support is what patients remember, cancer survivor tells conference
RCNi Cancer Nursing Practice conference 2018 hears about benefits of volunteering and online support
RCNi Cancer Nursing Practice conference 2018 hears about benefits of volunteering and online support
survivors has helped her recovery. Picture: The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
A volunteer who helps fellow cancer survivors adjust to life following surgery has praised the role specialist nurses play in their recovery.
Vanessa Denvir, who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer in 2005 and subsequently found her mood and confidence severely affected, was invited to share her story with cancer nurses at the annual RCNi Cancer Nursing Practice conference 2018.
At a session on patient perspective of survivorship, Ms Denvir told nurses how she became a ceramic artist following her surgery, and now uses art as a therapy and helps others to do the same.
She described the effect on her mental well-being of people giving inaccurate labels to her post-operative weight loss. ‘People called me anorexic, bulimic, a drug addict, but I was none of those things,’ she said.
Support network
Ms Denvir was encouraged to volunteer with charities supporting cancer survivors, which she said was ‘the best benefit of my journey to recovery – helping others and learning from the professionals’.
Her ‘incredible support network’ helped reshape her life, she said.
‘I know you guys sometimes just don’t have the time, it’s not your fault, it’s just how the system is. But those times when you do have the time, those are the times the patients remember.’
Watch: Living with and beyond cancer - body and mind
Sharing stories online
Ms Denvir was introduced at the conference in Birmingham on 2 May by Macmillan Survivorship Network manager Ben Heyworth.
He said social media now plays a big part in the patient experience of cancer. ‘There is a narrative happening online now that was not there before,’ he said. ‘The stories being shared are having a big impact on patient experience.’
Sessions at the conference included optimising the acute oncology pathway and the future of cancer nursing, while workshops focused on the side effects of immunotherapy and implementing the recovery package.
Among the guest speakers was Macmillan lead secondary breast cancer clinical nurse specialist Sharon Foy. She spoke of her pride at being part of the The Christie NHS Foundation Trust team that won the Cancer Nursing Practice category at last year’s RCNi Nurse Awards.
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