Health

Cancer patients - its good to talk

by LotusFlower | January 3, 2009 at 04:22 am

127 views | 39 Recommendations | 2 comments

Patients with prostate or breast cancer in London are to pilot a new telephone service that allows them to ring and talk to a nurse at the the hospital to answer questions or just for a bit of support.

The pilot will run at Guys and St. Thomas' Hospital and is being welcomed by staff and patients groups.

When someone is diagnosed with cancer, their thoughts often quickly turn to how they can beat the disease.

Many are so stunned by the diagnosis and treatment however that they fail to ask practical questions about how the cancer might affect their day-to-day lives and what they should be doing to protect their health.

After treatment, many might find their next follow-up appointment could be as far away as six months or a year, leaving some patients feeling isolated and alone.

Now a 12 month pilot, at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in London is offering a telephone support service, where breast and prostate cancer patients at the hospital are offered the chance to have a weekly chat with nurses.