North Down Rotary Supports Macmillan Cancer Care

Dr Cherith Semple was introduced at a recent meeting of North Down Rotary Club by Past-President George Cheatley. He was delighted to record that, in 2015, Cherith had received the “Nurse of the Year” Award for her work as a Macmillan Nurse specialising in head and neck cancers at the Ulster Hospital. She has been working in this capacity for16 years and has been involved in research into the coping strategies of patients with this type of cancer.

Cherith described the current scene with regard to cancer in Northern Ireland, pointing out that prostate cancer is by far the most common in men with survival rate currently increasing to 90%. In women the most common is breast cancer with 80% now surviving. Mouth cancer is not at the top of the league but is still the 6^th most common. Despite improving survival rates, a diagnosis of cancer is a terribly serious shock for those to whom it happens. As more treatment options become available more choices are doctors have a greater range of choices and so treatment can be better tailored to the specific needs of an individual patient.

Macmillan Cancer Care was started over 100 years ago by Douglas Macmillan whose father died from cancer. He used a £10 donation as the starting point and Macmillan now helps cancer sufferers in hospitals in all areas of the UK as well as contributing facilities and equipment which help to improve treatments. Surveys have shown a high level of satisfaction among patients who have been helped by Macmillan. The greatest has praise has gone to the specialist nurses who are highly trained in nursing patients with cancer. Recently it has been announced that funding by Macmillan, the government and other charities has been ade available for the creation of a further 60 specialist nurses.

Macmillan nurses are funded by the charity for a period of three years. All of them are integrated into the health service either in the community or in hospitals; they do not work independently. Once the three years is over the posts are then paid for by the NHS. Some other posts, e.g. pharmacists, are funded in a similar manner.

Cherith stressed that at least 40% of cancers are preventable by people making healthy lifestyle choices through not smoking, limiting alcohol intake and avoiding becoming overweight. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is also crucial in the follow-up to cancer treatment to help prevent recurrence.   

In answer to a question about the strain of working in such a stressful environment as cancer care, Cherith talked about having a range of “extra-curricular” activities which helped to maintain a good work/life balance. 

On behalf of the Club, Past-President Terry Cromey thanked Cherith for an excellent talk. He was very impressed by the manner in which she approached a difficult subject and how she had made clear the comprehensive package that Macmillan provides.

 On 18 November at the Annual Dinner organised by George Cheatley and his Committee the outstanding sum of £4400 was raised through a ballot and an auction of prizes "that money can't buy".