RM Magazine - autumn 2012 - The Royal Marsden

Life demands excellence
A first look at the
new Ellis Ward
Young patients’
Beads of Courage
magazine – autumn 2012
Leading international
trial for CyberKnife
Breaking
new ground
Introducing the team behind The Royal Marsden’s
pioneering research into gynaecological cancer

RM magazine
at The Royal marsden, we deal
with cancer every day, so we
understand how valuable life is.
and when people entrust their
lives to us, they have the right
to demand the very best. That’s
why the pursuit of excellence lies
at the heart of everything we do.

Executive notes
Contents
12 Gynaecological
cancer focus
New advances are resulting
in better patient outcomes
18 Sense of renewal
Chelsea’s Ellis Ward re-opens
after extensive renovation
22 Gems of bravery
How beads help young
patients with their
treatment milestones
Regulars
04 Hospital news
20 Day in the life
25 PCAG
25 The Friends
26 Fundraising
28 Foundation news
30 Puzzles & prizes
Welcome
Welcome to the autumn 2012 edition of Rm, The Royal
marsden’s magazine for our staff, patients, carers and
Foundation Trust members.
in this issue, we explore the advances we are making
in gynaecological cancer (page 12) and the techniques
and treatments that are making a real difference to
patients’ lives. We also take a look at a recent
breakthrough by our histopathology team (page 8), and the
fantastic refurbishment of Ellis Ward in Chelsea (page 18).
We stay on ellis Ward for the ‘day in the life’ feature,
spending time with the two senior staff nurses (page 20).
Finally, we look at recent events that The Royal
marsden Cancer Charity has benefited from, including
the Audi Polo Challenge and the Queen’s Diamond
Jubilee Concert (page 26).
i hope you enjoy this issue.
Cally Palmer, Chief executive, The Royal marsden
RM magazine 03

hospiTal news
The Royal MaRsden leads
inTeRnaTional CybeRKnife TRial
T
he Royal marsden is
leading a new study
on the benefits of
CyberKnife treatment.
The Prostate advances in
Comparative evidence (PaCe)
study, an international, multicentre,
randomised study, will
compare CyberKnife stereotactic
body radiotherapy (SBRT) with
manual laparoscopic/robotic
surgery and conventionally
fractionated intensity-modulated
radiation therapy (imRT) for
the treatment of localised
prostate cancer.
The current accepted
standards of treatment are
surgery and radiotherapy; the
PaCe study aims to establish
if CyberKnife is equivalent to,
or better than, this in terms of
the treatment of prostate cancer
and the impact on the patient’s
quality of life. This will enable
clinicians and patients to make
informed decisions about their
treatment based on the highest
level of clinical evidence.
The PaCe study has been
created by a consortium of
leading academic centres in
europe and the USa. These
include mount Vernon Cancer
Centre, an academic partner
of The Royal marsden; Centre
Oscar Lambret in France;
Charité – Universitätsmedizin in
germany; erasmus mC-Daniel
den Hoed Cancer Centre in the
netherlands; and Beth israel
Deaconess medical Center,
Boston, and genesis Healthcare
Partners, San Diego, in the USa.
The trial comprises two
parallel randomised arms:
◆ candidates for surgery, either
by clinician recommendation or
patient choice, are randomised
to either laparoscopic
prostatectomy (performed
manually or through robotic
assistance using da Vinci S)
or CyberKnife prostate SBRT;
◆ non-surgical candidates
or patients who refuse
surgery will be randomised
to either CyberKnife prostate
The goal of the PACE
study is to create
data needed to
compare outcomes
Dr nick van as, consultant clinical
oncologist, the royal marsDen
SBRT or conventionally
fractionated imRT.
Dr nick van as, Consultant
Clinical Oncologist at The
Royal marsden and Chief
investigator for the PaCe trial,
said: “it is great to be leading
this international trial at The
Royal marsden. We hope it
will show that CyberKnife can
offer equivalent outcomes to
conventional treatments but
in a significantly shorter time
and with fewer side effects.
“The PaCe study will gather
the data needed to compare
outcomes of treatment with
CyberKnife prostate SBRT to
those of surgery and imRT,
which are the accepted standard
treatments for organ-confined
prostate cancer, to allow informed
treatment decisions to be made.”
04 RM magazine

Hospital news
Photography: ASCO/Todd Buchanan
Conference in Chicago
CliniCians unveil
latest researCh
C
linicians from The Royal
marsden presented new,
pioneering research at
the american Society of Clinical
Oncology (aSCO) annual
meeting this summer.
Breakthroughs in new
treatments for cancer patients
were discussed at the world’s
most prestigious five-day
international cancer conference
in Chicago.
Clinicians and scientists from
The Royal marsden and our
academic partner, The institute
of Cancer Research (iCR), were
selected to present their work to
leading cancer researchers from
all over the world at the 2012
aSCO annual meeting.
Professor Stephen Johnston
discussed new advances in
treatments and molecular
Professor stephen johnston
takes to the stage at the
asCo annual meeting in
Chicago this summer
profiling for breast cancer
patients, helping doctors to
personalise their care.
Professor Johann de Bono
presented the latest results of
a trial for the advanced prostate
cancer drug enzalutamide.
Professor ian Judson
discussed how patients should
be treated if there is no ‘gold
standard’ therapy that has been
proven in clinical trials to benefit
them; global variations in
standards; and problems with
access to new drugs.
Dr Chris Parker presented
updated survival results from
the Phase iii trial of radium-223
in castration-resistant prostate
cancer. The drug is being
evaluated as a potential new
treatment for prostate cancer
patients with bone metastases.
two new
urologists
join our team
The Royal marsden’s surgical
urology team has recently
appointed two new consultants.
Professor David nicol and
mr Pardeep Kumar are to
enhance the Trust’s strong
surgical team by expanding
our work into kidney, testicular,
bladder and prostate cancers.
Professor nicol, who was
one of the first surgeons in
the world to use laparoscopic
surgical techniques for urology
patients 20 years ago, plans to
focus on kidney and testicular
cancers. Before joining The
Royal marsden, Professor nicol
was the Clinical Lead of Renal
Transplantation at the Royal
Free Hospital and a Consultant
Urologist at University College
London Hospitals. He was
previously Director of Urology
and Renal Transplantation at
Princess alexandra Hospital
in Brisbane, australia, and
Professor of Surgery at the
University of Queensland.
He said: “i am delighted to
join such a well-respected
hospital. i am looking forward
mr Pardeep
Kumar (left)
and Professor
David nicol
to getting back to combining
my clinical work with research.”
mr Kumar, who trained in
the UK, has worked in egypt
and, more recently, the USa.
He said: “in egypt, the rates
of bladder cancer are high,
so it was a good place to learn,
due to the sheer volume of
operations we were performing.
“in the USa, i trained in
robotic surgery and would like
to use that experience here at
The Royal marsden. i plan to
expand our work in robotic
surgery for bladder cancer
and start using it for urinary
tract reconstruction as well.
“not many places in the UK
offer minimally invasive bladder
reconstruction, so it will really
offer our patients more options,
and reduce their hospital stays
will be from 16 days to seven.”
In the USA, I trained
in robotic surgery
and want to use
that experience here
MR PARDEEP KUMAR, COnSUlTAnT UROlOgiCAl
SURgEOn, ThE ROyAl MARSDEn
RM magazine 05

Hospital news
Community Services
on way to achieve a
UNICEF accreditation
The dedication of Community
Services staff to improve
support for women
breastfeeding in Sutton
and Merton has been
recognised with an
international accreditation.
After months of hard work,
the health visiting service
has passed the prestigious
Stage 2 assessment in
working towards the UNICEF
Baby Friendly Initiative
with flying colours. Passing
Stage 2 confirms that
members of the health visiting
teams have the knowledge
and skills to support women
to breastfeed successfully.
Anne Reilly, Midwife and
Infant Feeding Co-ordinator
for Sutton and Merton
Community Services, said:
“We decided to work with
the UNICEF Baby Friendly
Initiative as a way of helping
to increase breastfeeding
rates and improve care,
support and information
for all mothers in Sutton
and Merton.
“Everyone is working really
hard to improve the support
and information local women
receive about infant feeding,
and passing this assessment
to such a high standard is a
testament to the dedication
shown by all our teams.
Our efforts have paid off
and the service is something
to be very proud of.”
The team is now preparing
for the final Stage 3, and
passing this will mean the
service is awarded the
international Baby Friendly
accreditation.
Royal marsden
consultant has been
awarded the title of
Professor by The institute
of Cancer Research (iCR).
The research of Chris nutting,
Consultant Clinical Oncologist
in the Head and neck Unit, has
been honoured by the iCR
Credentials Committee, which
conferred the title of Professor
after considerable deliberation
and extensive soundings from
international experts.
The committee also honoured
the work of the iCR’s Kevin
Harrington, an Honorary
Consultant at The Royal
marsden, awarding him the
title of Professor.
Professor nutting said:
“This is a real honour – i am
so delighted. The aim of my
research work, including the
Professor Chris Nutting
Research work recognised
CoNsultaNts hoNoured
with ProfessorshiPs
A
PaRSPORT trial, is to improve
cure rates for patients with
head and neck cancer and
preserve their quality of life,
which is extremely important.
i am pleased that this has
been recognised.”
Professor Harrington, Team
Leader of the iCR’s Targeted
Therapy Team and Consultant
Oncologist, said: “i am delighted
that the iCR Credentials
Committee has recognised my
work in head and neck cancer
drug development. The trials
show true joint working between
The Royal marsden and the
iCR, and i am extremely excited
about the current progress of the
new drug RT3D, also known as
Reolysin, and the impressive
response rates in patients.”
Professor martin gore,
The Royal marsden’s medical
Professor
Kevin
harrington
Director, said the honours
recognise the contributions
of both professors to the joint
working of both institutions.
He said: “Professors nutting
and Harrington have both
been totally committed to
trying to improve outcomes
for patients with head and
neck cancer. Through their
work, they have made a
real difference.”
06 RM magazine

Hospital news
professor
johann
de Bono
Mount Vernon Challenge Fund
support for three joint
research projects
Vital research work has received
a boost from a new academic
partnership fund.
Three projects have received
money from the mount Vernon
Challenge Fund, which supports
joint research projects between
The Royal marsden, The
institute of Cancer Research
(iCR) and mount Vernon Cancer
Centre in Hertfordshire.
The fund follows the launch
of an academic partnership
between the three organisations
in June 2010. The partnership
was launched to initiate new
opportunities for translational
research in both common
and rare cancers, including
radiotherapy research using
CyberKnife, which is installed
at both The Royal marsden
and mount Vernon.
Dr Paul nathan, Research and
Development Director at mount
Vernon, said: “The Challenge
Fund demonstrates the potential
The Challenge Fund
shows the potential
from collaborations
between our three
institutions
Dr paul nathan, research anD Development
Director, mount vernon cancer centre
from collaborations between
our three institutions. The three
projects funded are of the highest
quality and we hope that further
collaborative projects will be
funded in the future.”
◆ Drs Vicky goh, Sonia Li and
andreas makris from mount
Vernon, and Professor mitch
Dowsett and ms Janine Salter
from The Royal marsden and
the iCR successfully applied
for funding for their research
project on volumetric perfusion
CT in the assessment of
primary breast cancer.
◆ Dr andreas makris and
Professor David miles from
mount Vernon, and Professors
ian Smith, mitch Dowsett and
Stephen Johnston from The
Royal marsden and the iCR
received funds for their project
Breast Research Units Clinical
Research Fellow for optimisation
of neoadjuvant therapy for the
treatment of early breast cancer.
◆ Drs Paul nathan, Vicky goh
and anwar Padhani from
mount Vernon, and Professor
martin gore and Drs andrew
Reynolds, James Larkin,
Simon Robinson and
Dow-mu Koh from The Royal
marsden and the iCR were
successful in their application
for their research into drug
resistance, drug sequencing
and predictive markers in
metastatic renal cancer.
Royal Marsden staff take part
in Olympic opening ceremony
A host of Royal Marsden staff enjoyed
a once-in-a-lifetime experience when
they took part in the Olympic Games
opening ceremony in July. Among staff
representing The Royal Marsden were
Senior Occupational Therapist Lizzie
Jones, Trial Co-ordinator Grace Sharp
and Pharmacy Clinical Trials Assistant
Johan Johansson, who took part in the
NHS staff segment of the ceremony.
Lizzie, who works at Chelsea, said: “It
was so exciting to be a part of such a
momentous event.”
professor
ros eeles
Fellowship honour
for Royal Marsden
consultants
Professor Johann de Bono,
Honorary Consultant
in Medical Oncology,
and Professor Ros Eeles,
Honorary Consultant in
Cancer Genetics and Clinical
Oncology, have been elected
as Fellows of the Academy of
Medical Sciences. Fellowship
of the academy is awarded
to those who have made
exceptional contributions
to the medical sciences and
bring about advances in
human health and welfare.
Professor Martin Gore,
Medical Director at The
Royal Marsden, said: “This
is a considerable personal
achievement and a welldeserved
recognition of
the impact they have both
made to oncology. There
were 46 new Fellows chosen
this year, all for their
outstanding contribution
to medical science. To have
two colleagues elected at the
same time is very special.”
RM magazine 07

Hospital news
Tumour breakthrough
sarcoma discovery
for research team
A
new type of sarcoma
has been discovered
by a team at The
Royal marsden including
Dr Khin Thway, Consultant
Histopathologist to the Sarcoma
Unit, the Paediatrics Unit and
the Head and neck Unit.
in addition to sharing a busy
diagnostic service, Dr Thway,
alongside Professor Cyril Fisher,
has been carrying out research
into the changes in individual
tumour cells that underpin the
development of different types
of soft-tissue sarcoma.
Dr Thway and colleagues
discovered and characterised
a new type of sarcoma arising
in the lung that can be
diagnosed by detection of a
specific cellular abnormality.
This is a rearrangement of
genetic material within the cell,
which leads to the formation of
new genes that cause cells to
grow and multiply abnormally.
The same genetic
rearrangement is found in a
number of other tumour types
in different parts of the body.
These tumours, however, differ
from each other in clinical
The ultimate goal
is to be able to
deliver personalised
therapy for each
individual patient
Dr Khin Thway, ConsulTanT hisTopaThologisT
features, microscopic
appearances and potential to
recur or spread to other organs.
The challenge for the team
is to identify the additional
changes in the malignant cells
that determine the development
of specific tumour types. The
aim is to identify changes at the
cellular level that are susceptible
to targeted treatment.
Dr Thway said: “in
collaboration with The institute
of Cancer Research, we hope
to investigate the further
changes that lead to the
formation of the different
tumour types, using the latest
techniques including genetic
sequencing. The ultimate
goal is to be able to deliver
personalised therapy for
each individual patient.”
dr Khin thway (above), consultant
histopathologist at the royal marsden,
worked with Professor cyril fisher
(below) on this groundbreaking
research into soft-tissue sarcomas
Soft-tissue
sarcomas
1%
of all cancers
are soft-tissue
sarcomas, making
these malignant
tumours very rare
3,000
people a year
are diagnosed
with soft-tissue
sarcomas in the uK
30+
the age at
which soft-tissue
sarcomas are
more likely
to occur
08 RM magazine

Hospital news
FAMOuS
CHeFS
COOk uP
A TReAT
T
he Royal marsden’s
Oak Centre for Children
and Young People has
been attracting some big names
from the culinary world. Chefs
Tom aikens and allan Pickett
visited the young patients and
staff to share their awardwinning
gastronomic talents.
Tom spent a morning in the
kitchen with Paediatric Catering
Supervisor Shirley moore and
her team while they prepared
hot lunches. Shirley picked up
tips on how to spice up the
patients’ favourite chicken
dippers and make fish fingers
from scratch. She said: “it was
a wonderful opportunity to be
taught how to improve our two
most popular dishes. Tom was
lovely to work with and has
given me good tips on how to
get the batter nice and crispy.”
Tom, who also visited the
young patients after lunch, said:
“it was inspirational to meet
Shirley, her team and the children.
i hope they enjoyed my versions
of their favourite dishes.”
allan Pickett, Head Chef at
London’s Plateau restaurant,
visited a few weeks later to teach
the children how to make perfect
pizzas. allan was so impressed
with the Oak Centre that he has
decided to adopt the schoolroom
to complement his work with the
academy of Culinary arts.
He said: “The children were
wonderful and really got into
making their own pizzas.”
Top: Tom Aikens with Shirley Moore, Oak Centre Paediatric Catering Supervisor;
Above: Allan Pickett with young patient Robbie Hannan
Teenage Cancer Trust
unit’s royal opening
Teenage Cancer Trust welcomed Sarah,
Duchess of York and HRH Princess
Beatrice to its new unit at The Royal
Marsden in May. The £3.5-million unit
is run in partnership with The Royal
Marsden and is located within the Oak
Centre for Children and Young People. It
has been designed to allow teenagers and
young adults to be treated with others
their own age in an environment suited to
their needs. It can also provide specialist
treatments such as stem cell transplants
and radioactive iodine therapy. Musician
Roger Daltrey, a Teenage Cancer Trust
celebrity patron, also attended the event.
Sarah, Duchess of York and HRH Princess
Beatrice met Roger Daltrey (this photograph)
and young patient Richard Storry (below)
RM magazine 09

Hospital news
Q&A
information governance
The Royal Marsden handles a large amount of sensitive data, so it is vital that we manage
that information effectively. Here, we explain our policy on this significant area of activity
Dr Shelley
Dolan
What is information
governance
it refers to the way in which we
manage information, particularly
‘personal information’ such
as patient and staff data.
How does it apply to
The Royal Marsden
as an nHS organisation,
we have a huge responsibility
due to the sensitive nature and
enormous volume of information
we process every day in order
to provide the best possible
healthcare service.
Why is it important
The loss of personal and/or
sensitive information can have
a profound impact on the person
it relates to. The Royal marsden
recognises the importance of
this and has measures in place
to ensure this does not happen.
How does the Trust protect
its patient and staff data
The Trust has a wide range of
measures in place to mitigate
any risk to our personal
information, such as staff
training and our policies and
procedures. another measure is
the appointment of the following
key roles and responsibilities:
David
Probert
Dr Shelley Dolan,
Caldicott Guardian
Since 1997, all nHS Trusts have
had to appoint a Caldicott
guardian. The main purpose of
this role is to act as a champion
for all patient data within the
Trust, and ensure patient data is
always managed on a justified
and strict ‘need-to-know’ basis.
Our Chief nurse and Caldicott
guardian, Dr Shelley Dolan, has
adopted a proactive approach to
this role and is always happy to
personally review and represent
any patient concerns.
David Probert, Senior
Information Risk Officer
The role of Senior information
Risk Officer (SiRO) was created
to ensure that any identified risk
to personal data is reduced in a
way that provides patients and
Staff do all they can
to protect personal
data, which is very
reassuring to me
syma dawson, information governance
manager, the royal marsden
Syma
Dawson
staff the assurance they deserve.
The Royal marsden’s SiRO is
Chief Operating Officer David
Probert. David is significantly
involved in the information
governance process and places
a high importance on its function.
He said: “all staff working at
The Royal marsden have a duty
to ensure the information that
we use to look after patients is
protected and that confidentiality
is maintained at all times.”
Syma Dawson, Information
Governance Manager
The information governance
(ig) manager at The Royal
marsden has a responsibility
to ensure the Trust complies
with its legal and national
requirements, such as the Data
Protection act 1998 and Freedom
of information act 2000. They
must also monitor and submit
compliance against national
ig standards and audits. Syma
Dawson, ig manager at
The Royal marsden, works hard
to exceed standards and raise
awareness as much as possible.
She said: “information
governance has a high priority
in the Trust, and staff do all they
can to protect personal data,
which is very reassuring to me.”
Thumbs up for
switchboard service
A new customer service
survey has highlighted that
most callers using The Royal
Marsden switchboard believe
it provides a good service.
The Trust carried out an
audit in preparation for the
forthcoming assessment
with the government’s
Customer Service Excellence
(CSE) Standard.
Ninety-two per cent
of respondents said the
switchboard answered the
telephone within a minute,
and 96 per cent felt that
the switchboard acted
on their requests.
The Trust obtained its
compliance with the CSE
Standard in 2008, and the
Trust’s Customer Service
Excellence Steering Group –
which includes patients,
front-line staff (clinical and
non-clinical), managers
and members of the Quality
Assurance team – is now
gathering information to
support the new external
assessment later this year.
George Absi, Quality
Improvement Auditor, said:
“The steering group has been
assessing the experiences of
callers to The Royal Marsden
by distributing customer
experience surveys at six
reception areas across the
Chelsea and Sutton sites
over a three-week period,
enabling the Trust to gain
valuable feedback.
“We have been delighted
with the feedback we have
received. We will look to
maintain our high standards
of customer service and
improve where we can.”
For more information, visit
www.customerservice
excellence.uk.com
10 RM magazine

Hospital news
This picture: a ward
at the fulham road
site in a previous
era; Below: the
building’s exterior at
an earlier time
150 years of The royal
Marsden aT fulhaM road
This year is the 150th anniversary of the opening of our Fulham Road site in Chelsea.
We look back at how The Royal Marsden came into existence
T
he Royal Marsden, then
known as the Free
Cancer Hospital, moved
to the Fulham Road in 1862 –
150 years ago this year.
When the hospital was first
opened in 1851, it consisted only
of a dispensary on Cannon Row,
Westminster. Its foundation in
1851 was based on the desire
of Dr William Marsden to better
understand the treatments for
cancer. He is quoted as saying:
“I want to found a hospital for
the treatment of cancer, and
the study of the disease, for
at the present time we know
absolutely nothing about it.”
Following the hospital’s
inception in 1851, the growth
in patient numbers and need
for more facilities and inpatient
I want to found
a hospital for the
treatment and
study of cancer
dr william marsden, founder,
The free cancer hospiTal
beds meant that a larger site
was required.
In 1855, the board obtained
the patronage of Angela
Burdett-Coutts (later to be made
a peer for her philanthropy),
whose loan of £3,000 made it
possible to purchase about an
acre of land on Fulham Road.
Architect David Mocatta drew
up designs for the hospital and
the foundation stone was laid
by Angela Burdett-Coutts on
30 May 1859. In 1862, the
hospital opened to patients at
its new site on Fulham Road.
The expansion of the hospital
to Sutton occurred more than
100 years later. Built in the
1950s, it was opened by Her
Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
on 20 May 1963.
RM MAgAzInE 11

GynaecoloGical cancer special
Leading the way in
treatment and research
Dr Susana Banerjee
Consultant Medical Oncologist
Dr Alexandra Taylor
Consultant Clinical Oncologist
Dr Susan Lalondrelle
Consultant Clinical Oncologist
Advances in our understanding of gynaecological cancers is resulting in better patient
outcomes at The Royal Marsden. We speak to the consultants and surgeons
in the Gynaecology Unit about their groundbreaking work

Cancer focus
Q&A
GynaecoloGical cancer
Miss Jane Bridges, Consultant in
Gynaecological Oncology, talks about
the different forms of gynaecological
cancer and their treatment
What are gynaecological cancers
Cancer can arise from any of the organs
in the reproductive tract, but there are four
main types of gynaecological malignancies:
vulval, cervical, uterine and ovarian.
What causes gynaecological cancers
Vulval cancer can be associated with a
number of inflammatory skin conditions
that affect the vulva. a strong link has also
been established between the human
papilloma virus (HPV) and the development
of this disease. Cervical cancer is also
associated with HPV, as well as smoking.
Uterine cancers usually arise from the
endometrium (uterine lining), although
rare tumours called sarcomas can also
occur on the muscle wall.
The strongest risk factor for developing
cancer of the ovary is a family history
associated with specific gene abnormalities,
which lead to about 10 per cent of cases.
How are they diagnosed
Vulval cancer normally presents as a
painful, ulcerated raised skin lesion that is
noticed by the patient. it may be associated
with skin conditions that by themselves can
cause irritation, itching and soreness.
The symptoms of cervical cancer usually
include abnormal vaginal bleeding and
discharge. The diagnosis is made after a
biopsy of the abnormality, which may be
an ulcer or raised area on the cervix.
Ovarian cancer symptoms are more
non-specific and can include abdominal
bloating, indigestion, bowel disturbance and
frequent urination. Diagnosis is made using
a combination of ultrasound scanning,
blood tests, and, on occasions, a biopsy.
Uterine cancer usually presents with
abnormal bleeding, and is diagnosed via a
combination of ultrasound scan and biopsy.
The majority of women with this cancer will
present when the disease is at an early
stage, and 75 per cent will be cured.
Who does it affect
Older women are more at risk of vulval
cancer – the disease is virtually unknown
in women under the age of 25. The majority
of women who develop uterine cancer will
also be older, aged 50 or over. Ovarian
cancer mostly affects women in the 50 or
over age group while cervical cancer mostly
affects women who are younger than 50.
How common are they
although vulval cancer appears to be on the
increase in the UK, it still remains relatively
rare: it accounts for less than one per cent of
all cancer cases and approximately eight per
cent of all gynaecological malignancies.
Cervical cancer used to be the most
common gynaecological cancer in england
and Wales, but with the introduction of
the cervical screening programme, the
incidence has fallen – there are now about
3,500 new cases per year. The incidence
of uterine cancers, on the other hand, is
increasing due to a strong association with
obesity, which has increased drastically in
the past decade. Cancer of the uterus is now
the fourth most common cancer in women
and the most common gynaecological
cancer. The second most common
gynaecological cancer is of the ovary.
How are they treated
The primary method of treatment for all
gynaecological cancers is surgery. in the
case of cervical cancer, this is normally
a hysterectomy or, in young women who
want to conserve fertility options, a less
radical operation called trachelectomy. The
treatment for uterine cancer is surgical
removal of the uterus, Fallopian tubes and
ovaries. Some patients may also require
chemotherapy and radiotherapy. new drug
treatments for women who have a genetic
abnormality and develop ovarian cancer
are presently under trial and are showing
encouraging results.
Is there any interesting research being
carried out at The Royal Marsden
We have a number of research trials looking
at new agents to treat ovarian and cervical
cancer. Some of this work is performed in
parallel with laboratory research undertaken
at The institute of Cancer Research. in
gynaecological radiology, there are studies
examining new imaging techniques for
both cervical and vulval cancer, which
may allow more conservative surgery for
patients with this disease. ➜
RM magazine 13

Cancer focus
Drug research
Ovarian and endometrial developments
a research team led by Dr Susana Banerjee,
Consultant medical Oncologist at The
Royal marsden, is now offering a portfolio
of Phase i–iii clinical trials for patients with
gynaecological cancers. The two most
promising areas are in the treatment of
ovarian cancer with the development of
the drug bevacizumab – also known as
avastin – and PaRP inhibitors.
avastin works by attacking the blood
vessels that feed cancers and allow them to
spread. Phase iii trials have shown that by
combining this drug with chemotherapy and
continuing it afterwards, the time before the
cancer progresses is increased, as is the
survival rate in patients at high risk of relapse.
Dr Banerjee says: “This breakthrough is
very exciting and means there are more
treatment options for patients. This drug is
available to patients with ovarian cancer as
first-line treatment through the Cancer Drugs
Fund, and patients with recurrent disease are
offered avastin at The Royal marsden.”
Clinical teams in the gynaecology and
Drug Development units, with scientists at
the hospital’s academic partner, The institute
of Cancer Research (iCR), have pioneered the
development of PaRP inhibitors. This class
of drug has shown promising activity, in
particular in patients with ovarian cancer
who have the BRCa gene mutation.
PaRP inhibitors work by selectively killing
cancer cells while sparing healthy ones.
Patients are currently being recruited to
clinical trials of PaRP inhibitors (such as
olaparib) at The Royal marsden.
Personalised treatment
Dr Banerjee and her team have also launched
a programme to collect tumour and blood
specimens from patients to test for molecular
abnormalities linked to their cancer.
She says: “This approach aims to help
guide treatment for individual patients and
help women diagnosed in the future.”
Cancer treatments for ovarian and
endometrial (uterus) cancers continue to
develop as understanding improves of what
distinguishes cancer cells from normal cells.
it is now known that the molecular make-up
of various subtypes of gynaecological
cancers differ, meaning that some patients
will respond more positively than others to a
Dr susana Banerjee
talks to a patient
helen Taylor, cyberKnife
Lead radiographer, and
Dr alexandra Taylor
14 RM magazine

Cancer focus
above, from left:
dr susana Banerjee,
Consultant Medical
oncologist; dr susan
Lalondrelle, Consultant
Clinical oncologist;
and dr alexandra taylor,
Consultant Clinical
oncologist
particular drug. it is important that all people
with a particular type of cancer are not
treated in the same way but that treatment
is personalised to each patient.
Dr Banerjee says: “This means that
patients will have a greater chance of
successful treatment, as well as reducing
the unnecessary side effects that a less
targeted treatment can cause.”
Patients at The Royal marsden are already
being offered individualised treatment in
clinical trials according to the genetic
abnormalities in their tumour.
Gene testing in ovarian cancer patients
Dr Banerjee is collaborating with Professor
nazneen Rahman and her team at the iCR
to offer testing of BRCa and other relevant
genes to all ovarian cancer patients,
regardless of a family history of cancer.
Using the latest molecular techniques, this
information may influence the treatment
pathway of individual patients.
Funded by a Wellcome Strategic award
of more than £2 million, this pioneering
research programme will be piloted at
The Royal marsden later this year with
the hope of delivering genetic testing in
mainstream medicine to all cancer patients
across other nHS centres.
radiotherapy
Our state-of-the-art techniques
gynaecological cancer patients at The
Royal marsden are treated using the latest
radiotherapy planning and delivery
technology. each patient will be carefully ➜
Gynaecological
cancer facts
21
women a day
are diagnosed
with uterine
cancer in the UK,
making this the
most common
gynaecological
cancer
6in10
women diagnosed
with cervical
cancer are under
the age of 50
8in10
women diagnosed
with ovarian
cancer are over
the age of 50 and
have been through
the menopause
65
the age above
which the
incidence of vulval
and vaginal
cancers are at
their highest
Case study:
Caroline Webb, 29
“in July 2011, i was told that my smear test
was abnormal and that cancerous cells had
been found. it was a huge shock: i was a fit
and healthy 28-year-old and was enjoying
living and working in London.
“i was referred to Dr Susan Lalondrelle at
The Royal marsden. i saw her on the very
same day – she kindly fitted me in just before
she went on holiday to ensure that my
treatment began as soon as possible.
“i had four rounds of chemotherapy – one
every three weeks – as well as radiotherapy
and brachytherapy. Unfortunately, i
developed a blood clot in my right leg,
leaving me bed-bound for about a month. it
took a long time for the clot to disperse and
i was in a lot of pain for several months.
“Once i felt better, i continued the
chemotherapy. in June this year, i had
an operation to remove a lymph node that
still appeared diseased on my scans. i
have now finished my treatment and am
waiting for my end-of-treatment scans.
“all of the staff at The Royal marsden have
been incredible throughout my treatment,
and with their help and the amazing support
of my friends and family, i have been able to
maintain a positive mentality throughout and
continue with life as best i can.
“i have always advocated the importance
of smears, and i am living proof of how vital
it is for women to attend their routine smear
test. People always think it won’t happen to
them, but it did to me.”
I am living proof of
how vital it is for
women to attend their
routine smear test
caroline webb, royal Marsden patient
dr susan Lalondrelle
plans the radiotherapy
session for a patient
RM magazine 15

Cancer in focus
Dr Susan Lalondrelle
in the cyberKnife suite
with Lead radiographer
Helen taylor
and individually assessed before a course
of treatment is recommended.
intensity-modulated radiotherapy (imRT)
allows external beam radiation to be shaped
more closely around the target, reducing
the dose to surrounding organs such as the
bowel, bladder and pelvis, and minimising
the side effects of the radiotherapy. imRT
has recently been introduced routinely for
delivering radiotherapy in post-operative
endometrial and cervical cancer patients.
imRT involves taking images of the target
area to ensure that the treatment is delivered
as accurately as it is planned. a number of
techniques for this have been developed and
implemented at The Royal marsden.
image-guided brachytherapy is the use of
internal radiation to increase the dose where it
is really needed. One of the most exciting areas
is the combination of mRi scanning with the
planning of brachytherapy. This allows us to
instantly identify the tumour and ensure we
deliver treatment based on each patient’s
tumour size and anatomy, while avoiding
surrounding normal tissue and organs.
CyberKnife also delivers external beam
radiotherapy but, thanks to its robotic arm and
sensors that track the position of both patient
and target, it is extremely precise. The
accuracy of the treatment means larger doses
can be delivered each time, meaning patients
need fewer treatment sessions.
it is particularly useful for patients who have
tumour recurrence in areas that have previously
received radiotherapy. it is not usually possible
to deliver radiotherapy to the same place twice,
but we have successfully used this technique to
target lymph nodes and other isolated disease
recurrences. This offers a focused therapy
option to patients who may otherwise require
chemotherapy for limited disease.
Dr alexandra Taylor, Consultant Clinical
Oncologist at The Royal marsden, says:
“With CyberKnife, we have been able to
target recurrences in previously treated areas
that would otherwise not have been possible.
There is now great potential for us to treat
cancers we could not previously eradicate
due to the new radiotherapy techniques.”
aftercare
Excellent specialist nurse support
a team of specialist nurses are supporting
patients through their cancer journey. This year,
the first nurse-led chemotherapy clinic was
launched at our Sutton site, running alongside
the doctors on the gynaecological team.
Dr Susan Lalondrelle, Consultant Clinical
Oncologist, says: “Our support services
at The Royal marsden are fantastic. The
nursing team has also started an end-ofcancer
treatment clinic, giving patients the
opportunity to discuss how to cope with
cancer and what symptoms to look out for.”
Cancer and its treatment can have
lasting physical and mental side effects.
gynaecological Cancer nurse Specialists at
both Royal marsden sites offer a range of
aftercare and survivorship advice, including
psychosexual therapy, a survivorship
programme, dietetics and physiotherapy.
New radiotherapy
treatments give us the
chance to treat previously
untreatable cancers
DR alexanDRa tayloR, Consultant CliniCal onCologist
Aftercare:
psychosexual
therapy
Patients may find
that being treated
for cancer has an
impact on both the
physical and
emotional aspects
of their sexual life
and relationship
with a partner.
Dr Isabel White
is The Royal
Marsden’s first
psychosexual
therapist. She
offers a service for
male and female
patients and their
partners who may
be experiencing
sexual difficulties
following cancer
treatment.
In the months
after treatment,
sex is not normally
a priority for
patients. But once
they have recovered
and are getting
back to life after
treatment – of
which sex is often a
part – they may
have unexpected
difficulties. This
can especially be
the case for
gynaecological
patients.
The psychosexual
service aims to not
only manage these
difficulties but also
help clinicians talk
to patients about
sexual recovery,
recognise people
who need further
help and identify
the next steps for
these patients.
16 RM magazine

Cancer focus
Mr thomas Ind,
Consultant surgeon
Breakthrough In
surgICal treatMent
Gynaecological cancers are now
being treated by robotic surgery,
and The Royal Marsden is pioneering
this groundbreaking treatment
The Royal marsden is renowned for its
advances in surgery, and we are leading the
way in several areas of the surgical treatment
of gynaecological cancer.
in 2007, mr Thomas ind and Professor
John Shepherd, Consultant Surgeons at
The Royal marsden, performed the firstever
robotic hysterectomy in the UK at the
hospital, pioneering the way for robotic
surgery in the treatment of gynaecological
cancers. and from September this year, the
da Vinci S robot will be used in robotic
surgery as a standard treatment for suitable
gynaecological patients treated at The Royal
marsden. We are one of a select few
hospitals that are able to offer this for
gynaecological cancer patients.
mr ind says: “Regular use of the da Vinci S
robot is a real step forward in the treatment of
gynaecological cancers. We hope to train
other surgeons in the field and expand our
expertise and experience in the use of
laparoscopic and robotic surgery.”
The da Vinci S robot allows surgeons
to perform laparoscopic surgery on patients
with endometrial or cervical cancers.
Laparoscopic surgery, also known as
minimally invasive surgery, enables surgery
on patients with more complicated cases.
There are also several benefits to the patient,
including reduced post-operative pain due
to smaller incisions and a shorter recovery
time and stay in hospital.
The da Vinci S robot will also be used in
trachelectomy procedures. This surgical
treatment for cervical cancer preserves
reproductive function that would otherwise
be removed with a full hysterectomy – a
common treatment for cancer of the cervix.
The Royal marsden is well known for leading
the way in trachelectomy surgery, and da
Vinci S will be an extremely useful tool in
removing the lymph nodes, which is a very
delicate part of the procedure. rm
Regular use of the da Vinci
S robot is a real step
forward in the treatment
of gynaecological cancers
Mr ThoMas Ind, ConsulTanT surgeon
Case study:
Pauline
Sims, 75
“It was a complete
shock when I was
told I had primary
peritoneum/
ovarian cancer
earlier this year.
dr susana Banerjee
was so sympathetic
as she explained
the treatment
I needed.
“I was first
admitted to have
some fluid drained.
The nurses were
very considerate,
especially when
they discovered it
was my first time
staying in hospital.
“after I’d had
three sessions of
chemotherapy,
CT scans showed
that the mass had
shrunk, so it was
decided to go
ahead with surgery.
Mr Ind performed
the operation. I
was terrified, but
he took the time
to reassure me and
regularly checked
up on me during
my 10 days as an
inpatient.
“I then began
three more sessions
of chemotherapy,
this time with the
addition of avastin,
a new drug that
extends the time
that the cancer
is held in check.
“The support
of the staff at
The royal Marsden
has helped me so
much. I can’t thank
them enough.”
RM magazine 17

Ellis Ward
A welcoming environment
The state-of-the-art Ellis Ward at Chelsea is now open. We take a tour of the modernised facility
ellis Ward has re-opened as a stateof-the-art
facility at our Chelsea site
following an extensive refurbishment
and modernisation programme. Many of
the changes in the new Ellis Ward become
immediately apparent on entering the unit.
The sense of space and natural light at
every bed is noticeable, and its bright
colours and designs are eye-catching.
There is a large new lounge area where
patients can relax and help themselves
to hot and cold drinks.
Ellis Ward now contains 14 beds, with
two single rooms and three four-bedded
bay areas. The refurbishment of the unit
includes modernised bathroom facilities
next to the bedded bays, and en-suites for
the single rooms. Each bedside has also
had a new patient entertainment system
installed. The refurbishment of the ward,
for women with breast, gynaecological,
gastrointestinal or genitourinary cancers,
was due to a generous donation from
Jimmy Thomas, whose late wife, Alma,
was treated at the hospital. The redesign
has been based on the wishes of Alma,
ellis ward refurbishment
who wanted every patient staying on the
ward to enjoy the “highest levels of comfort”.
Mr Thomas says: “My wife Alma died
on 31 December 2008 at the age of 74. Her
treatment here at The Royal Marsden was
excellent and the staff were superb, but we
both felt the environment of the ward did
not match up to the standard of care.
“We wanted to rebuild and modernise
the facilities, to increase comfort and dignity
for patients on the ward and improve the
environment for the staff working on the
ward. In the redesign, we wanted to capture
the promise of hope at The Royal Marsden.
Central to the theme is the purple anemone,
which was Alma’s favourite flower and
appears throughout the ward. It is my vision
of a ward of the future. I am thrilled with the
look of the new ward; it is a warm and safe
environment for patients to be when they
are undergoing treatment.”
Professor Martin Gore, Medical Director
at The Royal Marsden, says: “We are
delighted with the new modernisation of
Ellis Ward. We are grateful to the generosity
of Mr Thomas and his family. By funding
the refurbishment of this ward, they have
realised his wife’s vision of creating a
state-of-the-art unit with a warm and
welcoming environment that ensures the
highest levels of comfort for NHS patients.”
Ellis Ward patient Irene Hill strongly
approves of the change: “I’ve been a patient
on old Ellis and new Ellis. The standard of
care has always been out of this world, but
the new ward, and the way it’s been organised
and designed... what a difference!” rm
Jimmy thomas
generously
donated towards
the ellis ward
refurbishment
The way the new ward
has been organised and
designed... what a difference!
irene hill, ellis ward patient
18 RM MAGAzINE

Ellis Ward
From left: Jimmy Thomas;
Cally Palmer, The Royal
marsden Chief executive;
Carla Chappell; Professor
martin Gore, The Royal
marsden medical director;
and simon Thomas with a
portrait of mr Thomas’s
late wife alma
Q&A
emily
davies
The Ellis Ward Sister tells
us how the team is settling
into the new setting
How is it going in the
new refurbished ward
it’s going exceptionally well.
The change is unbelievable
to both patients and staff. i
didn’t fully appreciate how
much the environment could
make a difference to the morale
of a ward until we moved back
to our new home!
each bedside
has a patient
entertainment
system
sister emily
davies on the
new ellis Ward
The calming
atmosphere of
the lounge area
What are the main
improvements/differences
The ward has been particularly
well laid out. This makes it easier
to nurse in, as you can keep an
eye on all patients at all times,
which enables teamwork to thrive.
Patients are also able to see
the nurses all the time, which
reassures them.
What have the patients
said about the new ward
Patients can’t believe the
transformation and are hugely
impressed by the vision of the
architect. They comment on how
bright and airy the ward feels, as
well as being inviting for visitors
with a lounge area to relax in.
ellis Ward is now the ward that
patients want to come back to,
and i’d like to thank my amazing
team who make such a difficult
time in a person’s life easier
through their skills, friendliness,
humour and compassion.
RM magazine 19

Senior Staff Nurses
Catherine Lawrence
and Aoife Faherty
keep Ellis Ward
running smoothly
and ensure that
patients are
comfortable
Patients trust
us to care
for them and
have their
best interests
at heart
20 RM magazine

Staff profile
Senior Staff Nurses, Ellis Ward
Catherine Lawrence
and Aoife Faherty
a day in the life
a
s Senior Staff nurses (SSn), we
ensure that patients receive the best
possible care and that the other
staff on ellis Ward feel happy and supported
in their roles. The ward is specifically for
female patients, with most being treated
for breast or gynaecological cancers.
On a day shift, we arrive at 7.30am and
check the staff rota before the night shift
hands over to us at 8am. We then allocate
patients to nurses depending on the nurse’s
skills and the patient’s needs. We say hello
to all the patients and check that the ward is
tidy and safe, then hold a multidisciplinary
team meeting with physiotherapists,
occupational therapists and sometimes
a discharge co-ordinator or dietitian. The
clinical site practitioner – a senior nurse
in charge of the hospital – then visits the
ward to discuss patients’ length of stay
and discharge and admission dates.
Moving through the day
at 11am, the nurses, healthcare assistants
and housekeeper catch up to discuss each
patient and get an idea of each nurse’s
workload. The nurses describe their clinical
observations and tell us their neWS (a
scoring system that tells us if a patient’s
condition needs to be investigated).
Once this is over and new patients have
been given beds, we prepare admission
paperwork and allocate lunch breaks to the
nurses on shift. This can be quite complex:
we need to consider the skill mix of those on
duty so that the ward is covered at all times
– a lot can change during a lunch break.
Depending on staffing levels, we often have
to wear two hats: a nurse caring for patients
and an SSn in charge of a shift. This means
being aware of the conditions of all 14 of
our patients, as well as supporting staff and
answering patients’ and carers’ questions.
a patient’s condition can unfortunately
deteriorate at any point, but the layout of
our new ward lets us see everyone at once,
so it’s easier to communicate any changes
in their conditions with the rest of the team.
Evening handover
We have another catch-up at 4pm on the
status of all our patients. Later, we add
information on new and current patients to
the handover sheet for the night shift, and
ensure the ward is tidy and well stocked.
We check that the ward is adequately
staffed for the next day, then help with the
evening medication rounds. Finally, we do
one last check on our patients’ fluid balance
and observations. The night staff arrive at
7.45pm and handover begins at 8pm.
Patients’ cases can be emotive, and while
we have to be professional, we are also
human. Being honest and trustworthy is
very important – we meet our patients at
possibly the most vulnerable point in their
lives, and they trust us to care for them
and have their best interests at heart.
Our role is always interesting – no two
days are the same. We need to see the
bigger picture, too: we are a close team and
we support each other in and out of work.
Because of this, ellis Ward is a very friendly
place, and patients always notice that. rm
RM magazine 21

OUR YOUNG PATIENTS
Gems of courage
The Beads of Courage programme has captured the minds of young patients
in the Oak Centre for Children and Young People, helping them to focus
on their recovery by collecting the brightly coloured beads
Play Specialist Claire
Riddell and young
patient Robbie Hannan
choose a new bead
he inspiring Beads of Courage
programme has started a trend among
young patients who have gone from
struggling with the emotions that cancer
treatment can evoke to focusing on collecting
beads to mark each of their treatment
milestones. More than 100 Royal Marsden
patients take part in the programme, which
aims to break down the communication
barriers between young cancer patients.
The beads have become a key talking
point between patients in the Oak Centre
for Children and Young People since the
programme started in December 2011, says
Play Specialist Claire Riddell: “The beads
have really helped engage patients who
would probably not have spoken to each
other before. I have seen 14-year-olds sit
and chat to five-year-olds and compare
beads. It has become a real ice-breaker
and helped the children and young people
to get to know one another.”
Young patients are offered the opportunity
to join the Beads of Courage programme a
month after they are diagnosed with cancer.
Each participant is given beads that spell
out their first name and a card that explains
the types of beads that are awarded for a
particular treatment.
Patients are given specific coloured
beads for every procedure and step of their
treatment pathway – for example, a yellow
bead for every night they stay in hospital,
a star when they undergo surgery, a lime
bead for every day they are in isolation,
and a glow-in-the-dark bead for every
radiotherapy session they undergo.
Claire says: “The beads are something for
them to be proud of and take ownership of
during a period in their lives when they can
have very mixed emotions. Every bead tells
a story of hope, strength and courage.
“I have noticed that some teenagers who
would not usually engage very much with
staff are now really animated when they
start talking about their beads. Some of
our younger patients have used the beads
in show-and-tell at their school to explain
what they have been through.”
The Trust’s shared care hospitals have
also signed up to the programme, enabling
children to carry on collecting their beads
at their local hospital.
Claire says: “Aside from giving the
children something to focus on and help ➜
The beads are something
our young patients can be
proud of... Every one tells a
story of hope and strength
CLAIRE RIDDELL, PLAY SPECIALIST, THE ROYAL MARSDEN
CASE STUDY:
Blue Tobin, 3
Blue underwent
chemotherapy for
acute myeloid
leukaemia last year
but, this February,
suffered a disease
relapse for which
he required a bone
marrow transplant.
Mum Francesca
Waite says: “The
Beads of Courage
have helped us all
so much. Blue has
more than 1,300
beads. They’re like
an inspirational
diary without
having to write it.
“Blue chats to
14-year-olds about
his beads and
treatment. If they
didn’t have the
beads in common,
they wouldn’t talk
to each other. It’s
lovely for them to
have something
to focus on.
“When Blue was
very poorly, Claire
gave me a special
bead for parents,
which really lifted
my spirits and made
me realise that I
was not alone.”
22 RM MAGAZINE

Beads of Courage
Play Specialist Claire Riddell
in the Oak Centre for
Children and Young People
RM magazine 23

Beads of Courage
them to tell their story, I think the beads
can help them deal with their treatment.
It is surprising that the beads have such
a powerful influence on the patients.”
Five-year-old Belle McIntyre’s mum,
Selena, said the beads have been a lovely
distraction for the whole family. She says:
“The Beads of Courage have given Belle
something else to focus on. Instead of
saying, ‘We’re going to hospital’, we say,
‘We’re going to get some more beads today’.
It is such a positive programme that has
really engaged the children.” rm
Hannah Howell
shows off her
collection
Case study: Harry Poil, 13
Harry has accumulated an astounding 880
beads since he started collecting last year.
He was diagnosed with leukaemia in february
2011 but relapsed in november.
Harry said: “the beads have helped me
speak to other patients that I probably would
not normally speak to.
“I think my three courage beads are my
favourite ones as they are bigger than the
rest and much harder to get. you have to do
something pretty amazing to get one.”
Case study:
Hannah Howell, 6
Hannah’s 1,600 beads were her inspiration
during her 13 days in isolation following her
bone marrow transplant.
Her mum Beccy said: “Hannah spent a lot
of her time in isolation using the string of
beads to make up the alphabet. It was mainly
something to pass the time, but also for her
to keep up with her school work and learning.
“Her beads make her treatment seem
worthwhile as she gets a reward at the
end of each stage, and they help her to
understand what is going on.”
Instead of saying, ‘We’re
going to hospital’, we say,
‘We’re going to get some
more beads today’
Selena McIntyre, MuM of royal MarSden patIent Belle, 5
24 RM MagazIne

Hospital groups
pcaG and
The Friends
helpinG paTienTs
in The coMMuniTy
PCAG highlights importance of the community patient voice
designer lulu Guinness
is a supporter of
The royal Marsden
How members of The Royal
marsden’s Patient and Carer
advisory group (PCag) can
help represent the voice of
patients in the community was
the topic of a workshop in June.
in april last year, The Royal
marsden became the provider of
Sutton and merton Community
Services, which offers a diverse
range of services within different
health and social care settings.
These include community and
school nurses, health visitors,
physiotherapists and sexual
health clinics.
The guest speaker at the
PCag workshop was adam
Doyle, former Divisional
Director, Community Services,
who introduced Sutton and
merton Community Services.
PCag members then
discussed ways of engaging
community services patients and
what areas of PCag experience
might be shared with them. The
workshop also looked at how
PCag could recruit community
members to ensure their views
and opinions are represented,
as well as what has worked in
recruiting hospital members.
Those who came
along thought
it was very
beneficial and
enjoyed it
mandie adams mcguire, Pcag
The event took place at
Cannizaro House in Wimbledon
and was followed by a dinner to
mark PCag’s successes. The
idea for this came from mandie
adams mcguire, who stepped
down as PCag Chairman this
year after four years at the helm.
among the dinner guests
were Dr Shelley Dolan, Chief
nurse, adam Doyle, and Dr Liz
Bishop, Divisional Director for
Cancer Services and Research
and Development.
mandie said: “Those who
came along thought it was very
beneficial and enjoyed it. it was
very well organised by Craig
mortimer from the Quality
assurance Team at The Royal
marsden. We were also thrilled
that members of The Friends
of The Royal marsden, Sutton
branch came too.”
Mandie adams McGuire
The Friends oF The royal Marsden, chelsea
The ‘it’ bag raising
money for a great cause
Top British bag designer
Lulu guinness has created
a fabulous and exclusive bag
for The Friends of The Royal
marsden, Chelsea.
The bag was launched at
The Friends Summer Drinks
Party in June, held at The
Royal Hospital, Chelsea, and
hosted by Countess Cadogan,
mVO. it was a splendid
evening, spiced up by some
of London’s best cocktails
and award-winning english
sparkling wine from Coates &
Seely. more than 400 people
came to the Summer Party
and, thanks to Strutt &
Parker’s sponsorship, more
than £23,000 was raised for
the hospital.
Lulu is a supporter of The
Royal marsden and said she
was “thrilled to design the
bag because of the invaluable
work of The Friends of
The Royal marsden and
the huge difference it makes
to patients, their families and
staff at the hospital.”
The bag is fast becoming
the ‘it’ bag for 2012 with
Tara Palmer-Tomkinson
and Felicity Kendal among
those seen out and about
with it already.
You can obtain your own
‘Lulu’ from The Friends shop
or Café in Chelsea, located in
Outpatients on the first floor,
the Fundraising office or stall
in Sutton, or online at www.
royalmarsden.nhs.uk/lulu
for just £15 plus postage and
packing. it could solve all your
Christmas shopping problems.
RM magazine 25

THe royaL marsden
cancer cHariTy
A grand day out
Young Royal marsden patients were among the recipients of tickets to the
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert, donated by The Princes’ Charities Forum
oung patients, staff and
donors to The Royal
Y
marsden Cancer Charity
enjoyed a great evening out
when The Princes’ Charities
Forum generously donated 45
pairs of tickets to the Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee Concert.
Hannah Wright, 16, who is
currently being treated at The
Royal marsden, was one of the
ticket recipients. She was first
diagnosed with Philadelphiapositive
acute lymphoblastic
leukaemia just after her
eighth birthday in 2004, and
underwent months of intensive
chemotherapy and radiotherapy
followed by a bone marrow
transplant from her younger
brother, Harvey. Sadly the
disease was again detected just
two months later and Hannah
and her family endured three
years of good and bad results.
in 2008, Hannah was accepted
onto a drug trial at The Royal
marsden, but in June last year
was given the devastating news
that she had suffered a fullblown
relapse and would need a
second bone-marrow transplant.
Hannah’s mother zara said:
“Hannah missed her siblings
and being at home over the
summer, but kept herself busy
Left and below: young
patients Lillie Killick
(left) and Hannah
Wright attended the
concert; Bottom:
Hannah with her
mother Zara
with the patients on the ward.
She had her second transplant
in november last year, and
amazed doctors by being
discharged just 19 days later.
She’s now doing really well.”
The concert was a muchneeded
treat for Hannah and her
family. zara said: “Hannah has
been unable to attend school
since her relapse. When we
were invited to the concert, we
were both so excited. it was a
day of such happy memories.
“Hannah thinks that seeing
so many stars certainly made
up for all the events she had
missed out on last year.”
cHeLsea
scanners
appeaL
The Royal Marsden
Cancer Charity is
committed to funding
two new state-of-theart
MRI scanners and
refurbishing the areas
in which they will be
located in the new
Diagnostic Imaging
Suite at The Royal
Marsden in Chelsea.
The charity needs to
raise £6.95 million to
fund the specialist
equipment – a 1.5T and
a 3T scanner. This will
provide The Royal
Marsden with some
of the best available
diagnostic imaging
equipment in a purposebuilt
space. It means that
patients will be provided
with exceptional imaging
as part of their diagnosis
and assessment of
treatment, and it will
support developments
in other areas such as
radiotherapy.
The Royal Marsden
will be one of just a few
centres to give patients
access to both a 3T and
a 1.5T scanner in the
same location.
26 RM magazine

Fundraising
royals’
polo
support
Princes and celebrity
supporters take on
a sporting challenge
in aid of our charity
HRH The Duke of Cambridge,
The Royal marsden’s President,
helped to raise funds at a polo
event in support of The Royal
marsden Cancer Charity.
The audi Polo Challenge
took place on 12–13 may at
Coworth Park in ascot,
Berkshire. it was the third year
that the event has supported
the charity, with audi making a
generous donation of £20,000.
TRH Prince William and
Prince Harry both played on
the audi Quattro team, which
narrowly beat audi Ultra during
the tournament. The Duchess
of Cambridge handed out
prizes to the winning team.
Celebrity guests included
actors Tom Hardy, gemma
arterton, Jesse eisenberg,
anna Friel, Rhys ifans, Rupert
Penry-Jones and Chris O’Dowd.
Christmas
Celebrations
Our 2012 range of Christmas
cards and small gifts is now
available. Christmas card
designs include an exclusive
by five-year-old patient
Hannah. Pick up a leaflet at
the hospital or order online
at www.royalmarsden.
org/shop
Every year at The Royal
Marsden, we place thousands
of stars on our Christmas
trees, each one celebrating
the life of someone close. For
a suggested donation of £15,
you will receive a lapel badge
to wear in honour of your
loved one, and their name
will be handwritten on a gold
star and placed on your
chosen tree. A carol service
will be held on the evenings
of Tuesday 11 December in
Sutton and Thursday 13
December in Chelsea. To
sponsor a star, pick up a
leaflet at the hospital or
visit www.royalmarsden.
org/star
trh the Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge and prince harry
attended the audi polo Challenge
Marsden March 2013
registration opens
egistration for our third
marsden march on
R
Sunday 17 march 2013
opens on Monday 8 October.
This popular fundraising event
raised an exceptional £1.2 million
for the charity in 2012 and we
hope it will be just as successful
in 2013. The marsden march is a
14-mile sponsored walk between
our hospitals in Chelsea and
Sutton, with a five-mile familyfriendly
option as well. it’s a
chance for our supporters,
patients and their families, staff
and celebrity supporters to walk
with us to take on cancer. To
ensure places for you and your
family, register today at www.
royalmarsden.org/march
RM magazine 27

foundation news
wo Royal marsden
governors showed their
community spirit by
taking on important roles in the
London 2012 Olympic games.
Patient governor and sports
writer Vikki Orvice had the
honour of carrying the Olympic
Torch 300 metres through
the streets of Barnsley as the
Torch Relay made its way to
her home city of Sheffield.
and Public governor Tony
Hazeldine helped the games
run smoothly when he took on
two important responsibilities:
being a London ambassador
and a games maker.
Vikki, who has covered
Olympics in Sydney, athens
and Beijing as a sports writer,
said: “never did i imagine that
i would one day get the chance
to follow in the footsteps of
Olympic 400m champion Cathy
patient governor
Vikki orvice carries
the olympic torch
getting in the
olympic spirit
Freeman, who lit the flame at
my first games in Sydney,
and carry the torch myself –
especially given that five years
ago, i was diagnosed with
secondary cancer.
“But thanks to treatment
at The Royal marsden, i am
five years in remission – a year
for each of the Olympic rings –
and after being nominated
by London 2012, i carried
the flame 300 metres.”
Vikki’s family, including her
82-year-old mother and her
husband ian, who was also
successfully treated at The
Royal marsden, watched with
pride as she carried the flame.
Vikki said: “When i looked
up at the flame when it was lit
in the cauldron at the Olympic
Stadium in London, i proudly
remembered that i helped
get it there.”
I never imagined
that I would one
day get the chance
to carry the torch
Vikki OrVice, Patient GOVernOr
Tony was incredibly busy
during the Olympics with his
two roles. as a games maker,
Tony was in the Workforce
Operations unit at Horse guards
Parade, providing backup and
motivation for the teams of
volunteers who helped make
the games happen.
and as a London
ambassador, he was on hand
to welcome visitors from around
the world, provide information
and answer any questions. He
was based in Stratford and was
part of the ‘Flying Squad’ – if
there was a problem, he was
one of a number of people who
would go to help.
Tony said: “it was a
wonderful experience and
a great honour to be part of
London 2012, and to do my bit
to help make sure everything
went smoothly.”
Health and Social
Care Act 2012
Coming into effect earlier this
year, the Health and Social
Care act is the most extensive
reorganisation of the structure
of the nHS to date. among
other things, it means the
abolishment of Primary Care
Trusts and Strategic Health
authorities. in their place are
Clinical Commissioning groups
partly run by gPs.
The Royal marsden has
actively engaged governors
as the bill went through
Parliament. now that it has
become law, it means a
number of changes to the way
in which the Trust is governed,
including to the role of monitor,
the regulator of Foundation
Trusts, and the responsibilities
of governors.
at a Trust briefing on the
act, governors explored the
implications of the act on their
role to hold the non-executive
Directors to account for the
performance of the board of
directors, and to represent the
interests of the members of
the Trust and the public.
governors are working with
the Trust to review and update
its constitution and governance
structure to ensure that the
Council is fit for purpose. a
further update will be provided
in the next issue of Rm.
Next Members’ event
The next Members’ event will take place in November
in Sutton, giving Members further insight into how
the Trust is working to improve patient care in the
community. Members will hear from Adam Doyle,
Divisional Director, Private Patients, and former
Divisional Director, Sutton and Merton Community
Services, about the benefit that the integration of
Sutton and Merton Community Services has had at
the Trust. Please contact the Foundation Trust Office
to register your interest on 020 7808 2844.
28 RM magazine

Foundation news
From bench
to bedside
Great interest was shown at
the recent Members’ Event
held in July at Chelsea.
The Julian Bloom Lecture
Theatre was packed as David
Probert, Chief Operating
Officer, hosted an event
that showcased some of
the Trust’s pioneering work
in cancer care, treatment
and research. Presentations
were provided from guest
speakers Dr James Larkin,
Consultant Medical
Oncologist, and Dr Nick van
As, Consultant Clinical
Oncologist. Dr Larkin spoke
about the challenges of
personalised medicine with
particular targeted drugs,
while Dr van As discussed
the impact that CyberKnife
– the latest in radiotherapy
technology – has had for
patients, and its importance
in the context of future
developments in clinical
radiotherapy trials.
Members put a variety of
questions to the experts and
also had the chance to tour
the CyberKnife Unit, which
reached the first anniversary
of its opening this summer.
The events are a fantastic
way for people interested
in the work of The Royal
Marsden to gain a further
insight, as well as provide
feedback and meet key
people within the Trust. If
you haven’t been to any of
our events and are interested
in attending, please contact
the Foundation Trust Office.
Working for our Members
new governors
We welcome Simon Spevack and Liz Coyne
T
wo new Patient
governors, Simon
Spevack and Liz Coyne,
have been elected to the
Foundation Trust’s Council.
Sam greenhouse, Head of
the Foundation Trust Office,
said: “We look forward to
working with Simon and Liz to
ensure the views of members
are represented at the highest
level in the Trust.”
Sam also thanked the two
outgoing governors, and
welcomed back edward
Crocker, who was re-elected for
a second term of office.
Here, the new governors tell
us what they hope to achieve.
Simon Spevack
“as a patient, my relationship
with The Royal marsden
stretches back 38 years, from a
frightened, naive teenager with
testicular cancer to a cured adult
of 57. Over the years, i have
used the hospital’s services and
i have seen the hospital develop.
“i am keen that knowledge of
long-term side effects is passed
on to patients – especially young
ones – so that they can look out
for them as they get older.
“as a keen supporter of The
Royal marsden and its research,
i want to give something back
for all it has done for me.”
Liz Coyne
“i wanted to be elected as a
governor to show my
appreciation of the excellent
treatment that i have received.
“The Royal marsden is a
wonderful institution. i feel
very honoured to devote
time, expertise, energy and
commitment to represent – and
improve – the collective needs
of other patients and myself.
“my leisure interests have
also been very diverse and
devoted to running peopleorientated
charities, both at a
local and national board level. i
appreciate the importance of The
Royal marsden Cancer Charity.
“i want to ‘put something
back’ for the services that
i have received, and i believe
that i have the commitment
to do just that.”
new Patient governors simon
spevack (top), and Liz Coyne
Date for your diary
The Royal Marsden Annual General Meeting
This will take place on Wednesday 26 September 2012 at 5pm in the Julian Bloom Lecture Theatre,
The Royal Marsden Education and Conference Centre, Stewart’s Grove, Chelsea.
If you would like to attend, please email malvin.sayle@rmh.nhs.uk or call 020 7808 2259.
Your Governors
at a glance
Patient Governors
◆ Paediatric and Adolescent
Stacey Munns
◆ South West London
Anita Gray, Fiona Stewart,
Edward Crocker, Liz Coyne
◆ East Elmbridge & Mid-Surrey
Dr James Laxton, Simon Spevack
◆ Greater London Dr Geoff
Harding, Hilary Bateson
◆ Elsewhere in England
Sally Mason, Vikki Orvice
Carer Governors
Lesley-Ann Gooden,
John Preston, John Howard
Public Governors
◆ Kensington & Chelsea
Dr Carol Joseph
◆ Sutton & Merton
Tony Hazeldine
◆ Elsewhere in England
Ann Curtis
Staff Governors
◆ Doctor Professor Ian Smith
◆ Nurse Lorraine Hyde
◆ Other clinical professional
Nina Kite
◆ Non-clinical
Kim Andrews
Nominated Governors
◆ Institute of Cancer Research
Cathy Scivier
◆ Primary Care Referrer
Dr Chris Elliott
◆ South West London Cancer
Network Alison Hill
◆ West London Cancer
Network vacant
◆ London Borough of
Kensington & Chelsea
Councillor Robert Freeman
◆ Sutton & Merton PCT
Dr Martyn Wake
◆ Croydon PCT vacant
◆ NHS Kensington & Chelsea
Mable Wu
◆ Surrey PCT vacant
◆ Cancer Research UK
(charity) Kate Law
◆ University Partner vacant
if you have any questions or
would like to become a member,
call the Foundation Trust Office
on 020 7808 2844 or email
foundation.trust@rmh.nhs.uk
RM magazine 29

PUZZLES & PRIZES
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tell us your thoughts
We always love to hear from our readers,
whether it is about their experiences of The
Royal Marsden or thoughts on the latest
edition of RM. You may have read some of
these in our Star Letter section in previous
issues. It’s great to receive your letters, and
any letter featured will receive £50 of John
Lewis vouchers. Write to us at RM, Press Office,
The Royal Marsden, Fulham Road, Chelsea,
London SW3 6JJ.
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PRIZE CROSSWORD
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Congratulations to Sylvia Miller, who
won last issue’s crossword prize.
The lucky winner
of our prize
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receive £50 of John
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We also welcome
your thoughts on
RM magazine and
love to hear about
your experiences at
the hospital. Star
Letters win a £50
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Send your crossword or
letter with your name and
contact details to RM, Press
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closing date for entry is
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See below for prize
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PRIZE DRAWS & STAR LETTER TERMS &
CONDITIONS: 1. The Prize Draws and Star Letter
are open to all readers of RM except employees
of the Press Office at The Royal Marsden and
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date for receipt of all entries is Friday 12 October
2012. Only one entry per person per draw.
3. Responsibility cannot be accepted for entries
that are incomplete, illegible or not received.
Proof of posting is not proof of receipt. No cash
alternative is available and prizes are not
transferable. Value of prizes is correct at time of
going to press. 4. Winners will be notified by post
within 14 days of closing date. 5. The Promoter’s
decision on any aspect of the promotions is
final and binding and no correspondence will
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right to substitute a prize of equal or greater
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7. Entry implies acceptance of rules. 8. The
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selected by RM magazine. 9. The winner of the
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30 RM MAGAZINE

in the next issue
RM brings you the latest hospital updates, research news, inspiring
stories and exclusive interviews. The winter 2012 issue is coming soon…
News about the Centre for
Molecular Pathology
October is cancer month –
a Year of Pathology
The latest news and research
updates from across the Trust
For the royal Marsden
Rachael Reeve – Director of Marketing and Communications
Elaine Parr – Head of PR and Communications Naomi Owen – PR and Communications Manager
Belinda Lock – Senior Press Officer Catherine O’Mara – Senior Press Officer Marie-Thérèse Shepherd – Press Officer
For sunday
Lucy Ryan – Editor Marc Grainger – Sub Editor Catherine Hopkinson – Art Director
Lindsay Barrett – Account Director Matt Beaven – Creative Director
Toby Smeeton – Managing Director
RM magazine is published by The Royal Marsden in partnership with Sunday: sundaypublishing.com
© The Royal Marsden 2012. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without prior permission of the Editor. The Royal Marsden
and Sunday accept no responsibility for the views expressed by contributors to the magazine. Repro by F1 Colour. Printed by Pureprint.