Friday September 4^th 2009

The Big Cancer Conversation

Representatives from the Lewis and Harris Breast Cancer Support Group recently attended a special conference in Stirling, ‘The Big Cancer Challenge’, so that awareness was raised about the unique challenges that islanders face relating to cancer.

The Scottish Government contacted Gill Chadwick, Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse for NHS Western Isles informing her that it is considering a revision of its cancer plan. The Government were seeking the views of the public, patients and healthcare professionals to ensure that any changes reflect the needs of patients. Gill and Lorna Senior, Macmillan Nurse in the Uists and Barra, forwarded that information to local cancer support groups.

Subsequently, two members of the Lewis and Harris Breast Cancer Support Group, Mary MacLeod and Joan MacKay, attended the conference. The local group was determined that any changes in cancer care nationally were as relevant to people in the Western Isles as someone in the Central Belt. Indeed, some changes might have to be specific to island communities.

The local representatives heard from people from all across Scotland talk about their experiences and were pleased to be able to report many positive experiences from the Western Isles. Of those, the excellent service provided by the Macmillan nurses in the community and the hospitals for people living with cancer is very valuable and one which is not available in any other part of Scotland.

The Macmillan Nurses in the Western Isles see the patients wherever they are and throughout their cancer experience, so maintaining a continuous link for advice and support.

All of these views expressed at the conference are now being collated and fed back to the Government. A report will be produced in due course.