Pancreatic CancerPancreatic CancerCatherine grew up in Southam, Warwickshire. Before training to be a nurse she spent some time working in Marks and Spencer. However in 1984 she started her nurse's training and became qualified in 1987. As a qualified nurse she first worked at Dudley Road Hospital (now City Hospital), Birmingham but moved to work at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (UHB), in 1988. She has worked in the liver unit since 1988 but took up her recent post in 2002. She is also very active in the specialist nurse section of the Pancreatic Society and involved in organising their annual national meeting. She runs (or helps run as the patients take an active role) the PanLive support group for pancreatic, biliary and liver cancer patients which meets monthly at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. Cath is married and has 2 children, Rachel (13) and James (10).
Why did you then become a Macmillan Specialist nurse?
The liver unit started to do more oncology surgery and not just transplantation. I found this very interesting and it gave me/ gives me a lot of job satisfaction. As the volume of patients got bigger it became clear that a specialist nursing role was needed.
I was successful in applying for the role.
Why did you specialise in liver, pancreas and biliary cancer?
It was a natural 'move' for me, most of my career as a qualified nurse has been looking after patients with liver, pancreatic or biliary disease primarily liver transplantation and for the last 6 years HPB (hepato-pancreatico-biliary) malignancy. I do also see Gallbladder cancer patients, quite a few both as incidental findings from surgery and also primary referrals.
Please can you tell us what that involves and what training was required:
My role involves information, help and support for patients and their families. I am in a unique and privileged position to be with the patient throughout their 'cancer journey'.
I am with the patient whilst they have their diagnosis and treatment plan explained to them and follow the same patients up during their treatment whether that is surgery or chemotherapy.
I aim to be a consistent point of contact for the patient and their family and am available either on the phone or by appointment to discuss any aspect of the patient’s illness that concerns them.
I was involved in the clinical trials surrounding Gemcitabine and so feel I am able to support and advice patients who are having or are to undertake chemotherapy.
My most frequently asked questions are from patients who wish to go over their consultation again on the telephone or have questions about diet and the use of enzymes or who are anxious that they are not progressing enough after surgery.
Other patients want to bring their appointment forward through me because they are anxious that they have developed new symptoms and wish to see the consultant staff earlier
I also will track patients scan/ radiological intervention appointments and will be a point of contact if the patient has not heard about a scan/stenting date.
My contact with the patient is from diagnosis onwards whether that is surgical or oncological or palliative and involves working closely with other community nursing teams such as district and palliative care nurses and GP’s.
Initially my training was around Liver transplantation and liver disease including an adult intensive care course. For my most recent role I have completed a course in adult oncology and am completing my MSc in Health care ethics and law.
(editorial note: More information on the role of a Macmillan nurse can be found on their web-site)
Why did you set up a support group?
It was at the suggestion of a patient, more than one actually and the consultant surgical staff. They suggested this to me and I wrote around to patients asking them their opinions as to whether they wanted a support group. There was enough interest and so we had our first meeting.
Can you tell us more about your support group?
We meet monthly and it is an informal group. We sometimes have speakers who will talk to us about cancer related subjects and sometimes we have a social meeting where people can really talk to each other about anything, but usually it is about their cancer experience.
What has given you the most satisfaction in your career?
Setting up this nursing service for patients with HPB cancer.
What has caused most frustration?
I could give the same answer!!!
Changing people's attitudes, both the public and health care professionals, about pancreatic, liver and biliary cancer.
Have you seen improvements in patient care in recent years?
Most definitely. The NICE guidelines changed the way pancreatic cancer was seen by oncologists. For the first time they were able to offer treatment for patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer.
The peer review process that reviews the cancer practice of hospitals now has special guidelines for centres that deal with pancreatic cancer patients. It is recognised as a separate speciality.
I have also seen many more clinical trials for pancreatic cancer, i.e. ESPAC and GEM-CAP.
What changes would you make to current management of pancreatic cancer that
could improve the patient's journey?
I would place the same standards that are applied to other cancers in terms of the speed of diagnostics such as CT scans and biopsies.
I think the new cancer wait targets of 31 and 62 days will help with this.
Why do you support the aims of Pancreatic Cancer UK?
The web-site raises the profile of pancreatic cancer in a positive way.
It is in a format that can be accessed by people easily.
first produced 1st May 2006