In February last year, Rosemere Cancer Foundation committed £283,521 of charitable funds to go to the set-up and running costs of the new Late Effects Pelvic Radiation Disease Clinic here at Royal Preston Hospital for a three-year pilot period, to help former cancer patients suffering with life-impacting treatment side-effects.
The nurse-led clinic is supported by gastroenterology, urology and gynaecology consultants and works closely with patients following their cancer treatment. Latest figures show that each year, over 960 cancer patients undergo radical pelvic radiotherapy at the Centre, the majority of these being prostate cancer patients, but also including patients treated for gynaecological, bowel, and bladder cancers. It is estimated that around half of these patients from across Lancashire and the South Lakes will develop post-treatment PRD to an extent that it affects their quality of life - something that this service will help them manage. (You can read more about this project, and the effects of Pelvic Radiation Disease, here on our website.)
Recently, an increasing clinic caseload, coupled with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which has knocked our ability to raise funds, started to threaten the clinic’s future - but a number of generous grants from local charitable Trusts have helped to make it more secure, helping us continue to make a difference for our patients.
These donations have so far totalled an incredible £43,876, made up of grants from the Hospital Saturday Fund, the Harold and Alice Bridges Charity, the Community Foundation for Lancashire, the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund, the Medicash Foundation, the Taylor Newton & Hibbert Charity and the Sir John Fisher Foundation, who have pledged to send an amazing £20,000!
The Trust and the Rosemere Cancer Foundation would like to thank all of these fantastic organisations for their support - the grants will make such a difference in helping to continue this service, for the benefit of our patients.
