'Poo in the post' test is beating bowel cancer

A BOWEL cancer screening programme operating in Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, has shown after just six months that it can save lives.
The two-year rolling programme automatically invites everybody aged between 60 and 69 years to send in a tiny stool sample to be tested.
The take up rate in Somerset so far has been between 60 per cent and 70 per cent, one of the highest figures of any programme nationally.
As a result of the test kit, more than 200 people have been called in for further discussion and a colonoscopy procedure.
Colonoscopy is an endoscopic examination of the large bowel which can diagnose bowel cancer at an early stage before symptoms arise.
Pre-cancerous polyps can be removed during the procedure without need for surgery.
In the six months the programme has been running, 21 patients have been referred on to the surgical team at Musgrove for treatment and 90 patients have had polyps removed.
Taunton Deane Councillor Tony McMahon, aged 62, of Milverton, was among those who received a testing pack and as a result of the sample he was called in for a colonoscopy where a polyp was found and removed.
Councillor McMahon said: “I am extremely lucky. The doctor told me that if untreated, this polyp would have become cancerous in five years time, and I may never have seen any symptoms.
“I was given a mild anaesthetic before the test, and then watched the whole thing on a television screen.
“Now, I only have to go back every 12 months for a check up.
“I was talking to a friend recently who said that he was not going to send in the test - but if a simple ‘poo in the post’ test can save your life, then why delay?”
Musgrove bowel cancer screening programme co-ordinator Julia Heneker said: “Tony’s story is a great example of how the screening programme works.
“The earlier we find a problem, the better the chance of treating it successfully.
“Sometimes, people are a bit embarrassed to talk about faeces and any problems they might have - but this is simple, private, and can save your life.”

• Our photograph shows Councillor Tony McMahon (left) with Julia Heneker and consultant gastro enterologist Dr Stirling Pugh. Photo submitted.

LETTERS: 'Thank you' for readers who helped Macmillan campaign for free cancer patient prescriptions

Dear Editor - After three years of campaigning we are delighted the Government has listened to us and abolished prescription charges for cancer patients from April 2009.
This was absolutely the right thing to do as cancer not only threatens your life, but can also make you poor.
Free prescriptions will transform the lives of thousands of people living with cancer who were struggling to pay for drugs.
All cancer patients are now entitled to apply for a five-year exemption certificate, which will entitle them to all their NHS prescriptions free of charge, not just those relating to cancer.
These certificates can be used from April 1.
This covers those who need prescriptions for the treatment for cancer, the effects of cancer, or the effects of cancer treatment.
The certificate can be renewed as many times as necessary.
To get your application form please visit your GP or oncology clinic.
And if you have already paid for an annual pre-payment certificate, you can get a refund for the months after April.
We simply could not have achieved this without your help, so thank you again to all those who helped Macmillan campaign effectively and make a huge difference to the lives of those living with cancer and those people it may affect in the future.

Gillian Lord
General manager
Macmillan Cancer Support

Supermarket staff and customers help raise £2 million for cancer care

STAFF and customers of the Somerfield store in Minehead have helped the supermarket firm to raise more than £2 million to improve the lives of people living with cancer.
The total has been raised since Macmillan was voted as Somerfield’s charity partner in March of last year.
The Minehead store, in The Avenue, contributed £1,131, which will be put toward the cost to the charity of employing a head and neck cancer nurse specialist in Somerset.
Somerfield head of press and charity Pete Williams said: “We are very excited to have raised £2 million for Macmillan.
“We set ourselves an ambitious target at the start of the partnership and I am very proud to see us exceed it.”
Macmillan provides practical, emotional, and financial support to people affected by cancer.
The money raised by Somerfield stores will help to fund a range of cancer services throughout the country, providing valuable support in local communities.
It has been collected through fund-raising in-store, sales promotions and gift items such as the Little Book of Treats, and a collection of recipes from supporters and celebrities across the UK.
Somerfield involved all of its 42,000 employees in its fund-raising efforts across its 850-plus network of stores nationwide and hoped also to raise awareness among its 10 million customers of the work and services provided by Macmillan.
Mr Williams said: “From big picnics to sponsored head shaves and cycling challenges, the support we have had for Macmillan has been incredible.
“It has been fantastic to know that every penny raised will help support people living with cancer in local areas.”
Macmillan Cancer Support chief executive Ciarán Devane said: “This is a phenomenal achievement and is a testament to the commitment of Somerfield staff and customers to improving lives in the local community.
“We are grateful to everybody involved.”
With more than two million people living with cancer in the UK, the money raised by Somerfield will help Macmillan with its commitment to reach everybody affected by cancer by 2010.

LETTER: Think about animals before buying 'pink' in breast cancer awareness month

Dear Editor - Anybody who has picked up a magazine or walked through a shop recently, knows that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
It is hard to miss the displays of pink products that benefit breast cancer charities.
But before you buy, ask yourself if your donation will really help women in relevant ways, or will you simply be funding the same useless animal experiments that have been going on for decades?
The basic model of cancer research has not changed much since the 1970s: Grow cancer cells in a laboratory, inject them into mice, attack the resulting tumours with the experimental drug du jour and see what happens.
But there is a world of difference between humans and animals in their metabolism, biochemistry, physiology, and genetic make-up, so the results seen in mice cannot be reliably applied to people.
Meanwhile, as we spend millions of pounds to cure cancer in mice, we are missing opportunities that could help real women in the real world - such as making breast cancer treatment more accessible and educating people about the role that diet plays in cancer prevention.
Sadly, new technologies that could truly benefit patients - like the three-dimensional model of human breast cancer recently developed by British scientists, made by growing cells from normal and cancerous breast tissue - remain the exception.
This October, we do not need more pink ribbons or pink T-shirts - or mice with breast cancer.
We need a commitment to funding programmes that will result in true medical progress, including better patient services, education, and vital research that does not rely on outdated animal models.
Toni Vernelli
Animal Aid
Bradford St
Tonbridge, Kent
TN9 1AW

Fund-raising Botham visits hospital children's unit 'where it all began'

ENGLAND and Somerset cricket legend Sir Ian Botham started his latest fund-raising walk - and visited Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, where it all started for him 20 years ago.
Sir Ian, who is president of national blood cancer charity Leukaemia Research, walked around the hospital with chief executive Jo Cubbon and consultants Dr Linda Whiteford and Simon Bolam.
He saw the new Beacon Centre for cancer patients, which will open in May of next year, and was cheered on outside the children’s unit, where he first met patients with leukaemia in 1985.
Sir Ian said: “It was great to be back at Musgrove Park Hospital where it all started for me over 20 years ago.
“The staff here are working hard with Leukaemia Research and many others to help beat childhood leukaemia for good.”
Dr Whiteford is a consultant paediatrician with a special interest in cancer and she joined Sir Ian on his walk round the hospital.
She said: “Leukaemia is the commonest form of childhood cancer and the work that Sir Ian and Leukaemia Research are doing to raise awareness and funds is helping us to make great progress.
“Survival rates have improved dramatically over the last 20 years and overall survival rates for children with leukaemia are now approaching 90 per cent.”
Anybody who would like to help Sir Ian Botham beat childhood leukaemia should visit www.bothamwalk.com or call 020 7405 0101.

• Our photograph shows Sir Ian Botham and chief executive Jo Cubbon outside the children’s unit at Musgrove Park Hospital. Photo submitted.

LETTER: Thanks for making cancer care cards

Dear Editor - I would like to say an enormous thank you to everybody who has so generously spent time designing and making unique cards in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care this year.
Each year, Marie Curie Cancer Care runs the Create a Card for Cancer Care campaign in partnership with ‘do crafts’, the website and magazine for crafters.
We call upon our supporters to create one-off cards which are then sold in Marie Curie Cancer Care Shops across the UK for £1 each.
This year alone, we received a record-breaking 111,400 cards, and I would like to call on your readers to go along to their local Marie Curie Cancer Care shop and buy one of these bespoke cards.
All the money raised will help Marie Curie Nurses like me care for terminally ill people in their own homes, allowing them to spend their final days with the people they love the most.
Lorna Clarkson
Nursing Ambassador of the Year for England
Marie Curie Cancer Care

LETTER: Grow a tache to help fight male cancer

Dear Editor – I am writing as an ambassador for the Everyman Male Cancer Campaign with some tips for you men out there.
There's nothing that us ladies like more than a man who will put their money where their mouth is and have some fun for charity.
Everyman’s TacheBack campaign, a fund-raiser where men ditch their razors and grow a sponsored moustache throughout September, gives you boys the ideal opportunity to do just that.
All money raised goes to funding important research into testicular and prostate cancer, diseases which affect 37,000 men like you every year.
So, visit www.tacheback.com, get growing, and you might get more than just a moustache to be proud of - you might just manage to lure a lovely lady.
Happy growing!
Sarah Champion
Virgin radio presenter and TV star

Sir Ranulph vows 'never again' after second Everest attempt is abandoned

EXHAUSTION brought on by sleep deprivation has forced explorer and adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes to abandon a second attempt to conquer Mount Everest.
Sir Ranulph, who lives near Exford, was trying to raise £3 million for the Marie Curie cancer charity from his feat.
Now, he has vowed not to try to climb Everest again.
He had hoped to reach the 29,000 feet summit at 03.30 BST on Saturday, but the 64-year-old had to turn back after contending with heart problems and vertigo.
Sir Ranulph suffered a heart attack during his first unsuccessful attempt to scale the mountain three years ago.
He had set off from base camp on Tuesday and was accompanied by guide Kenton Cool and medic Robert Casserley.
They reached the final stopping-off point in the ascent after negotiating the ‘death zone’.
However, they had not had enough rest as the team had to set out on the final stage of the ascent in the dark because of impending bad weather.
Despite being only a few hundred yards from the summit, they were forced to turn back to base camp after resting
Sir Ranulph said: “I am not exhausted, I just had not had enough sleep.
“You have to accept these things. I am not crying over spilt milk but it was agonisingly close to the summit.
“Luck is not with me on Everest. I was within an ace of doing it. The following day I got back down to base camp in one go. I have got punch if I have had a chance to recharge my batteries.”
His wife, Louise Fiennes, told the BBC that he was keen to return to the UK immediately.
She said: “He just called me an hour ago and asked me to arrange to get him back to Kathmandu. He is desperate to get back to the UK.”
Iswari Paudel, who owns the company which organised Sir Ranulph’s climb, told the BBC he would be flown out by helicopter on Sunday morning.
Sir Ranulph was making his second attempt on the peak despite suffering from vertigo and heart problems and currently being in remission from prostate cancer.
He was the first man to reach both the North Pole and the South Pole by land, ran seven marathons in seven continents in seven days shortly after heart surgery, and journeyed to discover a lost city in Arabia described as ‘the Atlantis of the Sands’.

• Our photograph shows Sir Ranulph on Everest. Photo by Kenton Cool.

Sir Ranulph poised to conquer Everest at second attempt

SIR Ranulph Fiennes is poised for the final push in his second attempt to summit Mount Everest and in the process raise £3 million for the Marie Curie cancer charity.
The Exmoor adventurer, who lives near Exford, expects to reach the 29,000 feet summit at 03.30 BST on Saturday.
Sixty-four-year-old Sir Ranulph and his team set off at dawn for the Khumbu Icefall, one of the most dangerous parts of the route.
The route will take them across Western Cwm, a glacial valley, where they will stay overnight before tackling the six-hour, 650-yard climb to Camp Four.
Then, it will be a case of waiting for the right weather before completing the last part of the climb in around 12 hours, aiming to reach the summit on Saturday.
As the team heads closer to the mountain’s ‘death zone’, the air becomes thinner and the temperature plummets.
Sir Ranulph admits his main concern is exhaustion due to the altitude.
He said: “On past expeditions, particularly long polar treks pulling very heavy weights, the exhaustion factor has come in - but not nearly as bad as here because this is altitude exhaustion.
“So I need a mental defence against the wimpish voice in my head.
“At times like this one has an inner voice saying ‘stop, we have got to stop, it is not sensible to carry on’.
“That is when you need a mental defence. Mine has always been the memory of my grandfather and my father.
“Their spirits are around and watching and I do not want to do anything that will shame them, such as giving up unnecessarily early.”
Sir Ranulph holds several endurance records, among them the successful completion of seven marathons in seven days on seven continents.
Three years ago he was forced to abandon his first attempt on Everest after suffering a heart attack.
Sir Ranulph is raising funds for the Marie Curie ‘Delivering Choice Programme’, which was launched in 2004 with the aim of doubling the number of people who can die at home.
The charity wants to develop and help provide the best possible services for terminally ill patients, allowing them to be cared for in the place of their choice.

• Our photograph shows Sir Ranulph on his earlier Everest attempt. Photo submitted.

Launch of bowel cancer charity support group

A PATIENT support group for those affected by bowel cancer has been formally launched at Musgrove Park Hospital.
The Somerset Colorectal Cancer Support Group (SCCSG) has been in existence for just over a year, but the formal launch event celebrated:

• The opening of a new consulting room in the endoscopy suite at Musgrove which has been furnished with more than £2,000 raised by SCCSG
• The presentation by SCCSG of a £20,000 diathermy machine for use in gastrointestinal surgery at the hospital

The group exists for anybody in the county who suffers from bowel cancer, their family, friends, and carers, and for anybody receiving treatment for colorectal cancer at Musgrove Park or any hospital in Somerset.
As well as raising money, the group runs a range of support and information groups, both on an individual or group basis.
The next drop in session will take place on April 8 from 6.30 pm to 8 pm at St James’ Church, in Taunton.
A social event to Ilminster Theatre is planned for April 30.
Consultant colorectal surgeon at Musgrove, Chris Vickery, said: “I am grateful to everybody who has worked hard over the last year or so to set up the SCCSG.
“I am also extremely grateful to all those who have contributed to the charity.
“The equipment and furniture purchased so far is much needed and greatly appreciated by medical staff and patients.
“I hope and believe that the SCCSG will continue going from strength to strength, supporting the care of patients in Somerset with colorectal cancer.”
The charity’s chairman, Annie Lanigan, said: “This was a successful event with the Lord Lieutenant, the High Sheriff, and the MP being joined by representatives from Macmillan Cancer Care, the Ileostomy Association, members of our group, donors and supporters, as well as representatives from Musgrove Park staff and management.
“An exciting finale was the totally unexpected boost to our funds of a cheque from the High Sheriff, David Medlock, who generously gave me an envelope as he was leaving.”

• Our photograph shows former bowel cancer patient Maurice Day, of Wells, a founder trustee of SCCSG, cuts a ribbon to launch the charity. Also pictured are (left to right) chairman Annie Lanigan, Josie Day, and Derek and June Cooper, from Wells. Photo submitted.

Breast cancer hot spot fears are allayed

FEARS that Minehead was becoming a hot spot for breast cancer cases among women have been allayed.
Figures given to The Post showed there had been 18 cases diagnosed in a 14-week period from October, 2007, to the end of the year.
Compared with a national figures which indicated for a town the size of Minehead there should be just 8.7 per year, it seemed there had been a dramatic rise.
The figures were collected from a mobile screening unit which visited the town from October to January of this year, and a local GP surgery.
But Dr Julia Verne, director of the South West Public Health Observatory, said: “This recent increase in the detection of breast cancer for women living in and around Minehead is entirely expected and due to the effectiveness of the mobile breast screening service.
“However, I do appreciate how people may mistakenly jump to the conclusion that there has been a sudden increase in breast cancer when they hear of increased numbers of cases.
“It does not indicate an unusual or higher than expected rise in the disease.
“The same effect occurs whenever the mobile breast screening service visits an area and occurred back in 2004 when the mobile screening service last visited Minehead.
“Breast screening has been shown to save lives. The mobile breast screening service is able to detect breast cancers which women may not be able to detect themselves.
“Early detection and treatment results in the best outcome for the small number of women who may be affected by the disease and I would therefore strongly recommend that all women take up the invitation to be screened when they receive an invitation letter.
“Women who identify a lump in their breast or be concerned about any breast abnormality should make an appointment with their GP to discuss their concerns.”
Dr Verne said given that the population was considerably older in Minehead than in other parts of the country a meaningful comparison of average figures could only be made between age-standardised rates of cancer.
Over the last 10 years of available data (1996 to 2005) there were 129 cases of malignant breast cancer in Minehead, which equates to a age-standardised rate of 125 cases per 100 000.
Dr Verne said it was not significantly different (statistically speaking) either from the English age standardised rate - 120.6 cases per 100,000, or from the age standardised rate for Somerset - 136 cases per 100,000, or from the South West of England - 137 cases per 100,000.
The Somerset Breast Cancer Unit is responsible for providing three-yearly breast cancer screening in the area.
In Minehead, this is provided by a mobile screening unit which visits the town for approximately three months every three years.
The last visit happened between October, 2007, and January, 2008, and the previous one in late 2004.
Dr Verne said: “At this point not all women picked up by the latest breast screening visit have undergone all their testing and treatment.
“Therefore, it is not possible to provide a confirmed number of cases.
“Some of these abnormal breast screenings might also prove not to be cancer.
“In 2004 a similar number was detected compared to the recent mobile breast screening service visit.
“In conclusion, we believe that the number of cases of cancer picked up by this screening round is typical for Minehead, and the overall rate of breast cancer is normal for a town with Minehead’s population and demographic composition.”

Help name new cancer centre and win a meal for two

RESIDENTS of West Somerset are being offered an opportunity to name a new cancer centre currently being built at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton.
The £20 million centre is scheduled to open in May of next year and will include an 18-bed inpatient ward, 22-chair/bed haematology and chemotherapy day ward, two linear accelerators, a CT simulator, and outpatients facilities.
The new service will employ about 100 staff and it will turn Musgrove into a centre of excellence in Somerset for cancer services.
Patients will no longer have to travel to Bristol or Exeter for their planning and radiotherapy treatment.
Now, the hospital is asking for names for the centre to be suggested by the public and staff.
Musgrove cancer services manager Babette Fuller said: “This new centre is for the whole of Somerset and we want patients, ex-patients, family members, staff, and carers to be involved in deciding on its name.
“We want the chosen name to be short and to suggest hope, healing, compassion, teamwork, quality, and the values that we aspire to at Musgrove.
“We do not think the new centre should be named after any one individual.”
All ideas will be put to a panel of patients, staff, representatives of SURE, and others to make the final decision.
The person proposing the chosen name will win a meal for two in the restaurant of the Castle Hotel, in Taunton.
Any suggestions should be sent either by post to Jo Walker, Ward 9, Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, TA1 5 DA or by email to joanna.walker @tst.nhs.uk.

• Our photograph shows the cancer centre under construction at Musgrove Park Hospital. Photo submitted.

Exmoor 'big bridge' players help raise cancer care funds

MORE than £1,000 has been raised for Somerset Cancer Care from a ‘Big Bridge’ event recently held on Exmoor.
The charity is a division of St Margaret’s Somerset Hospice and provides information, support, and free stress-reducing complementary therapies to anybody affected by cancer - patients and their families and carers.
The charity’s Exmoor committee organised a bridge and lunch event in Winsford where the draw alone raised £239, and the total sent to the charity was £1038.20.
Sixteen tables of bridge players filled the village hall and everybody enjoyed a hearty lunch as well.
Among the organisers were volunteers Joan Bidie, Jane Lewis, Jenny Williams, and Cathy Nicholls, and non-volunteers Joan Cooper, Sue Ashburner, Brenda Coates, Anne Phillips, Rosie Strickland, and Alice Windsor Clive.
Money was also raised for St Margaret’s Somerset Hospice through the sale of its Christmas cards.
Committee member Cathy Nicholls said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who organised the ‘Big Bridge’ event.
“It was a fantastic day and the hard work of everybody involved really shone through.”

• Our photograph shows Dave Williams (left) and Peter Nicholls preparing refreshments for the ‘Big Bridge’ fund-raising afternoon. Photo submitted.
  

Council jewellery sale aids breast cancer charity

A GEM of a sale in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer is being held in the West Somerset Council chamber, in Williton, on Wednesday, October 31.
Event organiser Kayleigh Steadman of KJ Collection, said: “We are hoping to beat the amount we raised at the sale last year, and have some great offers on.
“It is a good opportunity for local people to treat themselves or to find a gem of a present for Christmas.”
A wide range of silver and gemstone jewellery will be on sale, including pendants, rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings, as well as a selection of simpler gemstone and glass pendants.
For a more exotic treat, there will be an ethnic touch with hand-crafted jewellery from Peru, and a choice of freshwater pearls in various lengths, sizes, and colours.
Kayleigh said: “Everything in the range is sold at below retail price, so it is all good value for money.
“Fifteen per cent from every sale goes towards the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer, so it is for a good cause, too.”
The sale takes place between 11 am and 2.30 pm, ahead of the chamber being used for a meeting of the full council which starts at 5 pm.
Breakthrough Breast Cancer is one of two charities being supported this year by KJ Collection.
Anybody interested in holding a charity jewellery sale can contact Kayleigh on 07980 739616 or by visiting www.KJCollection.co.uk.