Registered Charity No 1108540

The day in the life of Chestnut nurse Vanessa Wilcox

Vanessa Wilcox joined the Chestnut Unit at Derriford Hospital as a Chestnut Nurse in October 2007.

“Primarily one of my roles is to do a follow up for men who have stable prostate cancer, which may vary; from men who are on active surveillance to men who have had radical surgery, to men who are on hormone treatment”.

“Im always here as a contact point for all patients and relatives with queries about appointments, treatments and on–going care”.

“I also tend to administer patient’s first hormone injections and liaise with GP’s and district nurses about that”.

“I sit in with a newly diagnosed patient with the consultants, but due to time constraints within a normal clinic, I then take them aside into my own office and give them some written information. I also write down their PSA levels and things which are specific to them so if they read anything in the future they can look up things that are relevant to them”

“I then reiterate what they have been told by the consultant and discuss their on going care and referrals and arrange any possible scans and how they go about getting their results”

Vanessa finds this is also a good time to touch base with their wives and partners, because they have an important role in the process.

“Some patients are not fortunate to have a significant other.  Generally men are more aware and wives and families are encouraging men to get checked out at an early stage”.

Vanessa’s also a member of a multi-disciplinary team that meet once a month to discuss patients and talk about best treatment options.

“I think having never done a job like this before and having stepped into the role, I think its really, really important, just seeing the impact it has on patients and their relatives”.

“I run a support group once a month and seeing the response to that and how well the group has been embraced by men and their partners, I think the role is hugely beneficial and it tends to give some coherence to the team”.

“People tend to use me as an information channel I suppose and then I can disseminate information to the rest of the team – the more I do the role the more important I think it is”.

When Vanessa first arrived she didn’t know any of the patients, but she has gradually built up her own client base and set up a buddy system with patients who have been diagnosed before and have had specific training.

“I see approx three hundred new patients every year and on my follow up patient list there are around a thousand patients”.

The support group meets on the last Thursday of each month at the post grad centre at Derriford and lasts around ninety minutes. “Its basically a way of getting men who have prostate cancer diagnosed whether new patients or not to talk to each other”.

“Most weeks we have a speaker, maybe a consultant or a dietician or sometimes one of the other patients. Then after we have a question and answer session and it’s a great platform for patients to speak to one another and the wives get to speak to each other as well”.

“I think if men are concerned, then going along to their GP’s and having a blood test and being examined early is better than leaving it. If patients are diagnosed at an early stage then the treatment options are very successful and certainly early treatment at a younger age – they will have very good outcomes”.

The Chestnut Appeal for Prostate Cancer strives to provide much needed support to men with prostate cancer and their families across Devon & Cornwall.  The appeal has recently purchased two new pieces of equipment.  A high definition camera stack, which will be used to aid surgeons at Derriford with their pioneering keyhole surgery and an ultrasound scanner.  Chestnut Appeal manager, Lesley-Ann Simpson says, “It’s brilliant that we were able to buy these pieces of kit. At £70,000 and £33,000 respectively, they’re not cheap and I would like to thank everyone who continues to support the charity and helping us to make such a marked difference”. Patients from all over the region will be able to make use of this treatment, which previously, has not been available in the South West.   The Chestnut Appeal will be celebrating ten years in 2010 - ten years in which it has helped change the way prostate cancer is treated across Devon & Cornwall. If you would like to get involved by arranging an event, volunteering or making a donation please get in touch on 01752 792 736

www.chestnutappeal.org.uk

David  - chestnut.events@phnt.swest.nhs.uk

Lesley Ann – chestnut.appeal@phnt.swest.nhs.uk