Cancer patients in East Lancashire will benefit from funded weekend therapy sessions to ease anxiety before treatment
East Lancashire: Weekend therapy sessions for cancer patients are getting a nice funding boost. Thanks to a charitable donation, these sessions will continue to help ease anxiety.
Every month, the Rosemere Cancer Centre hosts Saturday open mornings. They’re designed for patients from Blackburn, Burnley, Nelson, Colne, and Accrington who are about to start radiotherapy.
Starting February 8, the charity will fund the first five open mornings of 2025, costing £900 each. This covers staffing for four hours, from 9 am to 1 pm.
During these open mornings, small groups of up to 10 patients can explore the Radiotherapy Department when it’s less busy. They get a guided tour, including a look inside a treatment room.
Patients can see how the LINAC machine works, which is used for delivering radiotherapy. They also get one-on-one time to ask questions to radiographers, engineers, and Macmillan staff while enjoying some refreshments.
Paul Attwood, a radiotherapy practice educator, mentioned that while many know about radiotherapy, they often don’t understand the planning and treatment process. This lack of knowledge can lead to stress and anxiety.
He added that these open mornings help new patients feel more relaxed and informed. Over the past couple of years, 15 such mornings have been held, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
Each session lasts about an hour, allowing for four groups to visit. With the new funding, they expect to help around 200 more patients this year.
Dan Hill, chief officer of Rosemere Cancer Foundation, emphasized that fear of the unknown can be crippling. These open mornings aim to ease those fears by showing patients what to expect.
He expressed delight in funding these sessions, highlighting their significant benefits for patient well-being. All patients referred for radiotherapy at Rosemere will have the chance to book a spot at an open morning by calling 01772 522931.
