The Sussex Cancer Fund’s mantra of trying to make cancer treatment more bearable is never more illustrated by our onsite massage therapist Gabby Bigness. Gabby works through Full Circle Fund but is funded by the Sussex Cancer Fund, to give our patients a little relief while receiving treatment.
Gabby works in the Chemotherapy Unit at the Sussex Cancer Centre and the Haematology/Oncology Ward, Level 9, the Haematology Day Unit also at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, as well as the Oncology Day Unit at the Princess Royal Hospital.
Every three months Gabby sends us a report with feedback about her work and it is always very heartwarming to see we are making a difference.
Here are just a few of the comments made by some of our patients:
Anxiety
“The massage creates a space for deep relaxation, that really makes a positive difference to my cancer journey.”
32 year old with Lymphoma
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
“The massage transported me absolutely to a different, and wonderful place away from the chemo unit; thank you so much.”
65 year old with cancer of Oropharynx
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
“The gentle and sustained pressure of your hands on my shoulders feels like you are pushing away all my tension.”
68 year old with Breast cancer
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
“The massage is the highlight of my week.”
59 year old with cancer of Hypopharynx
Pain
“The massage is incredibly relaxing and this creates a really helpful distraction during the session that makes any pain and anxiety recede into the background.”
67 year old with Ovarian cancer
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
“The massage session gives me such respite from the persistent pain I have. It feels wonderful to forget about the pain during that time.”
68 year old with Oesophageal cancer
Who benefits from the service?
In addition to these lovely patient testimonials, these reports also serve to remind us of the importance of these extra services. During this time Gabby treated over 200 patients receiving treatment for a number of cancers including:
- testicular, bladder, prostate
- Oesophageal, oropharynx, pancreatic
- Colon, rectal
- Ovarian, cervical, endometrial
- Malignant melanoma
- Glioma, Floor of mouth
- Breast
- Lung
- Myeloma
- Leukaemia
- Lymphoma
While it is great to see so many patients benefitting from Gabby’s work, we would love to be able to support even more of our cancer patients throughout Sussex. If you would like to support this valuable service or any of our other projects please do consider donating.
