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CANCER PATIENTS 'WORRIED SICK' SAYS MACMILLAN
NEW
report exposes devastating effects of a cancer diagnosis on families
and relationships. Cancer patients are not getting the
emotional support they need to cope with the disease, says a new
report by Macmillan Cancer Support. As well as high levels of
depression and anxiety, cancer patients and carers reported
relationship problems sometimes resulting in divorce and separation.
1 in 3 of us will get cancer at some point in our lives.
Cancer is still the UK's biggest killer but as treatments improve
the number of people living with cancer continues to rise. An
estimated 1.2 million people in the UK today have at one time
received a cancer diagnosis and many will still be living with the
effects of the illness.
Worried Sick, the emotional impact of cancer published by Macmillan
this week, found that 49% of cancer patients experienced
depression and 75% suffered anxiety. In fact for 45% of patients
it's not the physical effects of the disease but the emotional ones
that are the most difficult to cope with. The report looks in depth
at the emotional, practical and relationship fallout that can follow
a cancer diagnosis, problems that can continue even after the
patient has recovered from the disease.
Increasingly cancer treatment is given on an outpatient basis, via
frequent and prolonged outpatient visits for, for example,
chemotherapy or radiotherapy. All the more worrying then that the
report found that 26% of people with cancer said they feel abandoned
by the health system when not in hospital. Instead cancer patients
are reliant on the practical and emotional support of carers,
mostly partners or family, thats nearly all of whom (95%) said they put
the needs of the person with cancer above their own needs. But
at what cost? 36% of carers felt their relationships with the
person who has cancer, and with family and friends, were put under 'enormous'
strain and 24% felt abandoned at some stage.
And the same was true for cancer patients, 26% of people with cancer
said they experienced difficulties in their relationships with their
partner as a result of their cancer diagnosis. 25% of these
people (7% of respondents with cancer) say that they have broken up
with their partner as a result of their cancer and 12% have
seriously considered doing so.
Peter Cardy, Macmillan Cancer Support's Chief Executive, comments:-
'This groundbreaking report paints a vivid picture of the
overwhelming impact a cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment has
on the lives of the person diagnosed, and their family and friends.
And it exposes shocking gaps in the support offered to cancer
patients and their loved ones.'
The report is published alongside the announcement that Macmillan
has changed its name to Macmillan Cancer Support (from Macmillan
Cancer Relief) as the charity pledges to reach more cancer patients
and carers and offer them the support they need. The charity is both
expanding its provision and raising awareness of the broad range of
services it already offers across the UK.
Peter Cardy continues:- 'It's vital that people know what
Macmillan Cancer Support does – so they can access the emotional,
practical and financial support we offer, both via our iconic nurses
and other professionals and increasingly our website, information
centres and helplines. And we are now expanding our services to
ensure we can reach even more people affected by cancer. But we
can't do it alone, we call on the governments of the four UK
nations, and the NHS, to create and fund services that meet the
unmet needs identified by this report. And on the public to help
Macmillan expand to reach more of the people who need us.'
There are Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centres in many
towns and cities across the UK and new ones are opening all the time
where people can find the help and support that Macmillan's research
shows is desperately needed.
The charity has an information pack for the public, available from
Freephone 0800 500 800, and a new DVD about Macmillan Cancer Support
is viewable on the charity's website at
www.macmillan.org.uk.
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Wedding Fever Takes to the Tracks
ORGANISERS search
for local bride to start Race for Life in Wirral. Have you
tied the knot or are you planning on getting married this year? Have
you or a member of your family been touched by cancer? Do you want
to show your support and celebrate the life-saving work undertaken
by Cancer Research UK?
Now in its 13th year, Race For Life is the largest women only
fundraising event in the UK. This year, for the first time ever, 4
June 2006 will see the launch of One Big Day, with 25 races taking
place simultaneously across the country.
To celebrate the launch of One Big Day, Cancer Research UK is
looking for new brides and brides-to-be to start their local race.
After all, who could bring to life the importance of One Big Day
better than someone who is either planning or recently planned their
own?
If you would like to start the Wirral Race for Life, taking place at
Birkenhead Park, and help launch One Big Day write to
brides@frankpr.it and tell us why it should be
you...don't forget to attach a photograph.
Each Race For Life event
covers a distance of 5k, encouraging women of all ages and levels of
fitness to participate. Race For Life 2006 looks set to break all
records with in excess of 750,000 women expected to join forces to
raise £46 million for Cancer Research UK.
If you would like to
enter a Race for Life near you log on to
www.raceforlife.org for more information.
OPEN
AUDITIONS FOR TALENTED YOUNGSTERS AGED 7 to 25
JUXTAPOSED Productions
are holding open auditions in Manchester for promising young stars
of the future. They are looking for young talented vocalists from
the age of 7 up to 21. They are looking for soloists and chorus
members for their forthcoming productions ‘Mobvies in Motion’
and ‘The Best of Broadway’. There will be 3 performances in
total at top venues across the North West including the prestigious
Opera House Theatre in Manchester.
Open Auditions are to be held at The Dance House Theatre, Oxford Rd,
Manchester on Sunday 9 April 2006. If you’ve watched the X-factor
and feel you have what it takes to perform in front of 2000 people
at one of the city’s most prestigious theatre venues then why not
give it a try! You will preferably need to bring along a CV and
Photo and you must prepare a song of your choice to be performed
unaccompanied. Registration time is 12.00pm, so why not give it a
try!
Juxtaposed productions are a leading producer of National Touring
shows across the country.
For further information on the auditions and the show visit the
Juxtaposed productions website at:
www.juxtaposedproductions.com.
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