By Helen Griffee

WOMEN in Worcestershire with secondary breast cancer are benefiting from a new specialist nurse who helps them through the complex journey of treatments and emotions.

In the first six months since she started her new role Lynne Colbourne has supported 63 women from Worcester, Droitwich, Evesham, Malvern, Pershore and surrounding areas.

The experienced chemotherapy, oncology and cancer nurse specialist is employed in this innovative role by St Richard’s Hospice to work in partnership with Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Lynne can often be involved from the first meeting when a woman is given the diagnosis of secondary breast cancer.

She said: “Patients are told very honestly that the cancer will never go away totally but there are treatments that can be offered to try and shrink or contain it, stop it spreading and improve symptoms so they are not getting any pain.”

“Often a major worry for someone is how they will pay the bills or concerns their employer will make them redundant. I can help them through that maze by connecting them to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau worker at St Richard’s, which helps with issues on finance and benefits.

“I also link them with the hospice physiotherapists and occupational therapists, our family support team for counselling and social work and any other services I think will benefit them.”

Lynne added: “I start getting to know them and their needs so I can be a key link. Previously at diagnosis appointments they wouldn’t have had a nurse specialist with them when they hear results.

“Now they can phone me and say ‘I can’t remember a word of what I was told’ and I can talk them through it. They have one person they can contact rather than not knowing where to start. I might not always have the answers but I will try and find someone who might.”

Lynne will sometimes share a patient’s care with the community nurse specialists at St Richard’s Hospice who visit people in their own homes or elsewhere, making best use of areas of expertise.

“Although the patient’s illness is life-limiting, the time scales over which we will see them can be very wide. We might see a patient treated for primary breast cancer, return with secondary cancer six months later, and others 15 or 20 years down the line. Treatments have advanced so much there is often something to offer. “

Lynne says lots of women want advice on issues such as weight gain, exercise, menopausal symptoms and nutrition, all of which she, or other hospice team members, are able to offer help.

She says that for some people, hearing the very word hospice makes them go white with fear.

“It can be a big issue to get across. Our care is very much about wellness, survivorship and rehabilitation. There are, of course, some times when we have discussions about stopping treatments when they are no longer effective.

“Hopefully by then we have built up a trusting and caring relationship with the patient and the family and we can support them to enjoy life to their maximum ability and ensure all those who die do so with dignity in a place chosen by them supported by people important to them.”

Dr Chris Price, consultant medical oncologist, said: “We are extremely fortunate to have Lynne Colbourne working with us. She is a very experienced cancer nurse who has adapted to her new role brilliantly, providing a bridge between the hospital and the well-established support services provided by St Richard’s Hospice.

“As well as giving information and advice, Lynne is a very real practical support and helps patients who attend my clinic in innumerable ways, often telephoning them before or after clinic, spending time with them after difficult consultations, liaising with their families or chasing scan appointments and results.

“She is a genuine friend and ally and is always supporting her patients. We wonder how we managed before she joined our team and already we need two of her.”

Bridget Gough’s story

One patient who has benefited from Lynne’s support is Bridget Gough, a 66-year-old retired primary school teacher from Upton upon Severn.

Lynne was at the meeting when Bridget was told by her consultant that her previous breast cancer had returned.

Bridget said: “Having Lynne is brilliant. She is always there at my appointments with Chris Price, the consultant. She’s knows the ins and outs, she’s got access to my notes and she remembers everything that’s said.”

“No problem is too small. She treats me as if I’m the only one with cancer. Dr Price and Lynne never rush me - they always have time and are very supportive. I look forward to seeing them as they are looking after me.”

Bridget has recently been told that following six chemotherapy sessions she has no cancer cells left in her body.

“I know this is on-going. But I don’t panic about anything. It could come back next year or in 12 years or more. I’m 66 and it doesn’t frighten me. I’m lucky I don’t have any other underlying health conditions which might make the treatments more complicated. But the children find it hard to think of me not being here.”

Bridget is full of praise for the support Lynne has given her three adult children. “They can talk, email or phone her whenever they want and I’ve told Lynne she can tell them anything they want to know about my condition.

“They’ve also been offered counselling and St Richard’s even arranged for one of the children to see someone at her local hospice elsewhere in the country. They really go the extra mile. We are so lucky to have St Richard’s here on our doorstep,” said Bridget.

Lynne was a great support when Bridget decided to have her head hennaed after she had lost her hair following chemotherapy. After talking to a henna artist, Bridget chose to ‘celebrate her baldness’ by having an intricate design temporarily tattooed on her head.

Her hair is now growing back since the chemotherapy has finished. “I’m very pleased I did it and had lots of great complements from people. It was much nicer for me than wearing a headscarf.”

• Up to one third of patients with early stage breast cancer will develop secondary breast cancer

• It is the second most frequent cause of cancer death

• St Richard’s estimates there are approximately 1,000 secondary breast cancer patients living in Worcestershire.