The Sussex Cancer Fund’s 40th anniversary year

The Sussex Cancer Fund’s 40th anniversary year is drawing to a close and as in previous years the charity has been extremely busy supporting patients and cancer services throughout Sussex. 

It is likely that every Cancer Patient in Sussex has benefitted in some way from something the Sussex Cancer Fund has provided.

The Sussex Cancer Fund buy equipment, additional patient services, carry out refurbishments and building projects, and fund cancer research, essentially everything the major national charities do but the money we raise stays here in Sussex.  

This year despite the restrictions imposed by the pandemic we have continued to provide the charity’s core services to patients. Having cancer treatment is tough both physically and emotionally; we try and make the process a little more bearable. Gestures like providing decent tea and coffee, music in the radiography suites, an up to date glossy magazine to read right through to having your own patient gown to preserve dignity are small but appreciated touches we provide patients. One of the most recognised patient benefits is the provision of the Sussex Cancer Fund car park, receiving daily treatments is stressful enough without having to worry about where to park. Each month, we provide 500 parking permits. Some of those permits will be used up to 20 times which equates to approximately 2500 parking spaces a month.

One of the patient services we fund is Massage Therapy, as well as the obvious benefits that massage brings in terms of relaxation there are hidden benefits of human contact which can mean a lot to some of our patients that may be living alone. It can also help relieve symptoms of treatment and provide pain relief. “The peripheral neuropathy – numbness and tingling – in my feet was noticeably less for the next two days after my foot massage, and I also noticed my feet no longer felt freezing at night, but were warmer. The massage feels like ‘heaven’.” – 58 year old with Pancreatic cancer.

To build on our patient services, this year we launched our acupuncture extension campaign to extend our service to more sites throughout Sussex. Our Acupuncture service helps ease treatment effects and has been historically based in Brighton. But demand for the service is high and we have a long waiting list, even longer now due to COVID. Our campaign aims to raise £23k to extend the service to other areas providing satellite clinics so people don’t have to travel so far and also some group work where patients can gain support from other patients going through similar experiences, receive treatment and learn some self-treatment techniques. The campaign has reached 60% of its target and we are pleased to say that the service is now operating in Eastbourne as well as at the Brighton site but we hope to open more satellite clinics as funds allow.

As well as equipment and services the Sussex Cancer Fund is continuing its work in research. We have a number of projects running,  examples include ‘how stress can effect tumour recurrence’, ‘research into the gut micro-biome and anal cancer’ and ‘improving the care and experiences of older women with breast cancer’. All our research studies have the ultimate aim of gaining a better understanding of cancer to create better more efficient treatment programmes.

If you would like to read more about our work or help us to support even more cancer patients in Sussex, please visit our website www.sussexcancerfund.co.uk