Patients

Sandra Williams - former Neurosurgery patient

“22 years ago I had an operation at Addenbrooke’s Hospital for the removal of an acoustic neuroma. This was performed by Mr Moffatt and Mr Hardy. It was a lengthy 11 hour operation with a very poor prognosis, but with much love and help from family and friends I have made a good recovery.

To aid recovery I attended Physio, but found this rather boring so at mother’s suggestion I attended line dancing classes with her. This I found ideal as not only was exercising good but the brain was being taught as well to remember a certain group of steps at the same time.

Eventually our teacher left, but I took over and encouraged singing along to old favourites as we danced. This has proved a great hit and older people are now joining, our newest recruit being 92 next month! We give small displays for charity and being with us much laughter. My most enjoyment comes from attending Sunday charity line dances, all day from noon until 8.45pm, though Mondays aren’t so good.

Although never returned to full time work life is very busy. I am very involved with a local charitable trust and enrolled in computer lessons. There is always someone to help and something to do!

In 2007 I reached the age of 50, something without Addenbrooke’s help I never would have done, so I am giving a donation to show my appreciation. I help as many people in life that I can now, and hopefully bring enjoyment as well.

Thank you once again, much gratitude from Mrs Sandra Williams.”

Judy Gascoigne - former Neurosurgery patient

In November 2007 Judy held a craft stall in Market Deeping, Peterborough to raise money for Neurology ward - A4 - where she was a patient in 2000, in thanks for her care.

Judy hand made the items on her stall and had a successful day. She said:

“I would prefer my donation to be made to Ward A4, where [I was cared for when] Mr Waters and his Neurology team operated and removed my brain tumour in September 2000.”

Peggy Rose - Cambridge Breast Unit

Peggy Rose, former breast cancer patient at Addenbrooke’s, held her fourth annual Pink Rose Dinnerin 2007 to say thank you for the care she has received at the Cambridge Breast Unit (CBU). The Pink Rose Dinner is an annual event where people host dinners for friends and family and ask their guests to ‘pay for their supper’ by making a donation to the CBU.

Peggy was 60 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago. She attended the Cambridge Breast Unit for a routine mammogram and two weeks later she received a call asking for her to return for another mammogram and ultrasound; Peggy needed to have a mastectomy on her left breast and a lump removed from her right breast.  Things moved very quickly after that and the time from diagnosis to treatment was just three weeks.

Peggy considers herself very lucky that the cancer was caught at this stage despite initial worries about what to tell her family. She said: “The Breast Unit has been absolutely brilliant to me. The staff are so supportive. Even though they are very busy they act like they have all the time in the world to help you, even the doctors. It makes you feel special.”

Three months after Peggy’s operation she started radiotherapy treatment at Addenbrooke’s, which took place everyday for three weeks, although she describes each treatment as being “very, very quick”. Since the treatment was completed Peggy has taken medication every day for four years (she is required to take it for five years in total) and re-visits the Cambridge Breast Unit annually for a mammogram on her right side. However, this doesn’t worry Peggy as she likes to pop in and have a chat with the staff there who continue to support her.

Peggy has a close family and with the support of her husband, son, daughter-in-law, grandchildren and friends and neighbours, Peggy quickly got back into her usual routine.
Despite having some side-effects from the medication and feeling tired went straight back to the job she enjoyed working as a part-time accounts manager for a garage. Now retired, Peggy loves being out in the garden and finds that doing cross-stitch is great therapy. 

This year Peggy and her husband celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary and Peggy is very grateful to the Cambridge Breast Unit and Addenbrooke’s for the care and support she continues to receive. Peggy says that she is feeling good in herself. “It’s a case of not letting anything get you down. I’m very, very lucky. Routine mammograms are the best thing since sliced bread. Even after they told me what they had found it was so small I couldn’t feel anything unusual, so it would have been a long time before I would have noticed.  I would encourage every woman to go to their routine mammogram,” she said.

Christine Davies - Cambridge Breast Unit

Christine Davies was first diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 1976, aged just 35.  On hearing the news Christine said: “The first thing I thought of was ‘cancer, death; I shall never see my children grow up’.” Christine’s husband was very supportive and her fighting nature came to the forefront as she said she decided she could not wallow. “I just got on with it,” she said.

Following a mastectomy and subsequent radiotherapy treatment at a nearby London hospital Christine went back to her teaching job and had a little boy with her army officer husband who eventually took a posting in Cyprus. She was able to lead a normal life for the next thirty years. Christine did have check-ups every month at first, then every six months, then once a year for five years. However, despite her bravery, the fortnight before she was due for a check-up Christine would become apprehensive and feel aches and pains in anticipation of what the results would be.

Christine says that reconstruction surgery did not cross her mind. Instead she wore a prosthetic breast and describes herself as feeling like a pantomime dame at the time. But despite this her fighting spirit prevailed as she insisted on wearing a bikini on the beach by her home in Cyprus.

Then, two years ago after she had returned to the UK to live in Cambridge, she found little lumps at the base of her remaining breast. To be on the safe side she had her breast examined at the Cambridge Breast Unit (CBU) at Addenbrooke’s and found it would have to be removed. Christine did not require radiotherapy treatment this time following her mastectomy, but was put straight onto medication. Now once a year she attends the CBU for a check-up. She describes her treatment at Addenbrooke’s as being fantastic saying: “Everybody was wonderful.”

Two weeks after her operation Christine went back to work as a company manager of The Young Actors Company in Cambridge. Christine’s job is full time, night and day, but she wholly enjoys it. “Being with kids keeps you feeling young and healthy,” she said.

Christine says “I feel lucky. I feel like I’m an ambassador for people diagnosed with cancer. It is dreaded by so many people and I want to show others that if this happens to you, you’ll cope with it as well. So I am more than happy to support The Pink Rose Dinner campaign to raise funds for breast cancer research at Addenbrooke’s.”

Janette Martin - Cambridge Breast Unit

Former Cambridge Breast Unit patient, Janette Martin, said thanks for the amazing care she received at Addenbrooke’s by hosting a Pink Rose Dinner in 2007 to raise money for the Unit.

At age 47 Janette Martin, of Royston, found lumps under her arms. She was referred to the Cambridge Breast Unit a week later and found that her cancer was difficult to diagnose. After a day of tests – a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsies, she was diagnosed with cancer of the lymph nodes, which had initially come from the breast.

Janette was very shocked to hear her diagnosis but says the support she and her family received at Addenbrooke’s was outstanding: “The whole experience at the Breast Unit was first class. From nurses to surgeons, there was a massive support network there. My support nurse was amazing. She has been my lifeline and become my friend. Without her I don’t know how I would have got through. She is a very special part of my life.”

Janette had surgery to remove the tumours, seven months of chemotherapy treatment and three weeks of radiotherapy and is now back doing the things she enjoys such as looking after her dogs and helping run a local cub pack.

She said: “You have two choices in life: either get on with it or allow it to take over. Try to embrace life and get on with it. No one knows what tomorrow is going to bring. I am pleased to support The Pink Rose Dinner campaign and help raise money for the fantastic service that is still supporting me today.”

Molly Shelley - leukaemia patient

Dance pupil Molly Shelley, age 5, has been living with leukaemia for the past 18 months. Every other year her dance school, Molly Vickers and Claire Brooks Dancing School, hosts a show at the Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage, donating the profits to charity. This year 50% of the proceeds, £1,500, were kindly donated to Ward C2 at Addenbrooke’s in appreciation for the care Molly has received.

Molly loves to dance but was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at just three years old. Thanks to her treatment at Addenbrooke’s Molly went back to her dancing class in September this year for the first time since she was diagnosed in May 2006.

Molly’s dad Paul Shelley said:

“It took Molly about four weeks to get the courage up to join in but she now loves to go and is always practicing everywhere at home – she is a bit like the character Angelina Ballerina!

“Thank you to Addenbrooke’s for the care Molly has received and to the Dancing School for their kind donation, which will support the type of care that helped Molly.”