New DVD supports life after cancer

A groundbreaking DVD to support those living with a cancer diagnosis has been produced by York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to help patients get the support they need.

The DVD, launched this month, is based on a series of events held by the Trust over the last three years to help cancer patients rebuild their lives after their formal treatment is completed.

The events were such a success that York Cancer Care Centre Manager Jane Archer and her team wanted to make them available to as many of their patients as possible.

Jane said: "Often people feel very alone through the experience of cancer diagnosis and treatment and it’s vital that those living with and beyond cancer get the support they need to lead as healthy and active a life as possible.

"It was quite a challenge to put the different subjects onto film but we had a clear vision about what we needed and we had a wonderful set of local experts who had already proved how much they could help people."

The DVD features a set of short films covering fear of recurrence, coping with worry, fatigue, diet, relationship concerns and how to pick the right level of exercise and plan for the future.

Christine Norris, Lead Cancer Manager for the Trust, said: "People need help in so many ways - medical, social, psychological, spiritual, financial and informational needs.

"We found experts who could provide the information that really helps people. This has been transferred to DVD and we are delighted with the result."

The DVD, ‘Living Well With Cancer’, supports a new national strategy launched last year aimed at understanding what issues are important to those who have survived. It will be distributed to patients under the care of the Trust as part of a holistic needs assessment toward the end of treatment.

Last year the team won a regional award for innovation for their approach to improving ongoing services and support for people who are living with and beyond cancer.

Photo:Staff and patients involved in creating the DVD

30 April 2015