Macclesfield Case for Support

Craig Reid Father of two, Craig Reid from Lyme Green in Macclesfield, was just 30 years old when he was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin lymphoma and given the devastating news that he had just a 40% chance of survival. He says: “It was a huge shock as I thought it was just tonsillitis. I was told I had stage four cancer in my spleen and neck. I had to come to terms with the very real possibility that I might never see my children grow up.” Craig underwent chemotherapy and took part in a clinical trial at The Christie in Withington and responded very well. He is now fit and healthy and back at work. He says: “I was willing to make the journey from Macclesfield to Withington to receive my treatment as I wanted the reassurance I was getting the very best treatment, and that’s what The Christie gave me. But there’s no denying that having a centre at Macclesfield will make such a difference for local patients. Having the Christie resources and expertise in East Cheshire will be a huge bonus and will mean patients can focus all their energies on their treatment and not have the added stress and worry of long travel times.”

Gemma Ellis Gemma, 36, from Chapel-en-le-Frith in Derbyshire, was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2017. She had six cycles of chemotherapy at The Christie in Withington, followed by surgery at Stepping Hill hospital, and then a further 15 sessions of radiotherapy at The Christie over a four week period. A year later, in February 2018, she found out she had developed secondary breast cancer. She is now on an ongoing course of hormone treatment including trastuzumab (Herceptin). She receives this treatment at one of the local Christie clinics in New Mills, Derbyshire. Now retired from her previous job as an NHS discharge co-coordinator in Bakewell, Derbyshire, Gemma is married to husband Ben and they have two girls, Ruby aged 9 and Scarlett 7. “The standard of care from The Christie has been exceptional,” she said. “I knew I was in the best place for my treatment, but having to travel so far was very disruptive. It meant I was not able to get home in time for school runs and was having to ring people to ask them to collect Ruby and Scarlett, which was stressful for me and unsettling for them. “A Christie cancer centre in Macclesfield would have made a huge difference to me and my family. I’m delighted that the new centre in Macclesfield will also offer clinical trials as I know that so many patients now benefit from them.”

“I knew I was in the best place for my treatment, but having to travel so far was very disruptive.”

“There is no denying that having a centre at Macclesfield will make such a difference for local patients.”

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