WATC magazine March 2025

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Spreading pawsitivity Meet our new recruit, Lilo

christie.nhs.uk EDITION 2 We are The Christie

SPRING 2025

Welcome

A word from the executive editor

Hello, I’m pleased to welcome you to the second edition of our new staff and patient magazine, We are The Christie.

Firstly, let me say "thank you" to everyone who picked up the launch issue and to those who gave us such lovely feedback. It has been so nice to walk through the canteen, or by the Oak Road seating area, and see people with a copy in hand enjoying our stories.

I started at The Christie in the chief nurse role in May last year. I am delighted to be part of such a special place and it’s easy to see why so many patients and their families hold it dear to their hearts. As I approach my first-year anniversary, I continue to be amazed by the progress, dedication, and innovation on show. The past 12 months have been filled with many achievements, including some which we showcase here, and I’m excited to see what the future holds. We look forward to celebrating these successes with you and sharing more inspiring stories in the issues to come. If you have any suggestions, please get in touch.

This second edition is equally packed with happenings from around the Trust. These include news on pioneering research, a look at some of our staff’s talents away from work, and a feature on our cover star and adorable new colleague – Lilo the therapy dog.

Thank you for reading.

Vicky Sharples Chief Nurse and Executive Director of Quality

Contents

2 3

12 13

Introduction News in brief Feature story

You Made A Difference Awards

Around the Trust

4-5

14-16

Patient stories Puzzle section Charity corner

17

Close up - Spiritual care at The Christie: here to support you

6-7 8-9

18-19

The Christie’s got talent

10-11

Staff stories

We’d love to hear your thoughts about this new magazine. Please send any feedback or ideas to the-christie.internalcomms@nhs.net You can also get in touch by post at: WATC Editor, The Christie, 2-4 Candleford Road, Withington, Manchester, M20 3JH 2

News in brief

A new type of cancer care doctor is born The Christie has launched a pioneering training programme to develop a new type of supportive oncology doctor. Three fellows, including Dr Ahmed Aboelnaga (pictured right), are joining the service, which aims to improve the quality of life for cancer patients living with complex treatment side effects. “I am thrilled to be one of the first of a new type of cancer care doctor working to improve the quality of life for

News in brief

patients with complex needs.” says Dr Aboelnaga. The supportive oncology service helps over 2,000 patients a year, offering holistic care like psychological support, pain management and therapy for long-term cancer effects. Dr Richard Berman (pictured left) explains, “The three doctors recruited already have an excellent understanding of the principles of supportive oncology and are passionate about its role in cancer care now and in the future.” When training is complete, they will spread best practice internationally, with new fellows taking their place at The Christie.

Pioneering research in radiotherapy for children

Investments in latest skin cancer treatments Patients with non-melanoma skin cancer are benefitting from a new £175,000 superficial treatment machine at The Christie. This low-energy

Researchers here at The Christie and The University of Manchester are leading a study to reduce long-term side effects caused by radiation in children with brain tumours. While radiotherapy is effective, it can cause side effects like memory problems and hormonal issues. The team has identified a radiation-sensitive region in the brain linked to cognition and hormone production. “We did not expect this frontal region to be as important as it is,” says Professor Marianne Aznar. “We thought it would be the hippocampus as it’s a well-defined structure that’s well known to be associated with memory, so to see that the grey matter at the front of the brain is so important was surprising.” The team is working on a 'brain atlas' to guide treatment plans for radiotherapy and proton beam therapy.

radiotherapy is used to treat basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. It is delivered to around 130 patients annually across 550 treatment sessions. Muriel Large, the first patient treated with the machine, was referred for post-operative radiotherapy after surgery for squamous cell carcinoma on her nose. She recently completed treatment with no immediate side effects. “I cannot fault any of the staff who have cared for me,” said Muriel. “They have all been brilliant. My consultant, Dr Agata Rembielak, has been lovely, and the staff member who helped fit my treatment mask had a great bedside manner.” The Xstrahl 150 X-ray system replaces an old machine, offering greater accuracy and adaptability. This is part of a £370,000 investment in our superficial treatment service. Robotic surgery milestone reached Our surgery team recently completed their 10th robotic adrenalectomy (removal of one or both of the adrenal glands) as a day case. Adrenalectomies are primarily carried out on people with adrenal tumours. Robotic surgery is keyhole surgery, meaning that patients have quicker recovery times, getting back to their daily lives sooner. The Christie was one of the first hospitals in the country to perform robotic operations in 2008. We now carry out one of the highest volumes of robotic operations in the UK. "Robotics has revolutionised minimally invasive surgery and is reflected in our ability to treat patients effectively. Our day case adrenalectomy

'United by Unique' exhibition showcases patients’ artwork Pat Mountford has been the artist-in-residence at The Christie for 21 years. She runs weekly drop-in art classes for staff and patients at our Withington site. To mark World Cancer Day, Pat worked with the Manchester Cancer Research Centre to organise a free exhibition of 15 artworks by patients who attend the class. The ‘United by Unique’ collection is available online at mcrc.manchester.ac.uk/united-by-unique, and includes a group painting symbolising the supportive atmosphere of the art room. “The magic that’s created in this room never fails to astound me, it’s a special place. Sharing the stories alongside the paintings is really important as spending time in the art room really makes a difference to patients’ wellbeing,” says Pat. The art room is funded by The Christie Charity and can be found in department 12 on the main corridor of our Withington site.

programme is a true team effort from our theatre and endocrine team, the day case ward nurses and our enhanced recovery team," comments Mr Aziz Gulamhusein, Consultant Urological and Robotic Surgeon.

If you’d like to read more about these stories, please visit: christie.nhs.uk/news

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Feature story

Therapy dog comforts young patients We’ve welcomed a very special four-legged colleague to the

team here at The Christie.

"I was at The Christie for six weeks having proton beam therapy for a rare tumour that started in my spine, and it was nice to chat about something that wasn’t my treatment." John Lamb

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Part of a wider therapeutic approach The visits have been organised by Thérèse Smith, one of our registered health play specialists, and funded by The Christie Charity. Thérèse and her colleagues use therapeutic play techniques to help children be as prepared as possible for their treatment. “Lilo has gone down a treat with everyone, families and staff alike,” she says. “There’s always great excitement around the centre before she comes, and it’s so lovely to see the children interacting with her. Some of them can be quite anxious about treatment and she helps to take their minds off it for a while. A lot of them will also have pets at home, so her visits bring a sense of normality and helps to create a positive association with being at the centre.”

Lilo, a black cocker spaniel, is a therapy dog. She’s been coming to the hospital every couple of weeks to visit children who are having proton beam therapy – a type of radiotherapy. Being diagnosed with cancer can be just as tough mentally as it is physically. Spending time with Lilo helps with the childrens’ physical, mental, and emotional health, bringing comfort and a sense of normality to what can be a difficult time for them and their families. Ellie-Mae, John and Zac's seal of approval 20-month-old Ellie-Mae Shirly (pictured above) had 33 daily sessions of proton beam therapy at The Christie. She met Lilo early on in her treatment journey.

“Of course, these sessions are just one of the things we do to help make their time at The Christie as positive as possible. We have a model CT scanner and a replica proton gantry machine to educate children during our play preparation sessions. We’re with them right from their first consultation, supporting their overall well-being and advocating for them throughout

“She was so excited when she saw Lilo.” says her dad, Adam. “She absolutely loves animals and spent a lot of time just petting her and playing with her. It gave her something to look forward to after treatment. My parents have a dog, so I think it’s helped her feel more comfortable coming in for treatment.”

Lilo has gone down a treat with everyone, families and staff alike. There’s always great excitement around the centre before she comes, and it’s so lovely to see the children interacting with her. Thérèse Smith

Like Ellie-Mae, three year old Zac Keyworth (pictured right), has a dog in the family. For him, taking Lilo for a little walk was a type of physiotherapy, as brain surgery had left him unable to speak or move without a walker. He met Lilo and another therapy dog, Luna, with his sister Elodie. “Both kids were so excited to meet her,” says their dad, Jake. “We took them to reception after Zac’s treatment and watched them arrive. Zac took Lilo for a walk, which really helped with his mobility. It was also good for Elodie as her aunt has a dog, so I think it reminded her of home. It was great to see them having fun with the dog while also knowing that it was helping them both in different ways.” John Lamb, aged 14, also really enjoyed meeting Lilo. “I was at The Christie for six weeks having proton beam therapy for a rare tumour that started in my spine, and it was nice to chat about something that wasn’t my treatment. I told the people who brought Lilo in about my cats at home and they showed me how to feed her treats and get her to do tricks. It made things feel a bit more normal,” he says.

their treatment. I am delighted that this project is making such an impact on patients’ wellbeing, and hopefully it will go from strength to strength,” she adds.

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Close up

Spiritual care at The Christie: here to support you At The Christie, we understand that cancer treatment can be challenging – not just physically, but emotionally too. Our spiritual care team offers a welcoming support service for patients, families, and staff, regardless of faith or belief.

The team is made up of chaplains from different religions, with access to a wider network of representatives from other faiths and non-religious backgrounds. Whether through prayer, spiritual guidance, or simply someone to talk to – the chaplaincy team provides advice and comfort with open arms to anyone who needs support. The service operates from department 57 on the Withington site, where quiet spaces for reflection are available. The chapel and Muslim prayer room are open 24/7, while the multi-faith room is available from 8am to 4pm. Spiritual resources, including rosaries, prayer mats, scriptures, mindfulness literature, and access to the Shabbat kitchen, are also available on request.

The role of chaplains at The Christie Each of us has a spiritual life that needs to be nurtured, though what that looks like is as unique as we are. For some, faith plays a key role in their resilience, while others find spiritual connection through music, literature, nature, meditation, or art.

Chaplains at The Christie recognise this diversity and help patients stay connected to what gives them strength, even when they are far from home, loved ones, or their places of worship.

“The role of a chaplain is, in essence, to walk alongside patients and staff, assisting them. We care for their needs, which keeps a person grounded in who they are at their very core”

Reverend Andrew Bradley, Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Coordinator with Fiona Jenkinson, nurse and chaplain.

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A word from our honorary chaplains

Behnaz Farhadi (Church of England chaplain) “As an honorary chaplain at The Christie, I feel truly privileged to offer spiritual and pastoral care to patients, families, and staff. Chaplaincy is about presence – offering a listening ear, a word of comfort, and quiet reassurance that no one journeys alone, whatever their beliefs may be. I work alongside a dedicated team, striving together to create a space where compassion, peace, and hope can flourish. One way we do this is through 'Haven of Hope', a weekly reflection group on Fridays. It offers a moment of stillness and renewal – a space where staff and patients can pause, reflect, and find strength amid the demands of hospital life. One of the most inspiring parts of my role is witnessing the strength of patients and families. Their resilience and faith are deeply moving, and our staff show incredible compassion and dedication too. This place is more than a hospital – it's a community of hope. It is an honour to walk alongside others, offering faith, comfort, and healing.”

"Hospitals are great levellers, the friendships that grow between patients and families of different faiths and backgrounds amaze me"

Rabbi Dovid Lewis (Jewish chaplain) “Working as a volunteer chaplain means my phone can ring at any moment, sometimes in the middle of the night, requiring me to drop everything and head to the hospital. While I am usually called to visit Jewish patients, I’ve also supported people of other faiths – like the time a young man was upset because he couldn’t get hold of his chosen chaplain. I explained that I was Jewish but would obviously help, and I found myself reciting Psalms and Hebrew prayers by the bedside of his loved one. Hospitals are great levellers, the friendships that grow between patients and families of different faiths and backgrounds amaze me. We are advised not to get emotionally attached, but the relationships we develop are very strong. I’ve attended memorial services and been blessed to join celebrations long after treatment has ended.”

"Chaplaincy is about presence – offering a listening ear, a word of comfort, and quiet reassurance that no one journeys alone, whatever their beliefs may be"

Zenab Sajawal (Muslim chaplain) “I have been the honorary Muslim chaplain at The Christie for 23 years, offering spiritual support and prayers for patients at all times, especially for those on the end-of-life pathway. I am available 24 hours a day and my role has many facets, including helping families navigate key arrangements in line with their faith and traditions, and to access financial support when needed. My practice has always remained person-centred, and I have always gone above and beyond to ensure our patients’ spiritual and religious needs are met with care and dignity."

Father Martin Dowd (Roman Catholic chaplain) "The human side of

chaplaincy is always the same, we offer support and care. If we don’t meet the human need first, we won’t get it right. The religious input should come on top of that foundation of care.

"It is an honour to be the Muslim chaplain at The Christie"

My ministry offers the sacraments, including anointing the sick, holy communion, and confession. In times of need we offer absolution, and in some cases, an

"For me, nothing compares to seeing someone ring the bell at the end of treatment, knowing our support made a difference is what truly matters"

apostolic pardon. We visit wards with support from volunteers and Mass is held every Wednesday at 12.15pm in the chapel. It's a privilege to be welcomed into the lives of those in need. Patients and staff trust us in their most vulnerable moments."

You are not alone Whether you are looking for spiritual guidance, a quiet space, or simply someone to talk to, our chaplaincy team is here for you. To speak with a chaplain or find out more about our spiritual care service, please email the-christie.spiritualcare@nhs.net or visit department 57. If you are in urgent need, the 24/7 on-call service is available through our switchboard on 0161 446 3000.

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The Christie’s got talent

Our staff are great at their jobs, but that isn’t just who they are. While they bring passion and dedication to work every day, these qualities also extend far beyond their roles.

We thought it’d be nice to share some of these stories and focus on our colleagues’ lives away from work… here are just a few of the hidden talents across The Christie.

Jo Clarke, Lymphoedema Nurse Specialist Away from work, Jo volunteers as a running coach for MileShyClub - a beginner walking and running group. Last year, Jo also ran the Manchester marathon – raising funds to help patients affected with lymphoedema (chronic swelling).

“Over the last few years I’ve taught hundreds of people to run, helping them to enjoy a more active lifestyle”

Arfan Khan, Specialist Clinical Pharmacist

Inspired by the London Olympics, Arfan took up archery at university and turned a hobby into a competitive passion. Over the years, he has represented his university, club and county at local, national and international competitions – even competing against Olympians!

Claire Chapman, Switchboard Operator With a focus on furry friends, Claire recently completed a personal challenge to get her animal artwork displayed in every state in the USA for the Animal Cancer Foundation. Claire also volunteers at Manchester Dogs Home and continues to raise funds for the charity through sales of her fantastic art. “I wanted to raise money and awareness of animal cancer, so

“Archery has not only been an incredible experience but has also allowed me to meet amazing people and develop valuable skills like focus and discipline”

I set myself this huge challenge”

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Ben Heyworth, Survivorship Network Manager Over the past decade, Ben has produced and performed music as This Morning Call with releases exploring the wide spectrum of electronic music. He recently played a charity fundraiser with the band Minorplanet, raising £1,500 for Move Against Cancer. Ben will soon visit Blueprint Studios in Salford to record a brand new, acoustic, singer-songwriter EP, which is set to be released later this year.

“Pushing my limits, both professionally and physically, is what drives me every day”

Thomas Reading, Clinical Lead Physiotherapist

When Tom isn't at work, he's passionate about fitness, competing and marathon running. Last year, he and his partner qualified for the HYROX World Championships, placing 12th in the world, an incredible achievement. Now, he’s setting his sights on a new challenge, running the London Marathon in under three hours, while raising funds for the Huntington’s Disease Association.

“Music is a huge part of my life, and being able to use it to support good causes makes it even more rewarding”

Alistair Reid-Pearson, Chief Information Officer “I’m an indie author going on wild adventures through a dystopian future filled with crazy characters"

“My work now focuses more broadly on experiences of illness and recovery”

Isabelle Byrne, Research Assistant Isabelle is a research assistant in our blood cancer trials department. “Being a cancer survivor myself, I have always wanted to work within oncology,” she says. Outside of work, Isabelle is a published poet, award-winning short filmmaker and spoken word artist. Her debut poetry pamphlet, Pandora’s Ruin details Isabelle’s mental health journey during treatment and was selected for the British Library’s collection. Isabelle also performs spoken word on the Manchester scene and festivals across the country. She wants to use her creative voice to explore powerful, often personal themes.

Under the pen name ‘AJ Bywater’ Alistair released his debut novel, BitBob: Artificial Earth, last year. The book explores truth, reality and humanity through a dystopian lens and has just been nominated as a finalist in the Wishing Shelf awards. "I’m also excited to share that book two in the series is almost finished.”

Amelia Cargo, Communications Officer As a teenager, Amelia's school choir was invited to perform at the funeral of

“I like to tell people that I’ve had a hit single without any context. It never fails to disappoint”

Manchester United legend, George Best. They were backing vocals for local singer Brian Kennedy, and the song was later released as a charity single – reaching number three in the charts.

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Staff stories

Staff stories Each and every person who works at The Christie performs a valuable role which directly links to patient care. Whether it is a nurse delivering chemotherapy or an IT engineer keeping our computer systems running, there is a huge variety of roles that come together to make The Christie special.

Angela Keane Angela Keane started at The Christie back in 1984 and recently celebrated her 40th work anniversary. In 2018, Angela experienced the difference The Christie makes first-hand when she donated stem cells to her brother who was being treated for leukaemia. A stem cell transplant replaces damaged blood cells with healthy ones from a donor.

David Kenny David Kenny is our car park supervisor and manages a team that look after four busy car parks with room for almost 1,300 cars. He arrives at 5am every day to get ready for the rest of his team who join him at 6am. He has been at The Christie for five years. “Lots of our patients have a long journey to The Christie and can be quite worried and stressed

“I always knew that The Christie was a very special place, but what we do became very real in that moment in a way it hadn’t before. The size of the hospital and the number of services we offer has changed over the years, but the family atmosphere hasn’t."

when they arrive, so we do our best to help them as much as we can. People often don’t know where they are going, so we reassure them and point them in the right direction – it’s the least we can do. It’s a very busy job, there are people coming and going all day long. We always help where we can.”

“I really love working here and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else” Angela Keane

“People often don’t know where they are going, so we reassure them and point them in the right direction" David Kenny

As a domestic supervisor, Angela and her team make sure that the hospital runs smoothly. This includes things like cleaning and making sure that anything that’s broken is fixed quickly.

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Staff stories

All our staff go to tremendous lengths to help each and every one of our patients and, together:

Emily O’Hagan Emily O'Hagan, a former hairdresser, is our wig fitter, supporting patients who lose their hair during chemotherapy treatment.

Emily has now been working at The Christie for around 18 months. “When people come to see me, they can be quite emotional as losing their hair is a very personal thing. I guide them through what we have available, help them choose and show them how to look after it. It can give them a new found confidence during treatment. Most of my clients tend to be women, and it is nice to be able to help them at a vulnerable time. I love “Most of my clients tend to be women, and it is nice to be able to

Sumaira Javed If you’ve ever called The Christie, you’ve probably spoken to Sumaira Javed or someone in her team. She works on our switchboard, taking calls from staff and patients and helping them find the right person to talk to.

it when they come back and see me afterwards looking happier with their new hairstyle.”

help them at a vulnerable time” Emily O'Hagan

Sumaira has worked here for over 30 years and has been in her current role for nearly five years. She and her team deal with thousands of calls every day.

“I love my job. The people I work with are brilliant and I enjoy talking to people on the phones and helping them. Every call is different, and no two days are the same, which I like" Sumaira Javed

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You Made a Difference Awards

You Made a Difference Awards

At The Christie, we’re proud to celebrate the incredible contributions of our staff and volunteers through our You Made a Difference Awards.

Recent winners Daniel Faulkner, Molly Darrington, and the Library and Knowledge Services Team have all gone above and beyond in their roles.

Molly Darrington, Pre-op Assessment Nurse Practitioner, was praised for her compassionate approach to care. Her manager, Andrea Shaw, said: “Molly is wonderful with anxious patients and has a calming and mature approach, despite her young age.” Patient Sarah Unwin commented: “Molly was just amazing – so kind and reassuring. She balanced her professional knowledge and skill with care and compassion in a very wonderful way. Thank you, Molly, for making such a difference to my Christie experience.”

Daniel Faulkner, Clinical Educator in Chemotherapy Services, was recognised for his dedication to improving patient care and supporting colleagues. Rhona Johnson, senior sister and manager, shared: “Dan has worked for the Trust for three years and became a clinical educator in July 2023. He has recently implemented ultrasound-guided cannulation on the unit, preventing patients from being deferred due to difficult venous access.” Emily Goodall, a patient’s relative, added: “Daniel was lovely with us as a worried family. We always felt reassured and settled when we left Dad in the chemotherapy suite because we knew he was in good hands. Thank you, Daniel!”

The Library and Knowledge Services Team, led by Dan Livesey, received the award for their innovative initiatives, including a book giveaway for World Mental Health Day. Cathy Heaven, Director of Teaching, Learning and Quality, shared: “This team made a huge difference to Christie patients, visitors, and staff that day and thoroughly deserve the recognition this award brings.”

Congratulations to all our winners for their exceptional work and the positive impact they continue to have on The Christie community. Please visit christie.nhs.uk/ymad for more details and nominations.

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Around the Trust

Around the Trust

Christie at Macclesfield turns three Patients from Cheshire are benefiting from trailblazing developments at The Christie at Macclesfield as it marks its third anniversary. Last year, more patients than ever used the centre (over 49,000), and staff increased from 55 to 85. Centre manager, Dan Holt, said: "We deliver life-saving treatment closer to home and have introduced complex treatments, previously only available at the Withington site, like stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) for all cancers." Barrie Goodwin (pictured top left), a retired lorry driver from Chapel-en-le-Frith, had SABR for lung cancer. Other developments at Macclesfield include: • concurrent chemoradiotherapy for patients with gynaecological and colorectal tumours • a growing team of advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) supporting patients locally • upskilling staff such as healthcare support worker Elaine Barber, who assists radiographers in making immobilisation masks • p harmacy staff supporting breast cancer patients to cope with the side-effects of immunotherapy and supporting clinical research • support from the Senior Adult Oncology Team for frail patients with multiple myeloma • a new blood test room catering for 60 patients a day. The £26m Christie at Macclesfield benefited from £23m of funding from The Christie Charity. Bloods closer to home opens in Wigan Christie patients from the Wigan area can now get their blood tests done closer to home as part of the ‘bloods closer to home’ initiative. Wigan is the tenth in the network of local blood test clinics set up by The Christie. The service aims to make pre-treatment tests more convenient and less time-consuming for our patients who are a little further away from the Withington site. Appointments are available at the Thomas Linacre Centre, on Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 9.15am. Book online or call 0161 918 7654. Other ‘bloods closer to home' clinics are located at Altrincham Health and Wellbeing Centre, Bolton Hospice, Bury Hospice, Dr Kershaw's Hospice (Royton), St Anne's Hospice (Cheadle), St Anne's Hospice (Little Hulton), St Luke's Hospice (Winsford), Tameside Hospital (Ashton-under-Lyne),

Giving back – radiographers support Oldham foodbank Senior radiographers, Emma Karle and Gamu Maboreke, recently organised a department- wide collection for Oldham foodbank. The Christie at Oldham team has been running these collections for several years in a show of support for the local community. The donations to Oldham foodbank are usually made at Christmas, Easter and around Harvest Festival. Julie Davies, Lead Radiographer at Oldham, said: “We receive so much support from our community and this is our way of saying "thank you" and giving back in a way other than treatment. I am so proud of the staff who always support patients and families, but also continually think of others in need.”

World Cancer Day with Christie International

World Cancer Day in February was marked with a giant map displayed in our engagement area, highlighting where we are involved in projects and partnerships overseas. Such initiatives help to address inequalities in cancer care globally, but also benefit The Christie, developing our staff and helping to achieve equitable outcomes for our multi-ethnic patients. Staff representing Christie International, were on hand to point out where they are collaborating on projects as far afield as Australia, India, Kenya and Nigeria and to share their experiences. To learn more visit christie.nhs/international and follow us on X @TheChristieIntl

Education at The Christie 2025 is becoming an exciting year of transformation for our Christie Institute for Cancer Education – recently launching a brand refresh and bringing a new strategy to life. Rachel Ryan, Marketing and Communications Manager, said: “It’s great to showcase all the exciting work we’ve been doing to develop our EDI strategy, our widening participation and our educational product portfolio across digital, face-to-face and clinical learning. Our new identity and mission will position us in great stead throughout the year to bring world-leading cancer education to our colleagues at The Trust and beyond”. Visit christie.nhs.uk/education to learn more about The Christie Institute for Cancer Education.

and The Christie at Macclesfield. Patients will be told by their clinical team when to have their blood tested before any treatments or appointments. The service is funded by The Christie Charity.

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Patient stories

Bianca Perea

Bianca Perea, a 32-year-old trainee lawyer from Manchester, is the first person in the UK to have a liver transplant for advanced bowel cancer. Thanks to the transplant and previous treatments, Bianca is now cancer-free.

Bianca, a patient here at The Christie, had the successful operation at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in 2024. Bianca, who lives in Wigan with her dog, Cubby, was diagnosed at the age of 29, with stage 4 bowel cancer in November 2021. Initially experiencing mild symptoms like bloating and constipation, she was referred for emergency tests that revealed the cancer had spread to all eight segments of her liver. "To be diagnosed with bowel cancer at such a young age was a shock. As it had spread, they told me they could only offer palliative chemotherapy. The prognosis didn’t seem real; I just couldn’t take it in." Determined, Bianca began treatment at The Christie’s Wigan centre in December 2021, undergoing 37 rounds of chemotherapy and targeted therapy over two and a half years. Her excellent response to treatment led to bowel surgery in 2023. Although scans revealed inoperable liver tumours, Bianca was referred to Leeds, where she became eligible for a transplant. In summer 2024, she underwent the life-saving surgery.

“Within four weeks of going under the knife, I was able to drive and walk the dogs, it was really quite incredible,” she says. “To go from being told I’d only have a short time to live to now being cancer free is the greatest gift. I’ve been given a second chance at life and I’m going to grab it with both hands. I am so grateful to the family who agreed to donate their loved one’s liver. I also wouldn't be here without my incredible teams, both at The Christie and at Leeds. Everything that was happening to me was so scary, but I always felt in incredibly safe hands. I can’t thank them enough.” Dr Kalena Marti, Bianca’s Christie oncologist, says, “When we examined the tumour cells in her liver, they weren’t active. This is excellent news, and we hope the cancer won’t return.” Dr Ian Rowe, from Leeds, adds, “I’m delighted that Bianca has responded so well to the treatment and is now cancer free. We are, indebted to the family of the organ donor – as is made clear with Bianca’s case, organ donation saves lives." It is quick and easy to join the NHS Organ Donor Register. Call 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk

“To go from being told I’d only have a short time to live to now being cancer free is the greatest gift"

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82-year-old Mary Bruce, a former domestic supervisor at BT is married to John. Together they have four children: Anne, Marie, Catherine, and John. Mary lives in supported care in Wythenshawe and loves playing darts and card games.

In 2024, Mary was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer, after her daughter Marie noticed a small mark on her face. Mary was referred to The Christie in August 2024. Mary and Marie met with a consultant at The Christie, who recommended surgery to remove the cancer. This would be a challenge though, as Mary has been living with dementia for around eight years and the surgery that would normally be done involved having a local anaesthetic. Mary and Marie were referred to The Christie’s specialist dementia nurse clinician, Lorraine Burgess, to see what support could be put in place for them both to be confident about the surgery. As a result, Mary was able to successfully have surgery twice, with a general anaesthetic.

“Through working at The Christie, I learned about the amazing work Lorraine Burgess does to support dementia patients, although I am sure even if I didn't work here, I would still have been offered that support. Lorraine sorted everything I needed to help me get Mum through the surgery and recovery. She liaised with all the surgical teams involved in Mum's care, but most importantly, she was there to support me through the experience, as it was quite an ordeal." “My experience at The Christie, both as an employee and as a carer has been first class. Lorraine gave me some great practical tips and advice, particularly on how to help Mum to relax. I honestly don't think Mum or I could have got through the cancer surgery without that help. The plastic surgery team were also superb, and the team in the Integrated Procedures Unit looked after Mum superbly. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank Lorraine and The Christie for their care."

"From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank Lorraine and The Christie for their care"

“Mum finds it difficult to remember things that have just happened and has short-term memory issues.” said Marie. “She is more likely to struggle in stressful situations, for example, when medical treatment is needed.

Mary Bruce

Do you have a story to share? We’d love to hear from you, please get in touch at the-christie.press.office@nhs.net

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Patient stories

David Ly

David Ly has turned his proton beam therapy mask into a piece of art to celebrate the end of his treatment.

45-year-old David, who lives in London with his partner Ian, was diagnosed with a chordoma, a rare bone cancer, in 2020. He initially went to the opticians

with double vision, thinking he might need glasses, but the optician noticed something was wrong and sent him to hospital. Several scans and tests later, he was told he had a 23mm tumour at the base of his skull. He had to have three operations to remove as much of the tumour as possible before he could be referred to The Christie for proton beam therapy – a type of specialist radiotherapy. It targets tumours using high-energy protons which are shaped into a beam. David had 41 sessions of daily proton beam therapy at The Christie. His treatment finished in February 2021 and all subsequent scans have shown his cancer is stable. Making the mask was a way of processing what had happened to him and celebrating the progress he’s made.

David said: “I had my treatments during the COVID lockdown and it was a really difficult time for me. Being creative with my mask is my way of taking a dark experience and making it bright and beautiful. It includes the scar from the operation I had on my skull and the silver spikes on the top represent the protons treating my tumour. I called it my warrior armour during treatment and now it really looks like that.” “I keep it in my living room and it’s a reminder of just how far I’ve come. I recently brought it up to the proton beam therapy centre to show my team, which meant a lot to me. They are just brilliant, I can’t praise them enough.” Turning his own mask into art is just the start for David. He added: “One day I hope to collect photos of beautiful and creative masks that other people have done and make a display of them.”

Proton beam therapy is only suitable for the routine treatment of a small number of people with certain cancer types, such as where the tumour is close to the brain or spinal cord. Standard radiotherapy using X-rays is also a targeted and highly effective treatment for most cancers.

"Being creative with my mask is my way of taking a dark experience and making it bright and beautiful"

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Enjoy completing these puzzles just for fun, or to pass the time. If you submit your answers, you might be in with a chance of winning a prize. ? Fancy yourself a puzzle master? To qualify for a draw to win 2x Manchester City tickets and a Christie Charity bundle, please send a picture of your puzzle page to the-christie.internalcomms@nhs.net Alternatively, cut out your completed puzzle section and post it to WATC editor, The Christie, 2-4 Candleford Road, Withington, Manchester M20 3JH. Entries close on Friday 9 May 2025. Answers available on The Christie website when entries close

Puzzles

Christie crossword Across 2. Research building at The Christie (8) 7. Overcome initial awkwardness (5,3,3) 11. Flagrantly bad (9) 13. Spiky sea-dweller (6) 15. Permit (3) 16. Possessing a high level of skill (6) 18. To say very little... (12) 21. All courses in a school (10) 23. Celestial messenger, meadow in Manchester (5) 24. Test of human intelligence in a computer (6)

Sudoku

Christie Crossword #2 - Crossword Labs

https://crosswordlabs.com/view/christie-crossword-2-3

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Christie quiz 1. Manchester’s three main city centre rivers, also represented on both football club’s badges: the Irk, the Irwell and the…

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A) Goyt B) Rochdale C) Medlock 2. What year did The Christie open? A) 1892 B) 1948 C) 1901

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3. In 1948 Manchester University professors developed the first computer to have a stored programme and memory – what was it nicknamed? A) Baby B) Hal C) Sunny 4. What is a group of flamingos called? A) Flashdance B) Flock C) Flamboyance 5. What sport is played in the Ryder cup? A) Tennis B) Golf C) Rugby 6. Which capital city of the following countries, France, Switzerland, Austria and Germany, is furthest north? A) Paris B) Vienna C) Berlin D) Bern 7. This famous engineer, who’s name also adorns a gallery in Manchester, gifted the land for The Christie to open: A) George Stephenson B) John Ryland C) Joseph Whitworth 8. This famous figure has an NHS leadership development programme that bears their name? A) Florence Nightingale B) Clement Atlee C) Mary Seacole

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Down 1. Cutlery item (7,5) 3. Group of three (4) 4. Curved crisp (7) 5. Building material found all over Manchester (3,5) 6. A quick meal, to grip with jaws (4) 8. Engrave (4) 9. Hindu god (6) 10. Scottish water (4,4)

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12. Unexpectedly (3,2,3,4) 14. To copy or emulate (7)

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17. Bluish-purple, a family of plants (6) 18. To feel good, name of a hobbit (5) 19. England's northernmost county (14)

20. A lack of funds (5) 22. A tiered tower (6)

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Charity corner

The Christie Charity 30 by 30 pledge The Christie Charity plays a vital role in

supporting The Christie by providing enhanced services over and above what the NHS funds. From pioneering cancer research, care and treatment to extra patient services that help make cancer treatment a little easier, the hospital would not be the world leading centre it is without this support.

Research has always been central to the work of The Christie and will continue to be a focus for charity funding in the future. We are committed to supporting the Trust’s research division with its vision of ‘Learning from every patient,’ ‘Enabling every patient to participate in research’ and ‘Applying this knowledge to improve the lives of patients with cancer now and in the future.’ Studies have shown that cancer patients treated at research-intensive hospitals have better outcomes than those treated in hospitals with little or no research activity. We support the development and provision of trials allowing more patients than ever to benefit from them. The staff we fund work in a collaborative environment with numerous organisations on a regional, national, and international level including The University of Manchester, Cancer Research UK, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Greater Manchester Cancer, and Manchester Cancer Research Centre. These partnerships ensure The Christie remains at the forefront of world-leading cancer research strategies and accelerates research breakthroughs.

We support the development and provision of trials allowing more patients than ever to benefit from them.

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The opening of the state-of-the-art Paterson building sees The Christie on the brink of a new era for cancer research and innovation with the seamless integration of research with clinical care accelerating discoveries from the laboratory into clinical practice.

For details on how to support The Christie Charity, visit one of the centres, call 0161 446 7506 or visit christies.org The Charity Centre (Withington site) is located near the Oak Road entrance of the hospital (department 3). Open Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm. The Macclesfield Charity Centre is located in the main waiting area at The Christie at Macclesfield. Open Tuesday to Thursday, 10am to 3.30pm.

Our supporters helped us provide £3.8m to fund research projects last year and we have committed to a further £30m by 2030 - our 30 by 30 pledge. The Christie has set ambitious targets for the next few years – including trebling the number of patients participating in research and growing the pipeline of research leaders with regional, national and international influence with the ultimate aim of bringing tomorrow’s treatments to patients faster. The opening of the state-of-the-art Paterson building sees The Christie on the brink of a new era for cancer research and innovation with the seamless integration of research with clinical care accelerating discoveries from the laboratory into clinical practice, resulting in more advanced treatments and better outcomes for patients. To secure outstanding results for patients we need outstanding staff. The Charity will support the recruitment of the next generation of cancer research leaders and clinical research

fellows with the ultimate goal of improving survival rates for patients.

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A series of 10k runs and an annual half marathon through the stunning surroundings of Tatton Park christies.org/events Run Tatton