We are The Christie magazine Oct 2025

Charity corner

Together we can change the way we see cancer Help us bring a life-changing Total Body PET-CT scanner to The Christie.

If it wasn’t for the wonderful, compassionate, dedicated staff at The Christie – the amazing researchers, the drugs, the surgeons – I might not be here today.

John McGartland

Right now, the nearest Total Body PET-CT scanners are in London and Edinburgh, over 200 miles away. The Christie Charity has pledged £7m towards the cost to bring one to Manchester. The Total Body PET-CT scanner would help researchers understand how cancer in one organ has an impact across the body. They could then share their findings nationally to develop kinder treatments and improve treatment outcomes for patients like John McGartland. John was diagnosed with cancer in his oesophagus, stomach, adrenal gland and lymph nodes in 2019. He’s now in remission but returns to The Christie every four months to have a scan. He says: “If it wasn’t for the wonderful, compassionate, dedicated staff at The Christie – the amazing researchers, the drugs, the surgeons – I might not be here today. The advancements in treatments and technology are amazing but are only possible if resources are made available so that others like me are given hope and a chance to get their life back.” For more information about the appeal, visit our Withington or Macclesfield Charity centres, or go to: christies.org/totalbodypet

Scanning is one of the most important aspects of cancer treatment. It can mean the difference between life and death. Here at The Christie, we want to offer patients the most advanced scanning experience with the highest quality images. To do this we need to purchase one of the most innovative scanners in the world - a Total Body Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography scanner (Total Body PET-CT). This new scanner offers a range of benefits: • Can detect disease earlier • Scans the entire body quickly and in one go • Highest quality images in as little as five minutes – currently this can take up to half an hour • Faster and more precise and personalised treatment plans • Less exposure to radiation • Safer for pregnant women, babies and people with other vulnerabilities. • Allows us to see more patients • Gives researchers new insights into cancer and increases the number of scans for research at The Christie from 300 to at least 1,000 a year.

But we can’t provide this new technology without your help.

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