Hi everyone hope you are all doing well, I have not been on here is such a long time but just wanted to ask if anyone is at teh Royal marsden in Sutton and if so what is it like? I was living in Tooting when diagnosed in September 2005 so had my 2 operations and all treatment in St Georges but I have now moved to Carshalton so am only 5 mins drive from the marsden. I dont know if I should move or not I know everyone at Georges but I know the marsden is the best hospital and it only deal with cancer patients. I am also feeling very depressed at the moment Im not sure if just having breast cancer has only just sank in or if because ia m always so tired this is making me feel so low. Do they have younger women support groups at the marsden??
Hope someone can give me some advice about if I should stay at Georges as they all know me or if maybe I should move
Love Clairemm x x
Hi clairemm
I had all my treatment at the Marsden in sutton it is a wonderful hospital I dont know if there is a younger womens support group,but there are support groups and some therapys. There is also the South East Cancer Help Centre this is next to Tescos in Purley I dont know how near you are to this I am thinking about going there as I am feeling a bit out of sorts at the moment and think I may need councling my Oncologist Prof Yarnold from the Marsden told me about the centre and rates it very highly.
love mell
Hi Clairemm
I am having treatment under the Royal Marsden at the moment. I am mostly based at the Fulham Rd branch but have had one of my operations at Sutton. I really rate the Royal Marsden they have certainly gone out of their way for me. I got married in August and the staff at the Marsden did everything they could to ensure it still went ahead, they even scheduled my first chemo two days after so that I could go on honeymoon and gave me lots of additional anti sickness and other stuff to make sure that I was well. I haven’t really joined any support groups so don’t know if there are any in Sutton but I would be suprised if there wasn’t.
Lyndsey
X
Hi clairemm and melly2
I just wanted to mention to you both about the Breast Cancer Care telephone support group. It offers you a chance to get together once a week, linked together by phone. In the comfortable surroundings of your home you can share your feelings and discuss the practical and emotional impact of living with breast cancer. The groups are free of charge (we pay for the phone calls) and as long as you have access to a phone and have a quiet private place from which to call, you can join us from anywhere in the UK. Breast Cancer Care also run a live chat session, where you are able to chat to others on-line. This held every Thursday from 9 to 10pm and you are able to drop in and chat with others who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Both these services are particularly useful for you if you feel isolated.
For more information about these services, please telephone our helpline on 0808 800 6000 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 9am-2pm) or email: <script type=“text/javascript”>eval(unescape(‘%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%22%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%69%6e%66%6f%40%62%72%65%61%73%74%63%61%6e%63%65%72%63%61%72%65%2e%6f%72%67%2e%75%6b%22%3e%69%6e%66%6f%40%62%72%65%61%73%74%63%61%6e%63%65%72%63%61%72%65%2e%6f%72%67%2e%75%6b%3c%2f%61%3e%27%29%3b’))</script>
Kind regards
Sam
BCC Facilitator
The Marsden is fantastic. I was diagnosed at 39 and they are very supportive of younger women’s issues. I’ve been to both branches and was happy with both. I would have no reservations going there. I did go to St. George’s for my ovarian screening pre-diagnosis and they were good, but the Marsden team are great.
Hi Claire,
I havent been to Royal Marsden Sutton but I an also with St Georges Tooting for Chemo 2 yrs ago and then again this year.I had the experience of Royal Marsden Fulham branch when I had my Radiotherpay 2 yrs ago and will again receive treatments in Dec for this year’s regime.
I can say that both our hospitals are the best equipped and staffed cancer care team.I was given a choice wich R.M. would I like to got to for Radiotherapy this year, and I choose the Fulham one only because it is easy access for me by public transport from home and that I was already a patient there 2 yrs ago.You never know,we had probably bumped into each other in Trevor Howell Day Care unit all these days!!!
Take care.
Veeluz
Hi Claire,
By the way, i was orginally diagnosed in Nov 2005 and had treatments in St Georges in 2006 .At that time it was in the Allingham ward.I was in remission for a year 2007 but I had another primary this year 2008.Nearly finished with chemo ,only 2 more to go!!!
Regards
Veeluz
Hi
I have been under the RM Sutton in their family history programme for ten years. I was diagnosed this year with triple negative BC and have had my chemo and radio there. The staff are brilliant and they have access to alot if info and technology that others don’t. I have found them to be as supportive as I want them to be - they let you know what is there but do not push you into anything you are not comfortable with. There are forums and groups etc if thats what works for you. As I have worked throughout my treatment and have not really needed any other help I can’t comment on what the support services are like but if the rest of the treatment and service they provide is anything to go by I should imagine they are very good. I did attend one forum on lympo/phsyio which was really useful.
I am sure with any hospital you will find good and bad experiences but I have never heard on here anything less than good and more often brilliant about the RM Sutton. At the end of the day it is your choice and sometimes going where you are used to is less stress. But as I am only 5 mins from the hospital (Banstead) I know I found that a real boon when having treatment particularly the radio.
Let us know what you decide.
Take Care
Helen
HI everyone thank you for your help and advice, I think I am going to ask my GP to refere me to the RM sutton and just have a chat with them and see what I think of it.
Veeluz I cant belive you are also at St Georges we must have seen each other on the old chemo ward I use to have my treatment on a Friday a lady called Diane always did my treatment doyou know if she is still there??? if so please send her my love she should remember me tell her I was the one terrified of needles and I always came ofr chemo with my parents and sometimes my partner. Who was your surgeon?? I was very happy with my surgeon and everthing he has done for me but as I am not keen on the oncologist there and I now want some advice from the oncologist regarding having a family (the oncologist was very BLUNT that I should not ever have children as she thought it was selfish to have them when I stand a high chance or a reacurrance as I may not be here to see them grow up) I think the RM should be very up to date on if I should have children or not and I just feel a second opinion would be good.
Once again thank you all for your messages
Love Clairemm x x
Hi Clare,
Yes Dianne is still with us at the new ward.My surgeon is Dr.Mokbel.I must say that there is a new oncologist this year and I found her supportive and nice.The previous oncologist 2 yrs ago was different and you are right,she was a bit blunt.This time my oncologist is Laura Assershon.I have gone through my treatments and clinic well supported and I still have 2 more chemo to go,this Wednesday and next Wednesday.Im sorry to hear that you were told so of that comment very bluntly.At Allingham ward, I cant remeber if I was on Fridays too but I know that I was every 4 weeks.This year, I an on weekly session for 3 consecutive weeks then 1 week rest,so I became very familiar with the staff.It will always be your final choice where you are comfortable to have your treatments all factors considered.Let me know how you get on.
Regards
Veeluz