ANN DEACON

When, in August 2005, I was diagnosed with cancer which, due to delays in the symptoms being recognised, had already spread, I was fairly devastated. However, I was fortunate in being invited to join a research project and that was when I first met Dawn, my Helen Rollason research nurse. From that point on I had the comforting feeling someone was fighting my corner.

Everyone attending the oncology unit has the support of the friendly staff there, but I knew I had something special.
When starting chemotherapy one gets a bag full of medication – some to be taken on specific days and others “just in case”. Everything was carefully labelled with its purpose by Dawn, who gave me written instructions for their use rather than my having to remember. She also gave me her telephone number with instructions to ring her with any queries or problems and this has been a boon.

Having cancer is worrying in itself, but during chemotherapy there all kinds of side effects – some quite frightening and others trivial – but I soon discovered that no matter how silly or serious my queries, when I phoned my very own Helen Rollason research nurse, each would be treated with the same concern and help would be forthcoming. She has been there to support me through various unexpected problems.

Having a Helen Rollason research nurse to lean on is like having your own warm, comforting cocoon and I hate to even contemplate being without her.