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The Oesophageal Patients AssociationWhat We Do |
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      Chairman - David Kirby OBE Registered Charity |
Our objectives are to help new patients and their families
to cope with any difficulties arising as a result of treatment, giving support and
encouraging them to achieve a good quality of life. This is done by providing information
leaflets on matters of concern, a telephone support line, arranging patient support
meetings around the UK and, where possible, visiting patients in hospital or making
contact during their convalescence. Patients may be referred by other agencies, such as Cancerbackup, doctors or specialist nurses anywhere in the UK and can by helped by telephone on the National Helpline or put in touch with a trained former patient where possible. Talking about the problems with someone who knows what they are like (perhaps rather better than the doctor) can be a great relief and there is time to deal with all the questions that seemed too trivial to mention to the doctor or were forgotten at the time. The Association is represented on various committees involved with the management of upper GI cancers and research into new treatments. Patient involvement is increasingly recognised as a valuable input to the thinking and documentation on such matters. |