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OPA Awareness Leaflet - Ref Lux - blowing the whistle on Cancer

The aim of this OPA awareness campaign is to educate the public, pharmacists, and GPs about the early signs for oesophageal cancer: heartburn, indigestion and food getting stuck; we know that only 30% of patients get curative treatment. Hence 70% of them are incurable.

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OPA Recipes for When Food is a Problem

This is a book of recipes and food ideas for people who may need to put on weight, have difficulty in swallowing, or who are living with the after-effects of surgery on our stomach and/or oesophagus (gullet).

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OPA Fundraising Leaflet - What You Can Do To Get Involved

Introducing the OPA mission and different ways to help fundraise for the OPA.

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OPA Leaflet - Living with Oesophageal or Gastric Cancer?

OPA Leaflet - Living with Oesophageal or Gastric Cancer? Introducing the OPA and our group & one-to-one support services.

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The Patient's Pathway

This document is a guide to your pathway following diagnosis. It is based on the pathway at St Thomas’ Hospital in London but as the treatment is standardized across the UK it should reflect that in the centre where you are treated. Thanks to Bob Mason and team at GSTT.

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A guide to life after surgery

You have had a major operation and feel that life can never be the same again. It can, with slight modifications, and it can be a very good life.

The objective now must be to learn to live with the changes in your system so that they affect your quality of life as little as possible.

There is no need for a special diet, you can eat and drink anything you like, but some guidelines may influence the way you eat. For example, for the first 4-6 weeks you should eat food which is soft and well cooked, and adopt a little and often regime.  Almost certainly you will develop a greater interest in healthy eating and that will be better for you too.

The recovery period is slow, but slow steady improvement is best.  It is possible for people to return to their former fitness level in time, including running marathons!!

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Swallowing - Nutrition when it's difficult

Difficulty in swallowing may be experienced for a number of reasons; for example, a growth may be being treated by chemotherapy prior to surgery or after surgery if considered helpful; a stricture may need dilatation (stretching); a tube (stent) may have been inserted within the oesophagus (gullet) to make a passageway through an obstruction; or during radiotherapy or laser treatment the ability to swallow may be affected. Whatever the reason, some thought may be needed as to what can be eaten, the nature of the food and its consistency. A diet of soft food often becomes variations on a theme of soup, jelly and ice-cream which can be very boring. This booklet aims to show that it need not be.

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Notes for a Carer

Being a carer is a commitment, one might also say a job, without a fixed definition – and often, unfortunately, without extra financial support. Not unlike some aspects of the role of doctor or nurse, here it means focussing on the recovery, survival and well-being of your partner or friend. He or she may need your support and help after such a life event that a diagnosis of serious or life-threatening ill-health has brought about.

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The OPA General leaflet

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. 

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OPA Restaurant Card - English

Two cards that can be discreetly shown to waiting staff in a restaurant. The first card states "Due to a medical condition I require urgent access to toilet facilities". The second card states "Due to a medical condition I am unable to eat normal portions of food. Please provide me with a child's size portion".

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OPA Restaurant Cards - Dutch

Two cards in Dutch that can be discreetly shown to waiting staff in a restaurant.

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OPA Restaurant Cards - French

Two cards in French that can be discreetly shown to waiting staff in a restaurant.

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OPA Restaurant Cards - German

Two cards in German that can be discreetly shown to waiting staff in a restaurant.

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OPA Restaurant Cards - Greek

Two cards in Greek that can be discreetly shown to waiting staff in a restaurant.

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OPA Restaurant Cards - Italian

Two cards in Italian that can be discreetly shown to waiting staff in a restaurant.

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OPA Restaurant Cards - Polish

Two cards in Polish that can be discreetly shown to waiting staff in a restaurant.

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OPA Restaurant Cards - Portuguese

Two cards in Portuguese that can be discreetly shown to waiting staff in a restaurant.

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OPA Restaurant Cards - Spanish

Two cards in Spanish that can be discreetly shown to waiting staff in a restaurant.

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OPA Restaurant Cards - Turkish

Two cards in Turkish that can be discreetly shown to waiting staff in a restaurant.

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Fundraising Permission Form

Download our fundraising permission form if you are planning to organise a fundraising activity for the OPA. Fill the form in and then email to charity@opa.org.uk or post to: Oesophageal Patients Association, 50 High Street, Henley In Arden, Warwickshire B95 5AN.

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Standing Order Form

Set up a regular payment via a Standing Order and help support the OPA. Also contains instructions for Giftaid - if you are a UK tax payer we will receive and extra 25p for every £1 you give.

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Giftaid Declaration Form for Single Donations

Giftaid declaration form for a single donation - if you are a UK tax payer we will receive and extra 25p for every £1 you give.

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Sponsorship Form with Giftaid Declaration

Sponsorship form with Giftaid instructions - if your sponsors are UK tax payers we will receive and extra 25p for every £1 they give.

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Dietary advice for patients experiencing dumping syndrome after oesophago–gastric surgery

Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham patient information leaflet on dietary advice for patients experiencing dumping syndrome after oesophago–gastric surgery.

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OPA Legacy Leaflet

A gift in your Will is a special way you can help patients, their families and friends touched by oesoph ageal and gastric cancer, in what can be a lonely nightmare. If you would like to find out more about leaving a gift in your Will to the OPA download our Legacies Leaflet.

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A Patient's Guide to Achalasia

We have written this booklet to help patients with achalasia to understand the condition better, to describe the various treatments that may be possible, and to record the various hints and tips that other patients have passed on to us.

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Achalasia Leaflet

Achalasia is a rare condition that prevents people swallowing properly. About 6,000 people in Britain are affected with various stages of the disease (prevalence). It can have a severe effect on nutrition, and may prevent people from maintaining a healthy weight. It is often a condition that is not diagnosed readily, and can lead to considerable distress and loss of quality of life.

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Psychology of Cancer

Courtesy of Macmillan Cancer Support. This is an edited version of a talk originally given by Dr Harvey at the annual conference of the Cancer Self Help Groups.

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Signs and symptoms of Oesophageal Cancer from Cancer Research UK

How to spot the signs and symptoms and reduce your risk of Oesophageal Cancer leaflet from Cancer Research UK. In this leaflet you can find out about the signs and symptoms to look out for and how to reduce the risk of oesophageal cancer.

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OPA Fiona Wade Appeal Leaflet

We are delighted to announce the launch of the Fiona Wade Appeal for the Oesophageal Patients Association. OPA Patron and TV actress Fiona Wade, better known as Emmerdale’s Priya Sharma has a personal connection with the OPA, having lost her father to Oesophageal Cancer. ‘I had never heard of his type of cancer before and I always feel to this day that if we had been more aware of oesophageal cancer or reflux disease then, for sure, earlier diagnosis would have made a huge difference and maybe saved his life.’

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James Gossage - 5th May 2018 AGM Presentation

Slides and notes from the presentation given by James Gossage - Consultant oesophago-gastric and general surgeon, Guys and St Thomas' at the AGM on 5th May 2018

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