Diamonds are forever grateful for life-saving care at Swansea cancer centre
Main picture: Mr and Mrs Diamond with radiotherapy researcher Jonathan Helbrow and consultant clinical oncologist Dr Sarah Gwynne.
A Swansea couple who will be forever grateful to the care given at Swansea’s cancer centre have said thank you with a four-figure donation.
Retired businessman John Diamond was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer last year, completing his treatment five months later.
Mr Diamond and his wife June visited the South West Wales Cancer centre at Singleton Hospital to hand over a cheque for £2,000. At his request, it will be used to support cutting-edge research being undertaken there.
The South West Wales Cancer Centre, or SWWCC, is run by Swansea Bay University Health Board and provides a range of lifesaving NHS treatments such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.
It celebrates its 20th anniversary this year and a fundraising appeal has been launched by Swansea Bay Health Charity, the health board’s official charity, to commemorate the landmark.
The appeal, Going the Extra Mile for Cancer, will support the thousands of patients from the Swansea Bay and Hywel Dda areas who are cared for there every year, as well as relatives and staff.
Now aged 81, Mr Diamond’s cancer was confirmed after he had an endoscopy on 7th June last year.
He underwent various tests to ensure the cancer had not spread and to consider whether he should have surgery or chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
“I was strong enough to withstand surgery, but the recovery time would have been two and a half years, so I decided to have chemotherapy and radiotherapy,” he said.
“The chemotherapy was very intense – six and a half hours each session, which was difficult to cope with – followed by chemo and radiotherapy for six weeks.
“The treatment went well until my blood pressure became erratic and I spent two weeks in Ward 12, where I had three blood transfusions to rectify the problem.
“I finished my treatment last November and it took me probably six months to get my strength back.”
Mr Diamond is keeping busy with gardening and spending time with his family – including grandson Joshua Diamond, who was inspired by his grandfather to run the Cardiff 10K, raising £300 for Cancer Research.
And Mr Diamond is himself keen to support the research being carried out at the cancer centre, which includes a clinical trial called SCOPE 2.
Although he did not participate in the UK-wide trial himself, he knew his oncologist Dr Sarah Gwynne, along with radiotherapy researcher Jonathan Helbrow, were both involved in the local study.
And he had nothing but praise for all staff involved in his treatment. “Everybody I met in radiotherapy was absolutely amazing,” he said.
“In the chemo unit the staff were caring, dedicated and understanding. I could not fault any of them at all.
“The treatment was intense but, touch wood, it seems to have done what it was supposed to have done. Whatever is lurking around the corner is around the corner. I don’t think like that. There’s no point.
“I don’t think I can say any more – except thank you. Thank you to my wife, family and friends for support and kind thoughts. I owe so much to my wife for her love, strength and positive output throughout.”
Charitable funds are invaluable in supporting research at the South West Wales Cancer Centre. A good example is the annual Jiffy’s Cancer 50 Challenge, fronted by Welsh rugby legend Jonathan Davies.
Money raised from that has helped fund Dr Helbrow’s radiotherapy research role, as will the donation from Mr and Mrs Diamond.
The research focuses specifically on radiotherapy techniques and results for oesophageal and gastric cancer patients.
SCOPE 2, run across 30 UK sites, involves giving a higher-than-normal dose of radiotherapy combined with a different kind of chemotherapy, to treat cancer of the oesophagus, commonly known as the food pipe, in patients who are unable to have surgery.
Consultant clinical oncologist Dr Gwynne said: “It involves radiotherapy and chemotherapy, with a view to getting rid of the cancer completely.
“We know oesophageal cancer outcomes are not as good as for some other cancers, and we are always trying to improve on that.”
Dr Gwynne said even though not all patients could, or wanted to, take part in clinical trials, they benefited indirectly from them.
“There is data to say that, if you are being treated in a centre that runs clinical trials, whether you are in the trial or not, the quality of your care is higher because you are in a research-active centre,” she explained.
“Patients generally do better overall because that quality is driven up by us participating in studies. Even when patients decide not to participate, the fact that we are active in research gives them confidence.”
Dr Gwynne said donations to the cancer centre’s research fund made a massive difference to this work.
“Every pound really does help to get us over the line, to be able to continue to employ people to do the research,” she added.
“It specifically funds doctors in training who spend a year or two with us to do research. And they allow me to do so much more than I could ever do on my own when a big part of my week is spent seeing patients.
“Having someone working on research full-time makes a massive difference. It also means they get to join clinics and meet people like Mr Diamond, which is obviously really good for their training as well.”
Follow this link if you want to support the Going the Extra Mile for Cancer appeal.
And follow this link to find out more about Going the Extra Mile for Cancer.
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