Patients with pancreatic cancer, and their family and carers, can find out more about ways to live well with the disease at a support day at the Pax Lodge in Hampstead tomorrow (17 May).

Led by clinical nurse specialists from the hepato-pancreato-biliary team, the day will have members of the wider support team to offer support and information for patients.

It will cover everything from hand massages, exercises, diet and relaxation to chemotherapy, medication and surgery. The sessions are all patient-focussed and will encourage patients to share their experiences and tips.

Sophie Brown, hepato-pancreato-biliary clinical nurse specialist, said: “We hope that our day offers a peaceful and reassuring environment for our patients to share experiences, gain information and be supported at such an incredibly tough time in their lives. It aims to provide support to patients, relatives and carers in a ‘safe’ and non-medical environment, exploring ways of living well with pancreatic cancer, empowering them and helping them to know they are not alone with their diagnosis.

“Our patients benefited from this day so much in our first event last year, and we hope in time this may become a bi-annual event in order to encourage more people to come along.”

The day’s timetable:

  • 10am to 10.15am:   meet and greet with tea and coffee
  • 10.15am to 10.30am:   introduction to day by Mr Guiseppe Fusai, consultant surgeon at the Royal Free Hospital
  • 10.30am to 10.50am:   chemotherapy – Dr Roopinder Gillmore, consultant medical oncologist at the Royal Free Hospital
  • 10.50am to 11.10am:   physiotherapy – Lauren Geddes, physiotherapist
  • 11.10am to 12.15pm:   nutrition – Andrea Davis, specialist dietitian
  • 12.15pm to 1pm:   lunch will be provided
  • 1pm to 2pm:  break out 
    • surgical
    • non-surgical
    • carers

The Pax Lodge is located at 12C Lyndhurst Rd, Hampstead, London NW3 5PQ.

The day is supported by the charities Pancreatic Cancer UK and the Fiorina Fund.