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Oncology Research Nurse
Who I am?
Margaret Brunton is the Oncology Research Nurse and has been in post since October 2003. She is funded by the Greater Manchester & Cheshire Cancer Network and employed by the Trust. Margaret is supported by Jennifer Bradshaw who is the Clinical Trials Administrator. The Research nurse supports 3 visiting oncologists from Christies who are:
Dr. Richard Cowan – Consultant Clinical Oncologist (Haematology & Neurology Cancer)
Dr. Gregory Wilson – Consultant Medical Oncologist (Breast & Bowel Cancer)
Dr. Bemyap – Consultant Medical Oncologist (Breast Cancer)
Where I am?
The Oncology Research Nurse and Clinical Trials Administrator are based in the Cancer Care Suite at R.A.E.I, Wigan.
What I do?
The NHS Cancer Plan (July 2000) presents the government's strategy for investment and reform across the NHS, and gives cancer services high priority. The document provides a detailed account of the government's comprehensive national programme for investment in and reform of cancer services in England, which aims to reduce death rates and improve prospects of survival and quality of life for cancer sufferers by improving prevention, promoting early detection and effective screening practice, and guaranteeing high quality treatment and care throughout the country. One of the Cancer Plan’s committments is the expansion and development of cancer research.
The Oncology Research Nurse undertakes charity trials. The aim of these trials is to improve outcomes for patients. Patients receive their gold standard care and the
Margaret Brunton & Jennifer Bradshaw
clinical trial is seen an added extra to help patients with their systoms or to provide palliative care and thus to improve the quality of the patients life.
The aim for the research team is to ensure that 7.5% of the population in our area are taking part in clinical trials and we have exceeded this figure as at least 9 – 10% are taking part in a trial. The trials aim to retrieve safety data from drugs that have not yet been approved by NICE (National Instiutue for Clinical Excellence) and thus provides evidence for the drugs to achieve this attribute. Most of the trials are associated with trialling medication but also some epidemiology research is undertaken which looks aims to look at the causes why a person has a type of cancer. This evidence is particularly beneficial for other members of the family of a cancer sufferer who can look out for possible early indications of cancer if it is hereditary.
If appropriate, the oncology research nurse will refer patients to commercial clincial trials which are based at Christie Hospital in Manchester.
People often feel they can not take part in a clinical trial due to their age but you can no matter how old or young you are as long as you meet the other specified criteria which the oncology research nurse will explain to you if you are asked to take part.
Clinic Days
There are weekly clinics at the Cancer Care Suite based at R.A.E.I, Wigan and a monthly Colorectal clinic. For patients who undertake radiotherapy as part of the trial this is carried out at Christies Hospital in Manchester.
How do you refer to the service and who can refer?
The Oncology Research Nurse takes referrals from the specialist nurses such as the Breast or Colorectal specialist nurses, Consultants, from observing pathology reports and also from the oncology data team.
You need a clinic appointment which can be organised from one of the staff mentioned above which will either be arranged for you at the Cancer Care Suite in Wigan or at Christies Hospital.
More information
Each trial has its own information leaflet which the Oncology Research Nurse will give to you if you are asked to take part in a trial.
There are also some useful websites to refer to for more information, such as:
http://www.ncrn.org.uk/index2.htm - The National Cancer Research Network website
www.cancerbacup.org.uk/Trials/Understandingtrials - Cancer Bacup Website page regarding understanding clinical trials
