A BURY woman has been part of a special focus group which has helped The Christie NHS Foundation Trust fulfil its pledge to improve care for its secondary breast cancer (SBC) patients.

The Christie has launched a series of specialist awareness sessions for patients living with SBC (metastatic disease) — the first events of this kind run by a UK hospital.

Its cancer nursing team's decision follows feedback from patients during the launch of The Christie Secondary Breast Cancer Pledge (SBCP) in March 2014 and subsequent focus groups.

Secondary breast cancer is cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body and cannot be cured.

The SBCP work last year was carried out alongside two of the UK's leading breast cancer charities, Breakthrough Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Care, as part of a national initiative to improve services for people diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. The Christie consulted with SBC patients and created a booklet for them detailing what they can expect from their care before, during and after treatment. The Trust set up a patient focus group following this to help it deliver its pledge to improve the care for its SBC patients.

Held at the specialist cancer centre in July, the first "Living with Secondary Breast Cancer’"day had more than 50 patients and carers in attendance and was the first of three to take place. The initiative has been funded by Macmillan Innovation Fund in conjunction with Manchester Cancer.

Christie patient, Tricia Wilding, 52, from Bury, has been part of the patient focus group since The Christie SBCP was launched. She said: "When I was first diagnosed with SBC a couple of years ago, it was such a shock. I had to find my way through coping with both the physical and psychological challenges of having a cancer that cannot be cured. I felt lost and bereft — isolated.

"This group has been a lifesaver. It touches a part of your psyche that medicine can't touch. At this first event I met a lady who had been living with SBC for 11 years and that meeting was the first time she had met others with SBC. It really gave me hope.”

Patients interested in information on the next Living with Secondary Breast Cancer event in October should email Claire.gaskell@christie.nhs.uk