A psychology service set up at the beginning of last year designed to address the emotional impact of cancer has proven an “essential lifeline” for those dealing not only with their diagnosis and treatment but also the impact of lockdown.
Funded by Macmillan Cancer Support, the psycho-oncology team at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust – consisting of Macmillan Consultant Clinical Psychologist Dr Clare Stevenson, Macmillan Counselling Psychologist Dr Libby Lyons and Macmillan Assistant Psychologist Latoya Idele – has helped address the complex emotional needs of over 150 patients in its first year [2020].
Approximately half of those were referred into the service for emotional distress related to the diagnosis and side effects of treatment like low mood, anxiety and in some cases, even feeling suicidal. Other issues patients reported were about coping with the long-term effects of cancer, loneliness and social isolation – issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The team – who are based at Northwick Park Hospital – expect the number of patients they support to increase. Because of the pandemic, numbers were potentially lower than expected. In fact, at one point cancer services were reduced to all but essential. The team are still developing the range of support they can offer, and hope to develop groups and online resources as well as one to one support. They also provide training and supervision for cancer medical colleagues and other mental health services on the psychological impact cancer.
Macmillan Consultant Clinical Psychologist Dr Stevenson, who has worked in psychology for 17 years, says: “It’s hugely rewarding to know I can help in some way. We can’t take their cancer away, but we can be there to help make sense of their emotions, make space for and process difficult feelings and experiences, and find ways to cope and thrive.
“For example, one patient was distraught by her diagnosis and so fearful of having treatment that she was considering not going ahead. But as a result of pre-treatment conversations with us she has been able to come to terms with it and develop strategies to cope. Although the treatment is still very tough, now she is much more positive about her future.
“I’m glad that Macmillan exists and can help the NHS to do its marvellous job of healing people. We still have a long way to go to have services that are holistic and look after people’s minds as well as their bodies, and to understand that these are not separate, but I’m so glad to be working with Macmillan to move in this direction.”
The impact of their service, which cancer patients at any stage of their cancer experience can be referred to, is wide-reaching. The service is not only vital for wellbeing, research[1] has shown patients who are most able to manage a mental health condition, as well as their physical health conditions, experienced fewer emergency admissions than those who were less able.
Macmillan Cancer Support is funding the service for the first two years, which costs £194,241 a year to run.
Emma Tingley, Head of Partnerships for London, says: “This is a key example of the wide breadth of Macmillan services that have been an absolute essential lifeline for patients struggling not only with the physical and emotional impact of a diagnosis, but the distress and uncertainty of COVID-19 too.
“During the pandemic we were getting an increasing number of calls from people with cancer who are struggling with isolation and experiencing very high anxiety levels without the usual support of family and friends.
“At a time when healthcare staff are facing unprecedented challenges, it is so reassuring for people with cancer in London to know services like this one are there for them and anyone with cancer concerns can reach out and call our support line on 0808 808 00 00.”
