Lisa Nastri (pictured above), 47, has praised the support of our Cancer team, particularly our clinical nurse specialists (CNS) who supported her when she was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer last September.

Immediately on her diagnosis, Lisa was allocated CNS Tracey Morton who supported her throughout her treatment – including an operation to remove the tumour in October and a course of chemotherapy which she began in December.

Lisa, of Hornchurch, said: “Once cancer is in your head, you’re done. I couldn’t be left on my own at first and was too scared to go to sleep. I have three daughters, aged eight, 16, and 18 and they were all I could think about.

“From the first minute I spoke to Tracey she was absolutely fantastic. She put my mind at ease and talked me through the procedures, not knowing what’s going to happen is much worse. I owe my life to Tracey and her colleagues, they were exactly what I needed in the situation. I would give them a million pounds if I could, and that still wouldn’t be enough. When you’re having a bad day, you just need someone to talk to and nothing was too much trouble for them, no matter how busy they were.”

Last Tuesday (15 March) marked the first national Cancer CNS Day and we celebrated our team with tea and cakes.

Bianca Owusu (below) is our newest CNS, joining the team in January this year. She explained a little more about the role, and why it’s her perfect job: “We are there to guide patients throughout their entire journey, usually from when cancer is suspected, their treatment and beyond.

“Being diagnosed with cancer can be overwhelming for patients so we are their go-to person who they can rely on for emotional support. We can also sign-post them to other services, organise scans, help with prescriptions and address any concerns they have. I may have only been in the role for three months, but I can already see how quickly we build close relationships with our patients; on my first day I was with a patient who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and we have been in contact ever since. She feels more settled knowing she just needs to call me, and it will be sorted. It’s a really important role for our patients.”

Bianca, 27, has been at our Trust since she qualified as a nurse in 2017. Before becoming a CNS, she worked with lots of cancer patients on our wards. Her new role allows her to concentrate even more closely on her patients, which is what she loves.

She added: “When I was on the ward I’d be called away as I had other duties, but I could already see how much I enjoyed building relationships with patients and them being able to rely on me. I’d also often wonder how they got on.

“Being a CNS is my perfect job as there is more scope for relationship building. It also fits my personality as I love a natter, and that’s often what people call for, a chin wag and to get something off their chest. Working with cancer patients means there are days when I have cried my eyes out, but it is so rewarding – people remember what you did for them at the lowest time of their lives.”

If you’d like to find out more about becoming a CNS, contact our Lead Cancer Nurse, Jemma O’Reilly via email jemma.o'reilly@nhs.net.