My Breakthrough
Breakthrough’s biggest ever Breast Care Nurses' Workshop
This year’s theme was ‘Hard Questions’, reflecting Breakthrough’s desire to address those issues breast care nurses and patients have described as particularly challenging or overlooked. Topics included improving care on the ward, providing information about diet and nutrition, and evidence behind complementary therapies.
We were particularly pleased to hear from two members of Breakthrough’s Campaigns & Advocacy Network (CAN). Emma Freeborn provided a vital patient perspective on the support needs of secondary breast cancer patients and Caroline Sharpe discussed her views on the measurement of benefit against risk when making treatment decisions. Delegates spoke warmly about the importance of hearing the patient voice at a workshop dedicated to improving care.
Another popular talk came from Alison Leary, Oncology Lecturer at University College London Hospital, who has developed a computer programme, Pandora, to measure the value of specialist nursing. Eager to promote the ‘invisible’ work undertaken by nurses, Alison created Pandora to enable nurses to demonstrate the many aspects of their contribution to managers.
Breast care nurses are some of our most important allies in our work towards a future free from the fear of breast cancer. We were delighted to meet so many in London and to share with them many aspects of our work, from opportunities to recruit patients on to clinical trials to joining our CAN Network.
We plan to hold our next Breast Care Nurses' Workshop in March 2009.
