The angels at the end of the phone

When the disease is first diagnosed people may feel confused, depressed or anxious, but the overriding sentiment is one of fear.

Initially, people say they think they are dying. But thanks to Macmillan nurses, like Lucinda Gomiciaga and Judith Lindsey, patients realise they are living with cancer.

Mrs Gomiciaga and Ms Lindsey, who are members of the Macmillan team at Prospect Hospice in Wroughton, say an essential part of helping a patient is helping their family too.

Mrs Gomiciaga said: "We don't just regard a patient as a cancer sufferer, but see them as a whole person. That must include their husband, wife, children and even pets.

"We consider everything that's important to them.

"The fact that we visit them in their own homes places greater emphasis on their comfort. People feel more at ease talking through difficult issues relating to the uncertainty of what lies ahead."

Mrs Gomiciaga, who has 12 years experience as a Macmillan nurse, previously worked at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London.

She said: "I gained a lot of experience while I worked in the oncology ward before becoming a Macmillan nurse.

"I don't know exactly what attracted me to join Macmillan.

"But sometimes in a busy general hospital patients can feel anonymous, as though they are one of many. But when we visit them at home you start to get a picture of what people are like. You can't separate the patient from the family.

"The disease has a knock-on effect which spreads to those around them."

Ms Lindsey, who has been a Macmillan nurse for five years, said: "We gradually build up relationships with our patients, so that they come to trust us and our reliability.

"It is important to discuss with them what their needs are.

"Some patients may like to have regular contact with us, while others may need more time and space. Everyone is different.

"But we always strive to follow through with things. This could be anything from relaying information back to a patient from the doctors regarding certain symptoms, to helping with grants and alleviating their financial worries.

"There is a lot of expertise and good work already out there. As a Macmillan nurse, my job is to complement the support already in place from the ward staff."

Both nurses currently see around 30 patients each.

They aim to make contact with a new patient within three days of their referral, which comes from their GP, district nurse, or ward sister.

"We need to let patients know we are there for them, which is why we try and get in touch as soon as possible," Ms Lindsey said.

"We are always at the end of a phone.

"Historically Macmillan was associated with looking after patients in the last stages of their illness, but it's gradually being acknowledged that this isn't always the case," Ms Lindsey said.

"Not all patients with cancer die and that is something we really want to get across.

"We are there to help people live with cancer.

"You can't do this work unless you let yourself be affected by the people you are meeting.

"You wouldn't be doing your job properly."

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