By Harry Mottram: Whether you are a royalist or a republican the one thing you can agree on is that cancer does not discriminate. With the news that King Charles III (pictured) has been diagnosed with cancer it reminds us that in Bath there are a number of groups, charities and organisations that treat, manage, support and raise money in the long running battle to treat and eventually cure the many types of the disease.
Beginning with the Royal United Hospital, the RUH diagnoses approximately 2,200 new cases of cancer each year. They offer specialist surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, haematology, palliative and supportive care services. The RUH provides inpatient, day care and outpatient services for all areas of cancer treatment and has the facilities to diagnose and treat all types of cancers.
See https://www.ruh.nhs.uk/patients/services/clinical_depts/cancer_services/index.asp?menu_id=1
The Bath Cancer Unit Support Group is a small local charity, run entirely by volunteers, which supports the work of cancer facilities at the RUH having raised more than half a million pounds last year through fundraising events like the Bath Half Marathon. See https://bcusg.org/
Based in Bath We Get It provides support and resources for those who have been diagnosed, are in remission or recovering from cancer and organise events and tell the stories of those affected. See https://www.wegetit.org.uk/
Bath gynae cancer support group meets regularly at the Boathouse pub for people affected by gynaecological cancer. See https://targetovariancancer.org.uk/support-for-you/events/local-groups/bath-gynae-cancer-support-group#:~:text=We%20meet%20at%20The%20Boathouse,RUH%20on%2001225%20824%20049.
We Hear You is a west based cancer counselling group that helps anyone affected by cancer including family and children. If is free and you can self-refer. See https://www.wehearyou.org.uk/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAzoeuBhDqARIsAMdH14HDKnrlEiTqdq3j58ryBncxeWAsfg6XUi0aar5dEpOSICTREFueKo8aAhNrEALw_wcB
There’s a yoga class at the Minerva Centre Bath for Women Living with Breast Cancer, (https://www.naturaltherapypages.co.uk/therapist/minervacentrebath/14102) and in Lansdown there is a Breast Care Swimming Group (https://healthwatchbathnes.co.uk/advice-and-information/2023-09-11/cancer-support-groups-available-locally-and-nationally), while in Twerton there is Positive Action Cancer a free counselling group for or adult, teens and children (https://www.positiveactiononcancer.co.uk/).
Researchers at the University of Bath work with the RUH to develop treatments and diagnostic strategies. See https://www.bath.ac.uk/research-groups/cancer-research-at-bath/
The Somerset, Wiltshire, Avon & Gloucestershire Cancer Alliance (SWAG Alliance) links cancer services in the region. See https://www.swagcanceralliance.nhs.uk/
Nationally there is the Macmillan Cancer Support (https://www.macmillan.org.uk/) and Cancer Research UK (https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/) who both have a huge amount of information and links – and of course the NHS has a website with more information. See https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cancer/
There are many other groups – if we have missed yours then email the editor at news@bathvoice.co.uk and I will add them here.
Bath Half Marathon on 17th Match 2024 has some vacancies for charity runners – see https://bathhalf.co.uk/charity/
Email him at news@bathvoice.co.uk Bath website: https://bathvoice.co.uk/news/
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Harry Mottram is a freelance journalist. Follow him on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Telegram, TikTok and Email:harryfmottram@gmail.com
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