We asked our Chair Simon Butler-Manuel and his Specialist Registrar Dr Hersha Patel, to reflect on the sometimes confusing messages given by the press and social media about cervical cancer screening and immunisation which often gives the impression that cervical cancer will soon be eradicated.

GRACE is delighted to provide funding of £17,000 to purchase a new probe for the Hitachi Ultrasound Machine, which GRACE also funded. This will allow the Alex Stewart, Adrian Franklin and their team treating gynaeoncological cancers in St. Luke’s Cancer Centre to perform complex brachytherapy insertions to treat advanced cancers.

We would like to thank GRACE Supporter and Volunteer, Roger MacDivitt for his continuing awareness and fundraising activity. Not only is he promoting the GRACE Hound around Haslemere raising funds for GRACE, but he also organised a hugely successful Three Counties Immunotherapy Day in August which took place in various locations around Haslemere.

We are proud to be funding several pieces of Research at the moment, through PhD and MD studies, which has resulted in the following research papers.

Miss Ellis wanted to share the treatment she offers to young women with early stage cancers or precancerous conditions – Complex Atypical Hyperplasia (CAH) to help them to preserve their fertility prior to definitive treatment.

Miss Ellis, Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist & Surgeon in the Department of Gynaeoncology at the Royal Study is involved in several studies looking at endometrial cancer.

Almost all cervical cancers are caused by a virus called the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is spread sexually and is very common so about 80% of sexually active people are infected in their lifetime.

I have had the pleasure of working with the Gynae-Oncology team for the past 3 years whilst doing a research degree (M.D.) into ‘Dynamic Changes in Cervical Cancer’. I am extremely grateful to GRACE for providing the funding required to undertake this research.

When I sit down to write for this Newsletter, all I am hearing around me is unhappiness within the medical profession. Senior Consultants and GPs feeling cheated and considering reducing sessions and worse still, early retirement. 

Ovarian cancer affects over 7,000 women in the UK every year and according to CRUK, more than 50% of those women will not be able to survive the disease. A major issue contributing to high fatality rates is late diagnosis, with symptoms being vague and often comparable to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).