A very Merry Christmas to all our members, supporters and site visitors. As usual we will be skipping January and having our next meeting on Wed 3rd Feb 2016.
Merry Christmas! Next meeting 3rd Feb
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Category Archives: News
Slõ Drinks and Dysphagia
I was contacted recently by Pauline of Slõ Drinks. They are a small, British company based in Glossop, south Manchester. They have a large range of well researched and tested products to aid people with swallowing difficulties – Dysphagia to those in the know. This condition can arise for all sorts of reasons, including head and neck cancer treatment.
Doctors commonly recommend adding thickener powders to drinks but this is a hit and miss method, requiring a lot of experimentation to get reasonable results. Slõ Drinks have gone much further and offer products for hot, cold and even fizzy drinks. They can even provide products designed for beer, wine and spirits! – Great news at this time of year.
Part of Slõ Drinks’ philosophy is to actively link up with support groups like ours and share information about this much neglected aspect of care and recovery. Their blog is full of interesting reading on the subject.
For more info, click on the logo above to visit the site or ring Pauline / Matthew on 0345 2222205
Christmas Party 2015
It’s that time again! Everyone is welcome to our Christmas party, which is being held on
Wed 2nd December at 18.30 at
The Royal British Legion
195-197 Meir Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 7JF
There will be food, raffles and fun – all cash raised will go to good causes, including Headcases.
If you have any raffle prizes to donate, please get in touch with Paul [ 07813 564290 ]
or Fred [ 07895 239083 ]
Wristbands have arrived!
Our Headcases wristbands are now available to individuals or organisations. Wearing one spreads awareness of our cause, and helps raise funds for us to put to good use. If you’d like one, ( or several! ) please contact Fred Goodwin on 07895 239083
Large Donation helps Ward 111
Headcases would like to thank Sonja for her generous donation, made in August this year. The group met on Wed 7th October and we decided to contribute £500.00 of her donation towards the purchase of a Fischer&Paykel Humidification Machine. This will benefit Head and Neck patients having treatment on the ENT Specialised Surgery Ward [ Ward 111 ] at the Royal Stoke.
We’d like to extend our best wishes to Lisa Underwood, who is co-ordinating the fundraising for this machine – the total cost of a machine being around £1600.00.
More information on the humidification technology can be found at Fischer&Paykel’s website…
Goodbye and Good Luck to Catherine, Clinical Specialist Dietician
We’d like to take this opportunity to say a big thanks to Catherine, who is leaving Stoke Royal and moving down to London. Diet plays a big part in overall health, both during and after treatment and Catherine has helped countless patients with this over the years.
Welcome to Sophie Harries, who has recently taken up this post at Stoke Royal. We look forward to meeting her soon at one of our monthly gatherings.
Hand Reflex Self Help Points
We had a look at this product in or recent meeting – It’s available from Hands for Wellbeing at a very modest cost.
Hand Reflex Self Help card is an A5 sized laminated card which shows the specific reflex points on each hand on one side, with instructions on how to use it on the reverse. These can relieve common situations we experience from time to time such as
Sleep Inducing, Nausea, Stress Relieving, Headaches and Energising.
Headcases Wristbands
We are in the process of having our first batch of Headcases Charity Wristbands manufactured. These will be in the colours of our cause: Maroon and Beige and will carry the Headcases banner.
Wearing one will spread awareness of the group and each purchase will contribute to our charity. If you have ideas for outlets for the bands please contact our Chairman..
Fred Goodwin
Group Chairman – 01782 848103 and mob: 07895 239083
Fred’s Address: The Gables, 61 Kensington Road, Oakhill, Stoke on Trent. ST4 5BB
Free Wellbeing Event: Thursday 22nd October
This is intended for post-treatment patients and is being held at The Post Graduate Centre at the Stafford Hospital Site. The event time is 9.30 – 14.00. For more details and to book a place please ring me…
Jackie Miller
Mid South Staffs Clinical Nurse Specialist – 01785 257731 ext 3083 / 01785 886083
FREE Cancer Awareness and Support Day: 16th September in Hanley
Wednesday 16th September 10am to 3pm
Victoria Hall, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent
Talk to local cancer nurse specialists and other health professionals. Ask questions and find out more about the support and services in your area.
For more information contact the Beth Johnson Staffordshire & Wolverhampton Cancer Advocacy Project
Phone: 01782 844036
Email: macmillan@bjf.org.uk
