Manchester cancer patients are feeling the benefits of a new memory drop-in clinic for patients and carers thanks to The Christie.
The clinic aims to relieve the stress and worry levels of patients and carers and counteract the onset of memory problems caused by cancer treatment or tumours.
The Christie’s clinic is believed to be the first of its kind in a cancer setting and is run by occupational therapist Jonathan Parker, dementia nurse Lorraine Burgess and a complementary therapy team.
Jonathan Parker, the clinic’s occupational therapist, said: “A lot of people don’t realise that often memory problems are linked to severe stress, anxiety and also cancer – not just dementia.”
The service treats each individual based on their situation, suggest memory-boosting techniques and, where appropriate, will direct people to follow-up services.
Mr Parker added: “For these patients we offer techniques to boost memory and grading activities for memory loss along with compensatory techniques.
“Where memory impairment is linked to chemotherapy for brain patients – which can cause ‘chemo fog’ – patients are often relieved that we can reassure them that other people face the same concerns and that the side-effects normally wear off within a year or two.”
The clinic, which opened in December, usually sees about six people per session and offers complementary therapy to boost circulation and blood flow to the brain – which improves memory and increases relaxation.
The clinic has had great success since its opening late last year – with memory clinic patients’ ‘worry score’ reduced on average by between two and four points on a scale of one to ten.
The clinic has received largely positive feedback with 93% rating the service as being good or excellent while 100% of people said they would attend the service again.
Picture courtesy of TECU Consulting UK via Flickr, with thanks
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