The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club (PLC)

A Charitable Support Group for Plymouth Cancer Laryngectomees

The Voice of PLC

August - September 2011
Address: c/o 80 Warleigh Avenue, PLYMOUTH, PL2 1DH, Devon, UK Mobile: 07745819828 (text only) Email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk Website: http://plymouthlc.webs.com

FOREWORD BY THE CHAIR

Written by Edward (Ted) BURNETT Dear Friends & Supporters! Well... another month has gone by and I should like to thank Mr. Miles WILLIAMS of Platon Medical Ltd. for his most interesting and informative talk about his products at our August 2011 Meeting! I should also like to say that I really hope as many PLC Members, Family and Friends as possible will be able to th attend our first Annual General Meeting on Monday, 5 September 2011. Further details appear later in this Newsletter. I also hope that as many PLC Members, Family and Friends as possible will be able to attend our coach trip outing to th Dartmeet for a Cream Tea on Saturday, 10 September 2011. Again, further details appear later in this Newsletter. A few PLC Members and Friends will be travelling down to th Devoran, near Truro on Wednesday, 15 September 2011 to meet up with members of the Speak Easy Club in Cornwall. Further details appear later in this Newsletter. I do hope youre all enjoying this British Summer Time and making the most of it! Best Wishes, Ted

GREETINGS!

H
B

APPY 40 BIRTHDAY to Gillian CLAYTON of Countrywide Supplies Ltd. We shouldnt divulge a ladys age I know... but this is a very special one! The Friends & Members of PLC would like to wish Gillian a very special th day on Sunday, 14 August 2011! We should also like to take this opportunity of thanking Gillian and her Team for the excellent service they provide us Laryngectomees year in, year out! Thanks a lot Guys! EST WISHES to Susan STEPHENSON for her birthday th on Sunday, 25 September 2011. Susan is staunch and loyal member of PLC. Have a lovely day Susan!

TH

THE PLC AUGUST 2011 MEETING

EDITORIAL COMMENT

UR AUGUST 2011 Meeting took place at the Mustard Tree Cancer Support Center at Derriford Hospital on st Monday, 1 August 2011 at 11 a.m. There were 11 of us in attendance including two Friends. We have one or two of our Members tucked up in hospital at the moment so they were unable to attend of course. We have sent them cards to wish them well, and we hope their situations improve soon. We were fortunate to have Mr. Miles WILLIAMS in attendance who gave us a very informative talk on the products available from Platon Medical Ltd.

NTERNET LINKS. If youre reading this on-line and come across words with blue lettering that are underlined, you can click on these links and be taken directly to another site for more information on that particular topic. Put your cursor over the link, hold down the Control (Ctrl) Key and click! Ed.

OMMITTEE MEETINGS. The Committee (thats Ted, Geoff and Jean) finally managed to meet up in July 2011 to resolve one or two ongoing problems on the Clubs behalf. This saves a lot of time discussing items at our Monthly Meetings which means we have more time to chinwag amongst ourselves... which is surely what we are about after all?

The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club (PLC) is an Affiliated Member of: The National Association of Laryngectomy Clubs (NALC) In Association with Macmillan Cancer Support Registered Charity Number: 273635 Our Funder: Macmillan Cancer Support A Member of The Plymouth Third Sector Consortium (PTSC) Patrons & Medical Advisors : Mr. W.M. BRIDGER, FRCS - Consultant ENT Surgeon, Mr. Tass MALIK, BSc FRCS (Gen), FRCS (ORL H&N) - Consultant Otolaryngologist, Head & Neck / Thyroid Surgeon, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.

RESCRIPTION ITEMS. This advice appeared in last months newsletter but has been reworded slightly on advice of our medical professionals: Maggie explained that all medical supplies obtained from Countrywide Supplies Ltd., Heimomed UK or elsewhere, were prescription items and as such were budgeted for from each local GPs purse. Patients must be registered with their local Allied Health Professional (for our Club Members, this would normally be Maggie or Julia) before ordering anything from any company. Julia stated that Base Plates from Platon Medical Supplies Ltd. were professionally preferred to start new patients off with, and the hospital only keeps Platon base plates in stock. However, other products would be trialled as necessary if there is a clinical need. Patients should never order a different item just to try it! Always consult with Maggie or Julia prior to ordering anything different. And, if in doubt, consult Maggie or Julia first!

S S

EPTEMBER 2011. Monday, 5 September 2011: The PLC Club Annual General Meeting starts at the Mustard Tree Cancer Support Centre at 11 a.m. Please look at the next page for more details. EPTEMBER 2011. Saturday, 10 September 2011: There will be a coach trip from Plymouth to Dartmeet for a Cream Tea. We will be departing from the Tescos Superstore at Roborough at a time yet to be notified Please meet outside the Main Entrance. Those with cars can use the Tescos Car Park all day! Geoff has seven names of those attending so far. Have you given your name to Geoff yet? Please do so as soon as poss! Members going on the trip will be asked to pay Jean just 5 on the day towards the coach hire cost. Friends and other family members will be asked to pay the full whack! Please bring some loose change with you as we will be having a whip-round for the driver on the return trip!
th

th

R S

AFFLE. Geoff won the August 2011 Raffle which was an orchid plant very kindly donated by Miles WILLIAMS, our Guest Speaker. Thanks Miles! Geoff will provide the prize for the September 2010 Raffle! UBSCRIPTIONS. Our current subscriptions rules are:

EPTEMBER 2011. Wednesday, 14 September2011: The Speak Easy Club in Cornwall has invited Members of PLC for a trip to Devoran, near Truro, for a Soup & Sandwich lunch. Those who have given their names to Geoff so far have a car seat reserved. Anyone else wishing to attend should notify Geoff as soon as possible.

th

A mandatory fee of 5 per Friend or Member on joining and a voluntary contribution of 1 per month. Ted intends to make a formal proposal at our AGM in September 2011 that the Club changes Subscriptions to: A mandatory fee of 5 per Friend or Member payable at each AGM. Geoff intends to second this proposal. If the new scheme is accepted it will become payable with effect from the October 2011 Meeting and thereafter at each Annual General Meeting.

CTOBER 2011: Friday, 7 October 2011: A Laryngectomee Study Day is still in the planning stages and is being organised by Julia and Maggie. It will be held at the Mustard Tree Cancer Support Centre. Please make a note of this date in your diaries as we have cancelled our normal rd Club Meeting for Monday, 3 October 2011! Our Club Meeting will take place in the Double Room of the Mustard th Tree between 11 and 12 noon on the 7 ... just prior to lunch. Members should note that we have been invited to attend both morning and afternoon sessions, as well as lunch, which has kindly been provided by our Medical Equipment Suppliers. So do please come prepared for a longer stay than normal!

th

REASURERS REPORT. Jean reported that she was holding 69.45 in cash and that the remainder was held in the Clubs Bank Account. The accounts are open to view by any Club Member at any time on application to Jean.

OVEMBER 2011: Monday, 7 November 2011: John MCKENNA of Colebrook Housing Carers has kindly accepted our invitation to be our Guest Speaker.

th

OTE OF THANKS! Our Members formally recorded a Vote of Thanks to both Maggie (Clinical Specialist Nurse) and to Julia (Speech & Language Therapist) who stepped into the breach for a couple of months to run our Club when both Ted and Geoff had problems that prevented them from performing their Clubbish duties! PLC is most grateful to them both for keeping our Club alive when it might otherwise have died. A lot goes on behind the scenes!

ECEMBER 2011: Monday, 5 December 2011: Members agreed at the August 2011 Meeting that Ted should book a Christmas Dinner to be held at the Acropolis Restaurant in Plymouth City Centre at 7 p.m. Members also agreed that the cost of this event should be offset by Club Funds.

th

THE PLC FORECAST OF EVENTS

ALENDAR of EVENTS. A copy of the Clubs Calendar of Events, including Future Entertainments for the next 12 months or so, is available on our Clubs website. Please keep yourselves up-to-date by taking an occasional peek!
Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read on (01752) 563800 or 0774581928 (text only) or email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk, or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Clubs first Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place at the Mustard Tree Cancer Support Centre at 11 a.m. on th Monday, 5 September 2011. Please try to get there at 10.30 p.m. when refreshments will be served in the Reception Area prior to the meeting. A rough programme of events is as follows: Introduction by the Chair (Ted) Raffle An Address by Mr. Michael W.M. BRIDGER,
Consultant Ear, Nose & Throat Surgeon

A Talk by Mr. Charles HANDLEY,

Countrywide Supplies Ltd.

A Report by the Treasurer (Jean) A Report by the Secretary (Geoff) Club Business including:
Subscriptions

Election of a New Committee:

Chair Treasurer Entertainments Member Secretary

Any Other Business This AGM is open for all Friends and Members to attend. However, only Members will have the right of vote. If anyone has any proposals they wish to raise at this AGM they must pass them to the Secretary (Geoff) by not later than Monday, nd 22 August 2011. New proposals will not be accepted after that date.

Proprietor of the discount superstore Linda THOMPSON generously provides the conservatory and garden area rent free to the group, which has around 50 members. Volunteer Karen WELLARD said: "Without the generosity of Linda and her staff it wouldn't happen. "We are just so grateful for their kindness." Food is put out for feathered friends and wildlife attracting blackbirds, robins, squirrels and wild rabbits. The group have their own animals, chickens and rabbits, to look after. Members hold an annual runner bean competition to see who can grow the longest bean, making sure they water their plants to ensure good growth. As well as the beans other vegetables are grown in among the plants, which include strawberries and pumpkins. Rose and Barrie FUSZARD live in Manadon. They have been attending the group for the past four years. Carer Rose said: "It's lovely here, even if we are inside and we enjoy the company. Everybody with Alzheimer's has a plinth full of plants and beans. The beans are measured to see who has grown the longest one and they get a prize." Bernard POLKINGHORNE, who cares for his wife Edna, said: "The garden is beautiful and we have been coming for about 12 months." As well as providing the drop-in centre for Alzheimer's disease sufferers and their carers, activities organised by the charity include musical bingo and quizzes. Sessions are free and take place at Chaplins in Galileo Close, every fortnight on a Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For further information, call Karen WELLARD on (01752) 344923.

THE PLYMOUTH HOSPITALS NHS TRUST

CANCER SERVICES USER PARTNERSHIP GROUP

THE GARDEN CONCERT

ARDEN CONCERT. A few PLC Members and Friends attended the Open Air Garden Concert with the City of Plymouth Concert Band at Chaplins Superstore in Plymouth rd on Saturday, 23 July 2011. The price included a Cream Tea with Langage Farm Clotted Cream, Tea, Coffee and Soft Drinks. A delightful afternoon in aid of the Alzheimers Society.

EOFF ATTENDED A meeting of this Group at the Mustard Tree Cancer Support Centre at Derriford Hospital on th Wednesday, 13 July 2010, as a Plymouth Patient. Anyone wishing to have further details should get in touch with Geoff.

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LARYNGECTOMY CLUBS (NALC)

And this is how the event was covered in the Plymouth Herald th on Tuesday, 26 July 2011...

O N

GARDEN OF DELIGHTS. A SANCTUARY in the corner of the city certainly provides a secret haven for sufferers of Alzheimer's and their carers. The Memory Conservatory, based at Chaplins in Plympton, was founded by Rosemarie STEPHENS and is run by volunteers who have all lost a loved one to the condition. Weather permitting, members can enjoy the surroundings from the many seating areas in the garden where they can feast their eyes on containers full of flora and fauna including petunia, lobelia, fuchsia, lilies, marigolds and hosta.

UR CLUB RECEIVED a cheque recently for 200 from NALC to assist us in setting-up our Club. This muchneeded sum will help us tremendously. Geoff has sent a Letter of Thanks on behalf of our Chair and all Club Members to the President and Committee of NALC.

THE SPEAK EASY CLUB CORNWALL

EWSLETTER. Geoff received the July 2011 edition of rd their newsletter on Saturday, 23 July 2011 and emailed it out to those Members who are on-line. Those not on-line should contact Geoff for a hard copy. See the newsletter on full screen at Scribd.com

Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read on (01752) 563800 or 0774581928 (text only) or email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk, or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com

NEWS & CURRENT EVENTS

DISCLAIMER Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this section are not necessarily those held by the PLC Committee nor its Members.

150M 'NEW HEART' Plan for Derriford Looks Set to be Rejected. This article was published in the Plymouth th Herald on Thursday, 28 July 2011. A 150MILLION scheme which has been described as a "new heart" for Derriford is in jeopardy. The developers yesterday accused Plymouth planners of "changing their minds" over plans for the north of the city. APPLICATION: Plans for Plymouth's new North West Quadrant development at Derriford Hospital (see pic!). Wharfside Regeneration (Devon) Ltd. wants to develop the "North West Quadrant" of the Derriford Hospital estate. Their plans would see 356 homes along with shops, offices and restaurants and a hotel. Members of Plymouth City Council planning committee are being recommended to refuse the outline application at their meeting today. Planning officers say the scheme fails to take into account how the council wants the north of the city to develop. The 6.6 hectare site lies to the east of the Derriford roundabout. It is bounded by Derriford Road, the Derriford Hospital loop road and western perimeter road, Morlaix Drive, the ambulance station and the Norwich Union office building. John OXLEY, a director of Wharfside Regeneration, said yesterday: "We have had extensive discussions with planners and the Highways Agency. "We have held public consultations and had no objections from the public and nothing but positive vibes from the hospital. "We had one of the largest developers in the country lined up and prepared to invest. "We can't understand why, after all this time, the council has changed its mind." Mr. OXLEY said Wharfside would appeal to the Secretary of State if the council turned down the application. "Our architect is apoplectic over the recommended refusal," he said. Wharfside bought the 6.6 hectare site near Derriford Hospital in April 2006. At present the land is used for car parks and blocks of former hospital accommodation which are being demolished. The northern Rowans Building is used as a children's day nursery and an office base for the applicant. The company wants to build:
82 three-bedroom houses, 54 one-bedroom flats, 104 two-bedroom flats, 53 three-bedroom flats, 32 two-bedroom duplexes and 31 three-bedroom duplexes.

The outline planning application has been held up for about a year while the developers negotiated with city planners over whether the scheme can be made more in keeping with the council's own Derriford and Seaton area action plan. The city's vision for Derriford and Seaton has changed over the past year, but includes a major shopping centre near Tavistock Road. The Highways Agency says that not enough evidence has been given to assess how the development will affect the road network, in particular Manadon roundabout and Forder Valley link road.

EALTH CHARITY Says Four in Ten People Will Get Cancer. th This article was broadcast on Thursday, 14 July 2010 by Adam BRIMELOW Health Correspondent, BBC News: Rising cancer rates mean four in ten people in the UK get the disease at some point in their lives, a health charity says. Macmillan Cancer Support says the figure has risen significantly in the past decade. The charity says the rise poses a "massive challenge" for the NHS. Ministers in England say they are working to improve cancer survival rates and the quality of life after diagnosis and treatment. Macmillan Cancer Support says a decade ago about a third of people, or 33%, developed cancer at some point in their lives. The charity says that figure has risen to more than 40%. The estimates are drawn from projections published two years ago in the British Journal of Cancer, which concluded that at the end of 2008 there were two million cancer survivors in the UK and that the figure was rising every year. Macmillan also looked at recent cancer incidence and mortality statistics for the UK, indicating that 310,000 people were diagnosed with cancer in 2008. About 157,000 people died from the disease, and 89,000 who had been diagnosed with cancer died from other causes, making a total of 246,000 who died "with" cancer. The charity says this accounted for 42% of total deaths in the UK... which stood at 580,000. Macmillan says the increase is partly down to an ageing population... older people are more likely to develop cancer. It says lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise, and improved diagnosis have also contributed to the rise. Click for more on this article, including a video.

There would be a large supermarket, other shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and takeaways. There would also be offices, a bookshop, caf, library and community facility, and a multistorey car park. The developers are proposing a new hotel on the site, plus care homes and other healthcare facilities. The residential densities are high, partly reflecting the large number of flats and duplexes, ranging from 65 dwellings per hectare to 160. The master plan includes areas of open space and a proposed pond.

APITEX HEALTHCARE Ltd. Kapitex have just announced the introduction of a new Buchanan Protector Buchanan Lite. For this and other products (available on NHS Prescription) please visit their website. If you are a patient and have not used this Company before, do please remember you will need to speak to Maggie and / or Julia before placing an order.

Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read on (01752) 563800 or 0774581928 (text only) or email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk, or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com

M
1. 2.

AN FLU: The Facts... Man-Flu is more painful than childbirth. 1 This is an irrefutable scientific fact . Man-Flu is not 'just a cold'. It is a condition so severe that the germs from a single Man-Flu sneeze could wipe out entire tribes of people living in the rainforest. And probably loads of monkeys too. Women do not contract Man-Flu. At worst they suffer from what is medically recognised as a 'Mild Girly Sniffle' which if a man caught they would still be able to run throw a ball, tear a telephone book in half and compete in all other kinds of manly activities. Men do not 'moan' when they have Man-Flu. They emit involuntary groans of agony that are entirely in proportion to the unbearable pain they are in. Full recovery from Man-Flu will take place much quicker if their simple requests for care sympathy and regular cups of tea are met. Is that really so much to ask? Florence Nightingale would have done it! More men die each year from MFN (Man-Flu Neglect) than lots and lots of other things. Like rabbit attacks or choking on toast. Men suffering from Man-Flu want nothing more than to get out of bed and come to work-out they are too selfless to risk spreading this awful condition amongst their friends and colleagues. In this sense they are the greatest heroes this country has ever known. In 1982 scientists managed to simulate the agonising symptoms of full blown Man-Flu in a female chimp. She became so ill that her head literally fell off. Man-Flu germs are more powerful than He-Man, Thundercats, and The A-Team combined. They are too strong for weak, nasty tasting 'lady medicines' like Lemsip. Don't bother trying to force them on a victim of Man-Flu. While it may seem like a Man-Flu sufferer is just lying around enjoying 'Diagnosis Murder' it is a commonly recognised medical fact that the exact pitch and frequency of Dick Van Dyke's voice has remarkable soothing powers.

LYMOUTH HEALTHWATCH Information Event. th This event will take place on Tuesday, 16 August and nd Thursday, 22 September 2011 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Charter Room of Plymouth Guildhall.
Discuss how HealthWatch can represent local views Find out about the Governments plans for HealthWatch Share your ideas about how it could work

3.

Please contact Plymouth LINk to let them know if you would like to attend and give your preferred date at:
Plymouth LINk Support Team Freepost RRZE-AGZT-EXRS, Unit 15, HQ Building, 237 Union Street, Plymouth, PL2 3HQ, Devon. Telephone: (01752) 202407 Email: info@plymouth-link.co.uk

4.

ESCUE BREATHING For Laryngectomees. This snippet of information has been sent to us by Dr. Itzhak BROOK from Washington, USA. Itzhak is a Friend of PLC. Ventilation of laryngectomees and other neck breathers is often inappropriate and may lead to devastating consequences. Laryngectomees who require anaesthesia or sedation (i.e. for dental procedure, or colonoscopy) often encounter health care providers that are not familiar with their anatomy and the proper methods for their ventilation. I have prepared a 12 minutes video about Rescue Breathing for Laryngectomees and Neck Breathers. This is available in a form of a CD and is also available now for viewing at youtube. A link to it is also available through my website at dribrook.blogspot.com/, which has useful information for laryngectomees (on medical and psychological issues) and updates. Viewing this video by emergency room personal and anaesthetists can be life saving. I will be happy to send you a CD of the video if you are interested. Thanks! Itzhak BROOK, MD, MSc
Professor of Medicine Georgetown University Washington DC, USA

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Every minute in this country one man is struck down by ManFlu. Women all we ask is that each of you offers them a cup of tea, some kind words and your undivided attention and care. Then maybe, just maybe... we'll beat this monstrous disease together... Submitted by Geoffrey N. READ

Based on a survey of over 100,000 men.

Blog site: dribrook.blogspot.com Email: ib6@georgetown.edu 5

Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read on (01752) 563800 or 0774581928 (text only) or email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk, or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com

The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club (PLC)

is a Charitable Cancer Support Group. PLC aims to offer support and care to laryngectomees and their carers and families. PLC also encourages understanding and support by the public. And, just for those who may not be aware... Laryngectomy is the removal of the larynx and separation of the airway from the mouth, nose and oesophagus. The Laryngectomee breaths through the neck, a stoma. It is done in the cases of laryngeal cancer. However, many laryngeal cancer cases are now treated only with radiation and chemotherapy, or other laser procedures, and Laryngectomy is performed when those treatments fail to conserve the larynx. If youre a Laryngectomee you would be most welcome to come along on your own or with your partner and / or Carer.

Come join us!

Our Members and Friends meet on the first Monday of every month. Do please see our website for further details.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT Our grateful thanks to :

THE PLYMOUTH DIOCESE

http://www.plymouth-diocese.org.uk/

for their assistance in reproducing copies of this newsletter.

The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club (PLC) is an Affiliated Member of: The National Association of Laryngectomy Clubs (NALC) In Association with Macmillan Cancer Support Registered Charity Number: 273635 Our Funder: Macmillan Cancer Support A Member of The Plymouth Third Sector Consortium (PTSC) Patrons & Medical Advisors : Mr. W.M. BRIDGER, FRCS - Consultant ENT Surgeon, Mr. Tass MALIK, BSc FRCS (Gen), FRCS (ORL H&N) - Consultant Otolaryngologist, Head & Neck / Thyroid Surgeon, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.