UHP patients’ success story shared at UK Oncology Forum
In June, Lead Skin Cancer Nurse Specialist, Deirdre Stapleton, presented one of her patients’ cases at the UK Oncology Forum, to celebrate the success of her immunotherapy treatment.
Myrna Donovan, 82, is a local patient from Plymouth who has been receiving treatment for a melanoma on her leg for the last six years.
Deirdre, who has been one of the main clinical team members for Myrna’s care, said: “When she first came to us, she had significant leg pain. We trialled strong analgesia and neuropathic agents, but she was unable to tolerate them.
Eventually, we needed support from our community palliative care team to help manage her symptoms. However, after two cycles of Opdualag, a newer immunotherapy drug, her situation changed dramatically.
She is now walking laps around Plymouth Hoe, and whenever I call her, she is either heading out, just returning, or planning her next activity. She is genuinely living a fuller, more active life again. To date, Myrna has not experienced any side effects and continues to tolerate treatment well.”.
Deirdre felt it was important to present Myrna’s case at the forum as her experience is a powerful reminder of the meaningful impact our work in oncology has on patients’ quality of life.
Reflecting on her treatment journey, Myrna said: “At the worst point of my pain, my husband Colin had to take over most things for me, everyday tasks were a struggle, as was walking, which is something we both love to do.
“This has given me the opportunity to move on, which is the best thing ever. I’m happy that I’m in my own skin now and thinking that I am more normal than I was before, and that’s the main thing - that I can get out about with my family like I usually did”.
While immunotherapy can carry significant side effects, advances in research combined with the support of staff members such as Mark Harrington, one of our Skin Oncology Support workers who we have found to make a meaningful difference to patients cancer journeys. Alongside consultants and support workers, we also have the AOS team/ Oncology SDEC, the Immunotherapy Specialist Nurse, and the wider site‑specific teams — allow the team to maintain patient safety, with 24/7 access for any concerning symptoms they want to discuss.
Deirdre continued: “I was proud to represent UHP at the UK Oncology Forum and to share Myrna’s story. Her consultant, Dr Ratnayake, was also in the audience and he was able to support me in answering any difficult questions from the audience.
This treatment is successful due to the amount of teamwork that goes into providing patients with the highest standard of care possible and it was great to celebrate the difference Oncology practitioners make in patients every day lives, something that can be easy to overlook in the busyness of day‑to‑day practice”.
