National Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist Day

“To know that I as a Macmillan CNS can provide the support and comfort that each individual patient needs. It makes me feel proud. It is about understanding what the patient is going through, being their advocate to ensure their treatment is done in a timely and appropriate manner and pointing them in the right direction of Macmillan services. I treat each patient as I, or a family member, would expect to be treated.”

- Karen Hayes, Macmillan Skin Cancer CNS

"I had no idea where my role was going to take me or what it would really involve. It was a new service that had not been done before. All I knew was there was a group of patients who needed better care and a dedicated member of the team to advocate, understand, support and provide them with the best care possible whilst going through one of the hardest times in their life, and this fell to me. They know that if they present a problem, I’ll move hell and high water to put it to bed."

- John Bostock, Macmillan Head and Neck and Skin Cancer CNS 

“Cancer nurse specialists are an important point of contact for patients – a consistent and familiar face. Without us, the patient experience would be disjointed and confusing for them. Consultants sometimes only have a short time to spend with patients due to time constraints, so it is important we spend more time with the patient to answer any questions and provide much needed support.”

- Sophie Milner, Macmillan Lung Clinical Nurse Specialist

"To me being a Macmillan CNS is a huge privilege, supporting a patient and their family in their darkest hours. But I am also there as a 'vital cog' behind the scenes, chasing scan results, appointments, and providing specialist information, to achieve the best possible outcomes."

- Sarah Desborough-Brothers, Macmillan Rare Tumour CNS