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Clinic for cancer-related illness to see more patients

BOB ICB Zoe Draper and Gemma Crane are wearing blue nurse's uniforms and have blonde hair. Both are smiling. They are stood in front of a sign that says "The Hummingbird Centre: cancer support and therapy centre"BOB ICB
Zoe Draper (right) leads the clinic and is helped by Gemma Crane

A clinic supporting people with cancer-related lymphoedema can now treat more patients after being set up in the summer.

Based at the Hummingbird Centre in Launton, Oxfordshire, the service is funded by the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board.

Lymphoedema can affect any part of the body and is a build-up of lymph fluid that causes swelling when lymph nodes and lymph vessels are not working properly.

Though there is no cure, symptoms can be alleviated.

BOB ICB Gilly Windle is stood in front of a white door and is waving at the camera, smiling. She is wearing a wedding ring and has short, light hair and rimmed glasses.BOB ICB
Gilly Windle visited the clinic after it opened in the summer

Zoe Draper heads up the clinic and has worked for the NHS for nearly 30 years.

“It has taken a number of months to set up the service and fine tune everything. We’ve seen dozens of patients already and we are now keen to spread the word because we want to help as many people as possible,” she said.

“If anyone out there who has been diagnosed with cancer-related lymphoedema, who has seen a specialist or is on a waiting list, please get in touch.

“We know people can be on a waiting list for at least six months or longer, with our service we currently have the capacity to see new referrals.”

Gilly Windle had surgery after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 and is among those to have already used the clinic.

She said she met some “amazing people” and found it a “fabulous, friendly place”.

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