Leave a legacy

Saving lives with one act of kindness

Mrs Cannons wanted to make sure that when she died, patients of Guy’s and St Thomas’ would have access to the same, best possible treatment that she had received when she was a patient. To ensure that her wishes were met, she updated her will and included a gift to the hospitals.

Donations like the one from Mrs Cannons can make a real difference to the quality of care patients receive, by helping us to provide a service that goes above and beyond the NHS.

Her kind generosity has meant that we have been able to make a significant breakthrough in the way we treat a type of lymphoma that affects the skin.

Treatment in the past has included topical creams, ultraviolet light therapy, radiotherapy and oral treatments and in more advanced stages chemotherapy may be offered. These types of treatments can cause side effects like nausea and leave patients prone to infection.

St John’s Institute at St Thomas’ Hospital is one of only three UK centres offering a new treatment to patients with this type of cancer.

The treatment, known as Total Skin Electron Beam Therapy (TSEBT), is an intensive therapy where high energy electrons are delivered to the entire skin surface. Treatment takes around 30 minutes, four days a week, for five weeks. Patients in the early stage of the disease can live 15-30 years beyond treatment.

Dr Stephen Morris, consultant clinical oncologist, established the service following the closure of the service at Middlesex Hospital.

He said: “There are fewer side affects with TSEBT than other treatments. The outcomes are also better if treatment begins soon after diagnosis.”

For more information, please contact Dr Stephen Morris on 020 7188 4219 or email stephen.morris@gstt.nhs.uk.

You can help

Legacies and other donations from patients, their families and friends are quite literally helping us to save more lives every day and ensuring we can provide the very best care for future generations to come.

If you would like help or advice or want to find out more about leaving a gift in your will, please contact Ruth Bishop on 020 7188 1204, or by email at: ruth.bishop@gsttcharity.org.uk.

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