8 SUPPORT Dave’s recovery hits a high note
Advised to join choir after cancer treatment
Dave Henshelwood is singing the praises of healthcare staff after they advised him to join a choir to help his recovery from lung cancer.
The East Kilbride man is one of the first people in Lanarkshire to take part in the ground-breaking Transforming Care After Treatment (TCAT) programme, an NHS Lanarkshire pilot project, funded by Macmillan Cancer Support in Scotland.
TCAT, currently running in South Lanarkshire, is testing better ways to give people who’ve had a diagnosis of lung cancer, and their loved-ones, the support they need after treatment ends.
Dave, from Calderwood, had treatment for cancer in his left lung last year, leaving him with breathing problems.
But he has seen his breathing improve remarkably since he joined the choir at Kilbryde Hospice earlier this year.
The 62-year-old retired driver said: “I was a bit surprised when the TCAT team suggested joining the choir. But the breathing exercises the choir does have really helped and I have greatly enjoyed the singing and the social aspect of being in the group.
“A cancer diagnosis can give you a big knock and my confidence was low. But the help from TCAT and the chance to socialise more has really brought my confidence back and sent it sky high.
“I used to be active on the folk music scene and played the mandolin. TCAT has led me to take it up again as part of the music therapy offered at the hospice.
“I was also introduced to Chi Gung, gentle exercise that helps to counter fatigue.
“TCAT is a fantastic initiative and I’d definitely recommend it to other people who’ve had lung cancer treatment.”
Heather Quail, Macmillan TCAT project manager for NHS Lanarkshire, said: “The TCAT pilot programme in South Lanarkshire is running until August 2017 and we’d urge patients who have had a diagnosis of lung cancer to contact us to see if they’d like to take part.
“TCAT offers patients a monthly online assessment over six months to look at the overall impact their treatment has had on their quality of life and the physical, psychological and mental effects on them and their family.
“The results of the assessment are looked at by Pamela Rose, our lung cancer nurse specialist.
“Patients are given information, in person or over the phone, to help manage their concerns or are put in touch with the right services to help. This promotes a healthier lifestyle, encourages more independence in self-management and puts patients back in touch with their local community.
“To participate, patients need access to a personal computer, tablet or smartphone. If they are unsure about that, they can nominate a family member or carer to do this for them.”
If you would like to know more about the TCAT project, please contact Heather on 07973 884698 or email heather.quail@lanarkshire. scot.nhs.uk