Download Minutes PPG Mtg 14th June 2016

MONKSPATH PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP MEETING
14th JUNE 2016
The meeting began at 7.00pm. The Chairman Tony Green welcomed the 20
Attendees and advised them of the evening’s agenda:
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Administration matters
Presentation on Cancer by Paul Litchfield, QE Hospital
Birmingham
AGM: Steering Group Report, Election of Steering Group, Election
of Delegates to Solihull’s PPG Network
AOB, Thanks and Close
Administration matters
Apologies for absence received from: Eddie Ankrett, Sandra White, Carole Robertson, Clive
Raybould, Katarine Mann, Tony Mann and P Priestley.
The Minutes of the meeting held on 12th April 2016 were proposed by Vic Lloyd, seconded by
Michael Evans and duly passed as an accurate account.
There were no matters arising
Cancer Talk: Paul Litchfield, Manager of Cancer Information and Support Services
What is cancer?
Cancer comes from within us. It is a part of the tissue which becomes out of sync with
that around it, can be solid or in the blood and grows rapidly.
Who gets Cancer?
Presently statistics show that 1 in 3 will get cancer in their lifetime. By 2020 it is possible
it will be 1 in 2. A percentage of the population will get more than one primary cancer in
their life. Different groups of the world population will get certain types of cancer
How do we deal with it?
In the past there used to be no real cure – there was a policy of ‘Treat gently and leave’.
Now there are various options open to us today in relation to cancer. It very much
depends on the cancer and also the individual’s health and co-morbidities. It also depends
on what stage the cancer is presenting. Radical (getting as close to a cure as is possible)
or palliative (symptom control and quality of life) options are looked at as well as looking
at how to help long term treatment by supporting other vital parts of the body such as
heart and kidneys.
Treatment Modalities
Surgery
This is the oldest method of treatment but nowadays is one of the most modern with
the introduction of robots. Most people think this is the option of choice but there are
many things to consider i.e. the position of the tumour, the possibility of disability and
the possible decrease in quality of life.
Radiotherapy
A relatively new science in the history of medicine, around fifty years old. There are
various options available: Photons, Protons, Electrons and Brachytherapy (using
Iridium). Different cancer types can require a different particle, and the treatment can
range from specific high doses of x-rays (Protons) to a dose equivalent to that of a
microwave (Electrons) which is used to treat skin tissue and scars.
Chemotherapy
A young science. The very first chemo was actually developed from Mustard Gas.
There are various ways to give chemo: tablet, injection into the body, via a pump, or
intrathecally (via the spine)
Immunotherapy
There is a lot of research going on with this at the moment, looking at compounds
that inter-relate with cancers and in so doing stop the cancer development. It is a
type of treatment designed to boost the body's natural defences to fight the cancer. It
uses substances either made by the body or in a laboratory to improve or restore
immune system function
Hormone Therapy
This is used in hormone related disease such as breast and prostate cancer and works
on Oestrogen/Progesterone balance. The most well-known of these is Tamoxifen. It
may potentially be used for bowel cancer.
Radioactive Isotopes
Used mainly in liquid form these days for thyroid cancers and also lung cancers. They
can be given by injection, inhalation or orally
Active Surveillance
This is where the disease is present but not causing severe issues. The patient can be
monitored and when activity changes the disease can be treated straight away. It is
very common in prostate cancer.
Clinical Trials
There is a myth that if you are in a trial there is nothing more that can be done. This
is not the case. Trials look at new drugs or combination of drugs, toxicity issues and
can be comparative. They also look at quality of life issues such as nail or hair-loss
and help find which drug people are best able to tolerate.
Combination Therapy
This is the most common form of treatment for patients. Each patient and their
disease is reviewed by a MDT (multidisciplinary team) to review the best ways of
treating a cancer to ensure its treatment is the best quality and ensures the patient
has best chance of being cured or given a good quality for the time they have left.
Treatment protocols
• Breast cancer
In the ‘olden days’, up until the 80s and 90s, the whole breast was removed, followed by
full chemo and radiotherapy treatment.
Nowadays, quality of life is considered. First chemo is used to shrink the disease which
means in some cases less surgery may be required, resulting in a better recovery and
improved scars. Then a course of radiotherapy treatment.
• Prostate cancer
Nowadays a biopsy is done and then usually active surveillance. There is also the
possibility of keyhole surgery or brachytherapy (a type of radiotherapy).
• Bowel cancer
This can be a major problem for the over 50s. In the past there used to be surgery
followed by having a colostomy bag fitted. Nowadays five days of high dose
chemotherapy is then followed by radiotherapy as they try to shrink the disease – this
may avoid having a colostomy bag.
• Liver cancer
Treatment is chemotherapy into the centre of the liver. Liver surgery can also be done as
the liver can regenerate if only one third is removed. Another possibility is a liver
transplant.
• Testicular
There are two main types of testicular cancer, seminomas and nonseminomas. Depending
on the type and stage of the cancer and other factors, treatment options for testicular
cancer can include: surgery, three lots of four-day chemo sessions, one shot of chemo
then active surveillance for seven years. Most at risk of testicular cancer are teenagers
and the over 40s.
Q: Is Pancreatic cancer treatable?
A: Within reason, yes. Results are a lot better than years ago and survival is a bit longer
– but
still short. It can often depend on the mentality of the patient. Results are
getting better, but it is still a disease the medical world is struggling with.
Q: Has no-one found the part of the cell that kicks off the abnormal growth?
A: No, research continues but there are too many different types.
AGM
1. Steering Group Report
Please see attached report
2. Election of Steering Group
The PPG constitution states that the Steering Committee should consist of ten members
with the option to co-opt any further members if necessary.
All current members of the Steering Group stood again for re-election,
with a new volunteer, Alistair McLachlan. Jim McMullan proposed that they all be elected
for this year and the motion was carried by a majority show of hands.
The elected Steering Group for 2016/2017 are:
Tony Green, Vic Lloyd, Martin Tolman, Jean Thomas, Ginny Lassam-Jones, Mike Evans,
Dave Perry, Eddie Ankrett and Alistair McLachlan.
3. Election of Delegates to Solihull PPG Network
This PPG can send three delegates to take part in the bi-monthly PPG Network Meetings.
With four members willing to attend these meetings it was suggested that this would
ensure we always had at least three delegates available and it would be amicably agreed
as to who attended when.
Any Other Business
Q: Due to the announcement that Heartlands A&E had been closed today due to flooding,
where should people go instead?
A: Your local Accident and Emergency or Walk-In Centre
Q: Is everyone aware of the Patient Services Website? What percentage of patients in this
practice use it?
A: At present it can only be used for booking appointments with Doctors and for repeat
prescriptions. 10% are registered and 5% are actively using it.
Tony asked the meeting if there were any particular health issues that they would want a
speaker for. A number of suggestions were given and will be discussed by the Steering
Group at their next meeting.
A NOTE FOR YOUR DIARY:
The next Open Meeting will be held at the surgery on Tuesday 9th August 2016 at 7.00pm