Deepika and Russell

As a cancer patient, newly diagnosed, you may find yourself overwhelmed with leaflets, booklets and information sheets. This works well for some patients, however, if you prefer to browse information in a digital format, then the brand new patient app may well be for you.

The Breast Cancer Kent patient app has been designed by Deepika Akolekar and her colleague Russell Burcombe working closely with their colleagues consisting of Consultants and Nurses at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust and funded by Breast Cancer Kent.

Patients can e-mail questions to two breast cancer specialist nurses, contact their nursing or chemotherapy team direct from their phone and set reminders about upcoming treatments. The team hope to add more content as treatments evolve. Download the app from the links below.

Early Breast Cancer

'Moving Forward' programme

This course takes place over half a day for three or four weeks and provides information to help patients adapt to life after treatment for breast cancer. Topics covered may include: healthy eating, exercise, managing menopausal symptoms, lymphoedema, cancer fatigue, intimacy and relationships, and adjusting and adapting after a diagnosis of breast cancer.

The course is open to people who have had a primary breast cancer diagnosis within the past two years and have finished their hospital-based treatment.

For further information and to enrol online visit Breast Cancer Now.

Secondary Breast Cancer

‘Living With Secondary Breast Cancer’ group

In partnership with the national charity Breast Cancer Care, I set up a monthly support programme in West Kent. This proved to be the best ever attended launch (37 patients and carers) in the UK.

The Living with Secondary Breast Cancer group offers people diagnosed with secondary breast cancer the chance to gain support and information about all aspects of living with the disease. The monthly face to face sessions are facilitated by an experienced therapist and on alternate months an expert speaker provides information and answers questions about a topic related to living with this life-limiting condition.

A recent post-meeting evaluation showed that 100% of patients found the course beneficial.

The group meets monthly at The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood and is part-sponsored by Breast Cancer Kent.

For further information and to enrol online visit Breast Cancer Care.

Local charities

The Pickering Cancer Drop In Centre
A local charity to support anyone touched by cancer.

Breast Cancer Haven
We offer advice on practical things like money and work, help combatting stress, exhaustion and nausea, advice on healthy eating and exercise. And above all, there will always be someone to talk to about your deepest fears.

The Willow Foundation
Dedicated to bringing special days to the seriously ill who are between the ages 16 and 40 years of age and live in the United Kingdom.

The Harmony Therapy Trust
Passionate about helping the seriously ill, whether because of chronic illness, cancer or into recovery, we help bridge the gap between invasive medical treatment and the road to well being and in many cases recovery.

Patients with BRCA mutations

BRCA Kent
A diagnosis of a mutated BRCA1/2 gene can come with a whole range of emotions.
Wherever you are at the moment, there is a fantastic group of ladies in Kent who know exactly how you feel, as they all have the genetic fault too.