East Anglia Support Group

Welcome to the home page of the East Anglia Patient Group, based in Cambridge.

We are a very active group in normal times. Raising awareness is the primary focus, we look for events and locations at which there will be a large number of people, attracting as broad a range of people as possible. The locations/venues we've attended include large supermarkets in Downham Market and Cambridge, Garden Centres, Addenbrookes Hospital Concourse, Mill Road (a Street Festival in the centre of Cambridge), The Big Weekend in Cambridge, Science festivals in both Norwich and Cambridge. This year we had plans to be present at The Truck Festival in Peterborough and the River Festival in addition to our regulars such as a supermarket, Mill Road (which might still happen) etc. We also help with an annual patient event which has been running for years.

We are a lively group, committed to helping the clinical team in any way that's appropriate. The team are brilliant at supporting us, you will often find members at our events.

Our overriding thoughts are that if we encourage just one person a year to seek advice about the heartburn they are suffering that's our job well done.

If you would like to know more about us please contact the charity directly on [email protected] or Group Chairman Alastair Reid on [email protected]

Events - Past & Future

Please note that due to the Covid-19 pandemic our planned schedule of events for 2020 has changed considerably. However, our representatives can still be contacted and will be happy to answer any questions as usual.

Watch this space for news on future events.

Mill Road Winter Fair, Cambridge - 7th December 2019

Fine weather brought out the East Anglia - Mill Road Dorothy Nandor and Irene crowds and we had a busy day chatting to visitors and providing leaflets and information. Although officially retired from the local committee, Dorothy and Nandor couldn’t resist visiting the stand and were soon handing out leaflets alongside several willing volunteers from the Addenbrooke’s team. Thank you to everyone who gave up their time to help us highlight the link between heartburn and cancer.

Norwich Science Festival – 20^th October 2019

Norwich Science Festival Patients

East Anglia HCUK Committee members ran a stand at the Norwich Science Festival. This was a new venue and we were kept busy all day by a constant stream of visitors. Knowing lots of children would attend the festival, we devised a simple fishing game based on the Cytosponge technique. This proved very popular and while the children diagnosed which of our ‘patients’ had Barrett’s oesophagus we were able to talk to their parents about the link between heartburn and cancer.

Annual Event at Westminster College – 20^th September 2019

Westminster Event People in Room

Annual Event at Westminster College – Interactive Exhibits on Barrett’s and Cancer of the Oesophagus. The event was hosted by Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald and was very well attended this year. The families and friends of patients with Barrett’s oesophagus, together with students and interested members of the public, were able to view some of the recent developments in diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

There was ample opportunity to talk to members of the clinical and research teams working in this area and to quiz them about the techniques and equipment on display. These included the Cytosponge as a tool for sample collection, a hands-on opportunity to try a laboratory assay used to identify Barrett’s cells and demonstrations of the use of Artificial Intelligence and Informatics in diagnosis. Also, on display was equipment used in endoscopic treatments such as Radiofrequency Ablation to remove precancerous cells from the oesophagus and, new this year, a Breathalyser being developed to detect various types of cancer, including oesophageal cancer, by analysing breath samples.

All the displays generated a great deal of interest and we are grateful to everyone who gave up their time to make the event to successful. In particular we would like to thank Owlstone Medical and Medtronic for their sponsorship and demonstrating their technology!

The Big Weekend Event - 7^th July 2019

Big weekend Event attended by the Mayor of Cambridge Gerry Bird

HCUK East Anglia had a stand at The Big Weekend held on Parker’s Piece in Cambridge on Sunday July 7^th. This Festival of music, dance and food allowed us to meet a wide cross-section of the public, many of whom seemed pleased to escape to the relative peace of the Charities Marquee. It was noticeable that several of the people we talked to took leaflets and literature not for themselves but because they had concerns for older relatives. Numbers visiting rose as participants in the morning’s Race for Life joined the crowd bringing a great deal of shocking pink to the scent. The Mayor of Cambridge (Gerry Bird) showed great interest in our stand and took some leaflets to share with colleagues and friends.

Dorothy and Nandor Dobrovicz Retire

We would like to thank Dorothy and Nandor Dobrovicz for their years of contribution and hard work in spreading awareness to the public on Heartburn and Cancer Awareness. They have both been an inspiration and they will be truly missed.

They have been committee members since the HCUK East Anglia group started over 15 years ago and Dorothy has been the Treasurer for quite a significant part of that time. Hence at the age of 80+ have decided to retire from the committee but will keep in touch and happy to help on up and coming events. Congratulations to you both.

HCUK East Anglia Event March 2019

Cambridge organized a very successful Science Day on Saturday thanks to Irene Debiram and the MRC Team. There were some imaginative displays illustrating their research projects particularly the Cytosponge with images of cells picked up by Cytosponge with AI (Artificial Intelligence). There was also a good turn out of committee members available to talk to members of the public.

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Persistent heartburn

Heartburn is a burning sensation behind the breast bone caused by acid or bile reflux. It occurs when the muscles at the lower end of your oesophagus, sometimes called your gullet or food pipe, become weak and allow digestive juices from your stomach and small bowel to flow back up. Do not ignore persistent heartburn! If it lasts more than 3 weeks, see your GP.
Barrett's oesophagus

Barrett’s oesophagus is a condition that affects the lining of the oesophagus, the muscular tube that carries food, liquids and saliva from the mouth to the stomach. It is sometimes referred to as a pre-cancerous condition, meaning that people who have Barrett’s are more likely to develop cancer of the oesophagus than people who do not.
Oesophageal cancer

Oesophageal cancer is usually of two types. Adenocarcinoma usually occurs in the lower oesophagus at the junction with the stomach and is linked to Barrett’s oesophagus, even if this has not already been diagnosed. The second type is squamous cell carcinoma, which tends to affect the upper part of the oesophagus and is more strongly linked to smoking and alcohol.
HCUK supporter Chrissy runs unbelievable 52 marathons in 52 weeks - and she's not stopping there...

Chrissy Gorham lost her husband, John, to oesophageal cancer in 2018. She and John loved to run together and, since his death, she has continued to use running as a means of raising both funds for charity and awareness of the condition. Her achievements are quite outstanding...
Lifestyle changes

There are foods and substances that make reflux more likely. Avoiding or reducing certain food and drink may therefore reduce symptoms.
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Donate

Your donations allow us to continue our work in raising awareness of the early symptoms of oesophageal cancer, to provide essential information to the public and the medical profession and to support those affected by oesophageal cancer and Barrett's Oesophagus and their families.
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