Breast cancer patients to benefit from box packed with gifts
A charity has joined forces with hospitals in Essex to give breast cancer patients a boost by giving them a box of specially selected gifts.
Almost 1,200 patients will be given the boxes, which are full of items such as heat packs to help with joint and muscle pain and soft toothbrushes to be kind to sensitive gums.
Each item has been chosen to help ease some of the side effects that patients may experience during chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment, and are designed to have a positive impact on emotional wellbeing during what can be a challenging period.
Supplying the boxes of delights are Littlelifts, a Norwich-based charity. It already helps patients across six NHS hospitals in the East of England, and is now delivering joy to patients at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust for the first time.
Matt Riddleston, lead cancer nurse at the Trust, said: “It is wonderful to have Littlelifts bringing these small parcels of joy that will help make a big difference to patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer across Southend, Basildon or Broomfield hospitals. If it helps give a patient that little lift whilst they are receiving care, then they have succeeded in their aim.”
Oa Hackett, founder of Littlelifts, said: “Since we launched in 2017, we’ve seen a very real impact in how our Littlelifts boxes have supported and emotionally boosted women and men going through treatment. Breast cancer treatment can be gruelling both physically and mentally, and during these difficult times our Littlelifts boxes are making a huge difference.
“We know this because so many people, and their families, have told us so. We are delighted to be able to offer our Littlelifts boxes to patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment across the Trust, and very much look forward to working together so that breast cancer patients can benefit from our support.”