Lianne's story will help other cancer sufferers

Anna Blyth • Published 12 Aug 2010 09:30

A CANCER sufferer has used her experiences to help produce a booklet designed to help others cope with some of the lesser known effects of the disease.

Ardrossan mum-of-two Lianne Lieser (28) was diagnosed with cervical cancer in January 2007 and had her womb removed in a radical hysterectomy operation in February of the same year. A domestic assistant at Abbotsford Nursing Home in Ardrossan, Lianne benefited from counselling she received from a cancer nurse at Crosshouse Hospital for about a year after the operation.

She was then approached more recently by MacMillan Cancer Support who wanted Lianne to contribute her perspectives to a new MacMillan patient self-help booklet, devised by an Ayrshire nurse, with the aim of supporting cancer patients who experience body image issues.

Lianne commented: “I was happy to take part in the research for this new booklet as I think it will provide reassurance to people by helping them to realise that they are not alone in how they are feeling about themselves. It will also let people know there is support available to help them come to terms with the impact of their cancer treatment.”

After conducting a study to find out more about patients’ experiences of body image issues and supportive care, Crosshouse Hospital’s Caroline Hood produced the booklet as part of MacMillan Body Image and Cancer project which is funded in partership with NHS Ayrshire and Arran using a £65,000 MacMillan grant.

Lianne formed part of a group of cancer patients who worked with Caroline on the booklet, which contains information about the kind of support available for people experiencing body image issues, as well as tips about clothing, managing anxiety and looking to the future.

For the full story see this week's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.

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