When a Hartlepool man was diagnosed with stage 5 prostate cancer, he didn’t think he needed any support – until he met his cancer care coordinator.
64-year-old Alan Gray, a site engineer for Hall Construction, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in autumn last year after he experienced symptoms.
When tests showed the cancer was aggressive, he was placed under the care of the urology team at the University Hospital of Hartlepool. That’s when cancer care coordinator Rebecca McKenna came into his life.
Rebecca supports patients at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust from the very day they receive a cancer diagnosis. She helps cancer patients, like Alan, with all aspects of their life – from organising hospital appointments and liaising with doctors, to seeking financial support, organising holistic therapy and simply lending a listening ear.
Alan said: “I knew I was going to get a call at some point. But being a man, when Rebecca first rang I thought, ‘Well, I’m okay, I can deal with this myself’.
“But you can’t. I couldn’t have managed this on my own. And as time goes by and things get difficult again and again, Rebecca and I talk – and she always has a solution.
“She’s probably unaware of how much I hang on her every word. Now, because of all the things that we’ve talked about, Rebecca has become one of the most important people in my life.”
“She’s become one of the most important people in my life”
Alan Gray, prostate cancer patient: Because of all the things we talked about and all the things I’ve had to go through and sort out, you’ve actually become one of the most important people in my life.
Rebecca McKenna, cancer care coordinator: So my role kind of comes in once somebody’s been initially diagnosed and had that proper diagnosis of cancer.
And the role is to support patients because it’s not always the cancer that’s an issue in people’s lives. Yes, it can affect it but there’s other things going on.
Alan: There’s stuff that’s been done here I couldn’t have managed on my own. I’ve had help with MacMillan, I’ve had help with the benefits advisor, there’s been all the financial advice and, oh just so much.
Rebecca: And my sense of humour.
Alan: Yeah, yeah, always make me laugh. And I didn’t know you’d be good looking.
So, being a man, when Rebecca first rang my default thing, I knew I was going to get a call at some point, was I think ‘I’m okay, I can deal with this myself’. You can’t.
Rebecca: I think sometimes that’s a typical man thing as well. They feel like they don’t need that support sometimes and initially when I first spoke to Alan, you didn’t feel like you needed any support did you?
But then we just started chatting about general things and then he just started opening up a little bit and I said ‘Oh well, maybe I could help you with that’.
Alan: Yeah. I keep telling myself and telling people, whatever help anyone ever offers you, take it.
If you tell me to do something, I do it even the reiki which I thought isn’t for me but you told me to do it so I did it. You’ve turned me into a holistic nut now.
Rebecca: Yeah, acupuncture, reiki…
Alan: Yeah. I’ve had back-shoulder-neck, I’ve had the Indian head massage, I’m booked in for another back-shoulder-and-neck and another reiki. I’ve just found somewhere that I like.
I’m pretty much as happy or happier than before I even got a diagnosis really. But that’s only because of nice people that I’ve met, the good people on the way.
My life’s changed quite a lot and I would have been absolutely stuck without Rebecca. Because of all the things we’ve talked about and all the things I’ve had to go through and sort out, you’ve actually become one of the most important people in my life.
Please Rebecca, do not change departments. Even if it’s more money. We’ll all chip in.
Rebecca: He’s been amazing and despite his diagnosis, he’s gone on to spread the word and raise awareness of prostate cancer. And despite the difficult conversations we have, we have some laughs as well along the way, don’t we?
Alan: Yeah.
Rebecca: His sense of humour is great.
Alan: That’s kind.
Rebecca: It is. But, yeah, he is, he’s really inspirational.
Alan: I’ve enjoyed it. I love having a laugh.
Rebecca: Yeah, built up a little friendship now, haven’t we?
Alan: Yeah.
Rebecca’s support, raising awareness and laughs along the way
A simple request for support with blue badge parking changed things for Alan. And, as he began to open up to Rebecca, he realised the enormity of the support she could offer. Bonded by their sense of humours, the pair’s friendship has blossomed.
Rebecca has since helped Alan with benefits advice, his mobility and holistic therapy. A key support has been introducing him to the Trust’s Macmillan cancer information centre where he is now a weekly visitor.
She has also supported him in having conversations with his employer about his limitations. And his “amazing” colleagues at Hall Construction have gone above and beyond to adapt his working life.
Alan prides himself on taking on board every word of advice given to him by Rebecca and the cancer information team. And now he’s raising awareness of prostate cancer by speaking in front of small groups and offering one-to-one advice.
Rebecca said: “Alan’s been amazing. Despite his diagnosis, he’s gone on to raise awareness of prostate cancer.
“It’s not always the cancer that’s an issue in people’s lives. It can affect it but there’s other things going on as well. Despite the difficult conversations Alan and I have, we have some laughs as well along the way and we’ve built up a little friendship now.
“He really is an inspiration and it’s been a pleasure looking after Alan and supporting him through his journey.”
“I count myself lucky to know her”
Part of Rebecca’s role is making sure that patients are involved in the decisions made about their care and treatment. After a previous hospitalisation with a lung condition, Rebecca has supported Alan to restart chemotherapy treatment.
Alan continued: “I’m as happy, or perhaps even happier than before I was diagnosed with cancer. And that’s because of the caring, compassionate people I’ve met on the way.
“To anyone who gets a cancer care coordinator, take advantage of every single thing. Listen to the advice and don’t just assume that you can manage. I would have been absolutely stuck without Rebecca – I count myself lucky to know her.
“I find her so inspiring and she has given me so much confidence that even friends think my personality has changed. My life’s changed a lot.”