Cancer Support Network : Cancer Champions : Berkshire

21/06/2026

📢 New NHS prostate cancer treatment to cut radiotherapy sessions from 20 to five.

Researchers at The Royal Marsden have welcomed the announcement that thousands of men with localised prostate cancer will now be offered a shorter course of high-precision radiotherapy on the NHS, following results from the PACE-B clinical trial led by The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR).

“We are delighted that eligible prostate cancer patients across England will now be able to benefit from this treatment following NHS England's announcement,” said Chief Investigator of the PACE-B trial, Professor Nicholas van As, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden.

“The PACE-B trial was designed to answer an important question: can we safely deliver prostate radiotherapy in far fewer treatment sessions without compromising outcomes? The results showed that we can. Delivering treatment in just five sessions was as safe and effective as conventional radiotherapy, while significantly reducing the burden of treatment for patients."

Read the full story: https://brnw.ch/21x3qFy

16/06/2026

16/06/2026

We enjoyed a morning of Forest Bathing at Path Hill Outdoors in lovely sunshine ☀️

Taking some time to reflect and be at one with nature 🌳

If you need some time to process a diagnosis of cancer, or get some support and advice and connect with others please get in touch.

01/06/2026

The first full results have been announced from research looking at whether a blood test can help the NHS to detect cancer early.

The results from the NHS-Galleri trial - whose Co-Chief Investigator is UCLH medical oncologist Professor Charles Swanton - showed that, although the trial's main goal was not met, fewer of the most advanced (stage 4) cancers were diagnosed in the later rounds of annual screening among those who had the Galleri® multi-cancer early detection test, which has been developed by GRAIL.

Professor Swanton, said: “As a lung cancer doctor, I see the clinical importance of diagnosing cancer at an earlier stage, when treatment is more likely to be curative. The stage 4 reduction is clinically meaningful because for many cancers there is a real gulf in outlook between a stage 4 diagnosis and one caught earlier. The hope is that for more patients the conversation can be about treating cancer with curative intent rather than managing it palliatively.”

Find out more: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/news/first-results-announced-trial-blood-test-cancer

01/06/2026

The Cancer Rehab Team are holding a virtual session tomorrow 2nd of June on Mindfulness. To join, contact the Rehab Team or click on the QR code

30/05/2026

25/05/2026

The swans are thriving ❤️
🦢
We saw this little family on our recent weekend walk and talk 🦢

22/05/2026

❤️‍🩹

🔥 1. Stop measuring yourself against the old you
You are not failing because you can’t do what you used to do. You are surviving something that would bring most people to their knees. Your pace is allowed to change. Your worth has not.

🌱 2. Do one thing that reminds you you’re still YOU
Cancer takes so much — energy, confidence, routines, hair, privacy, certainty. Reclaim one small piece of yourself this weekend. Music you love. Your favourite lipstick. Watching your team. Painting. Cooking. Sitting in the garden. You are still a whole person beyond appointments and medications.

💬 3. Say the scary thing out loud
A lot of people here are carrying fear silently because they don’t want to burden others. But fear grows in isolation. Whether it’s “I’m tired,” “I’m angry,” or “I’m terrified,” you deserve spaces where you don’t have to pretend.

🌻 4. Give yourself something to look forward to
Not a huge goal. Just one thing. A coffee date. A movie night. Ordering your favourite takeaway. Sitting somewhere peaceful. Sometimes having even one small future moment waiting for you can pull your mind out of survival mode.

🕯️ 5. Protect your peace without apologizing for it
If certain people drain you, certain conversations overwhelm you, or certain situations are too much right now, it is okay to step back. Your energy is precious. You do not owe everyone access to you while you’re fighting one of the hardest battles of your life.

To anyone struggling badly this weekend: you do not have to please everyone. You do not have to be brave every second. You just have to keep caring for yourself the best you can today.

❤️❤️

21/05/2026

💛💛💛

Some of the most familiar items in your kitchen - from the pan you cook with to the container for your leftovers - could be exposing you to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs), without you even knowing it.

But don’t panic, you don't need to overhaul everything overnight.

Small, simple swaps can make a real difference - and knowing where to find them is the first step. 💪

Want to know exactly what to look out for in every room of your home? Download our free EDC Guide below. 👇🏠

21/05/2026

🍋🍋🍋 know your lemons 🙂