Cath Williams has been providing quality care to patients and their families as a nurse at Derriford Hospital since 1999. In 2013 after being promoted to Matron Cath’s new role brought additional responsibilities within several of the inpatient and outpatient services within the Women and Children’s Care Group. It is her job to ensure that each patient that passes through her wards and departments receive the best standard of care and treatments possible.

Then in February 2021 a routine mammogram brought a shock diagnosis of breast cancer: Cath had not found a lump, had any pain or could not see any changes. She was called back to The Primrose Breast Care Centre, University Hospitals Plymouth and began treatment with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.

For the first time, while normally being the one arranging treatment plans, Cath experienced the care and support University Hospitals Plymouth provides from a patient’s perspective.

Cath has this to say:

“The quality of care I receive at each appointment since my diagnosis from everyone at The Primrose Centre and Oncology Department is amazing. The care and support are second to none. All the staff have been wonderful, and I simply can’t thank them enough.

As a small token of gratitude, my husband Lee wanted to give something back to the services that had cared for me. As a keen cyclist, he decided to ride 300km in a month but within a couple of weeks he had nearly achieved this, so decided to increase the distance from 300km to 500 miles! The increase in distance brought an increase in donations too. He had set a fundraising target of £500 but in April 2021 had raised over £2,000.

We were absolutely delighted as we just wanted some way to show our appreciation. We hope that the money can, in some way, make things a little easier for patients like me who need chemotherapy after surgery. This type of treatment is a long and difficult process so anything we can do to help other patients through that will bring a lot of comfort to us both.”

Madeleine Matthews, Fundraising Coordinator concludes:

“Our hearts go out to everyone who receives the life-changing news that they have breast cancer. We understand how difficult this can be for the whole family and find it deeply heart-warming that, when a person goes through the service and deals with their own battles, they then want to give something back to the service that has cared for them.

Cath and Lee are truly wonderful people who have come through a very difficult experience. Giving back to the service was always something they both felt passionate about – for which we are truly grateful.

As we are to everyone who supports our charity. Together we are helping future patients receive the best possible care at an incredibly difficult time.”

One last thing Cath would like to add….

“My experience is not just a lesson for the women out there to take advantage of the screening services available on the NHS. There are several screening programmes (cervical, bowel, breast) and they have been put in place for a good reason.

If you can catch cancer early it can be treated and in many cases, have a very good prognosis. So please when you are invited for screening, take advantage of it, it could save your life.

In my case, even after I was told I had breast cancer I could not feel a lump, I had no pain and I could not see any changes. Having a routine mammogram has given me the best possible chance of surviving the next 10 years, my prognosis is excellent after treatment.

If I had not gone for my routine mammogram I would be none the wiser and the cancer would now be spreading, reducing my long term chances.

I cannot express enough the importance of screening - please do not leave it for another day.”

From Matron To Patient