Plymouth Laryngectomy Club (PLC) March - April Newsletter, Edited by Geoffrey N. Read. Find more about PLC at http://plymouthlc.webs.com

1. The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club (PLC)
A Charitable Support Group for Plymouth Cancer Laryngectomees
The Voice of PLC
March - April 2011
Address: c / o The Mustard Tree Support Centre, Derriford Hospital, Derriford, PLYMOUTH, PL6 8DH, Devon
Mobile: 07745819828 (text only) Email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk Website: http://plymouthlc.webs.com
EDITORIAL COMMENT THE PLC MARCH 2011 MEETING
I NTERNET Links. If you’re reading this on-line and come
across words with blue lettering that are underlined, then
you can click on these links and be taken directly to another
O UR March Meeting took place at The Mustard Tree
Cancer Support Centre at Derriford Hospital on
th
Monday, 7 March. 12 Members and Friends were in
site for more information on that particular topic. Put your attendance to hear Ms. Denise MARTIN, the Macmillan
cursor over the link, hold down the Control (Cntrl) Key and Benefits Advisor give a very informative Talk. Ted presented
click! Ed. Denise with a small bouquet of flowers on behalf of all PLC
Members... just as a small token of our appreciation. The
Talk was followed by our formal monthly PLC Club Meeting...
our first real chance to resolve some matters since November
2010!
FOREWORD BY THE CHAIR
Written by Edward (Ted) BURNETT R AFFLE. £10 was raised on our raffle at our March 2011
Meeting, and both Ron MARTIN and Dave EDWARDS
won prizes. Hopefully Ron will provide the prize for our
April 2011 Meeting as we already know that Dave will be
Dear Friends & Supporters,
absent.
th
On Monday, 7 March, we had a very informative talk from
Denise MARTIN, about the various benefits that are THE PLC TREASURER’S REPORT
available. Denise is The Mustard Tree Cancer Support
Centre’s Benefits Adviser.
Two prizes were on offer at our Monthly Raffle in March.
M ONTHLY Report. The Treasurer, Jean, reports that we
have enough to pay our NALC Fees for 2011 which is
our only known expense at present. The NALC Fees are due
Ron and Dave were the lucky winners! Ron... can we please for payment in April 2011.
ask you to bring in the prize for the April Draw as Dave will
not be present?
Our April event will be a guided tour around the Plymouth
M ONTHLY Subscriptions. Jean would like to remind
everyone that our Monthly Subscriptions are
voluntary payments. Those of you who wish to do so, can
Central Library Services. I very much hope that we’ll see a pay £1 at the April 2011 Meeting and a receipt will only be
few more members coming along. We’ll be holding our issued upon request. New Club Members are reminded
short monthly meeting at the Library and then going for a that they should pay their £5 Joining Fee to Jean.
snack immediately afterwards.
Best wishes,
Ted & Liz
The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club (PLC) is an Affiliated Member of: The National Association of Laryngectomy Clubs (NALC)
In Association with Macmillan Cancer Support
Registered Charity Number: 273635
A Member of The Plymouth Third Sector Consortium (PTSC)
Patrons & Medical Advisors : Mr. W.M. BRIDGER, FRCS - Consultant ENT Surgeon,
Mr. Tass MALIK, BSc FRCS (Gen), FRCS (ORL H&N) - Consultant Otolaryngologist, Head & Neck / Thyroid Surgeon, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.

2. THE PLC SECRETARY’S REPORT S OCIAL Events. Geoff would like to point out that our
social events such as Talks, Visits and Outings are added
to our Club’s Social Calendar as and when the suggestions
C ALENDAR of Events. A copy of the Club’s Calendar of
Events, including Future Entertainments for the next 12
months or so, is available on our Club’s website. Please
are received and that our Social Calendar had been agreed
to at each and every Club Meeting so far. Should any
Member disagree with the what is or has been arranged
keep yourselves up-to-date by taking the occasional peek! then they are at liberty to mention it formally at one of our
Club Meetings or they can approach one of the Committee
C OUNTRYWIDE Supplies. Christopher LOMAS writes for
The Voice, which is a magazine
published by Countrywide Supplies.
Members in private. And we hope Members will do so!
Christopher emailed Geoff in November
2010 to ask if our Members would like PLC
S OUTH West Ambulance Services. According to the
SpeakEasy February 2011 Newsletter, there seems to be
a requirement for Laryngectomees to register with the
featured in his magazine. Geoff replied to Service due to the need for them to carry special equipment
say that we would! Geoff then received an for neck-breathers. Geoff emailed Colin SALTER (SpeakEasy
email to say that Christopher had already Secretary) for specific information so that he could follow
committed to another club in February 2011 but would get 1
this up. Colin kindly emailed Geoff a reply. Maggie JARVIS
back to us later in the year. Watch this space! suggested that it might be a good idea if Geoff were to make
contact with the Service and invite them to one of our
M EMBERS & Friends. Our current Membership Status
is shown in the table below:
meetings to give a Talk. Action is in hand!
Confirmed Members:
Confirmed Friends:
POSTAL
6
6
EMAIL
11
11
TOTAL
17
17
S PEAKEASY Club, Cornwall. Geoff has emailed copies of
the February 2011 Newsletter to those Members on-
line. Those not on-line can contact Geoff should they wish
TOTALS: 12 22 34 to have a hard copy.
M
10
th
EMBERSHIP Recruiting Survey. Maggie JARVIS and
Julia POCKETT sent out a questionnaire on Thursday,
February to all patients who had undergone
laryngectomy surgery and also to their carers. No deadline
was given for the replies but prepaid envelopes were PLC FORECAST OF EVENTS
supplied to facilitate them. Maggie reported that she was
pleasantly surprised with the returns that had been returned
A
th
PRIL 2011. Monday, 4 April 2011: A Tour of the
so far: about 15... which represented about 50%. From the Plymouth Central Library Services followed by our
replies received so far there seemed to be no one definite formal Monthly Meeting in the History Room. We’ll then
reason for not becoming a member of the PLC. The adjourn for an informal lunch... probably at the Southside
investigation is ongoing and we look forward to receiving the Cafe at Roland Levinsky Building at the University of
final outcome. If you’ve received a questionnaire but Plymouth. Those wishing to attend this event are kindly
haven’t yet returned it, could you please do so without requested to contact Geoff at their earliest convenience.
further delay?
M th
AY 2011. Monday, 9 May 2011: PLC Club Meeting
N ATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LARYNGECTOMY CLUBS
(NALC). Geoff and Jean
(Treasurer) will be travelling to
at the Mustard Tree followed by Lunch at the Jack
Rabbit. After the meeting there’ll be a Talk by Mr. Miles
WILLIAMS, the Platon Medical Representative. If time
London in May 2011 to attend the allows, this’ll be followed by a showing of some NALC DVDs:
NALC Annual General Meeting. Ted
(our Chair) was unable to attend. NALC: Talking it Through,
NALC: Nursing & Laryngectomee Care, and
NALC: NALC Life 2: Laryngectomee Information, First Aid & Medical
Treatment.
N ATIONAL Cancer Peer Review Programme 2010 -11.
Geoff attended a day of Foundation Training for the
User Reviewers’ Programme
1
The South West Ambulance Service assure us that all personnel and
nd
on Wednesday, 2 March at every ambulance is equipped with an adapter to help a neck-breather get
Launceston. It was a full and oxygen from their standard kit. We got a chap from their Redruth
ambulance station come and demonstrate it at one of our meetings.They
intensive day of instruction also can flag up on their central computer data base where a neck-
but enjoyable for all that! If breather is in residence, so they can be forewarned to check equipment is
anyone wishes to know more then do please contact Geoff. ready and working etc. We provide them with name and addresses but
only if the patient agree to this sharing of their information. We must
keep the Ambulance list up-to-date for when people die, move, etc.
Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read on (01752) 563800 or 0774581928 (text only)
or email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk, or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com 2

3. NEWS & GOSSIP D ERRIFORD HOSPITAL Brings Down MRSA Rates by 90%.
This article was published in the Plymouth Herald on
th
Monday, 7 March, 201.
C ANCER CENTRE PRAISED In Report a Year After
Controversial Creation. This article was published in
th
the Plymouth Herald on Tuesday, 15 March 2011:
PRECISION CHECKS: Neil Cooper
looks at a sample. A staff
member uses a glo box after his
A CANCER surgery centre at hands have been coated in UV
Derriford Hospital has been praised disclosing lotion.
in a new report... a year after its
controversial creation. ROBOT swab processors and
Specialist surgery for upper gastro-intestinal cancers moved infra-red talking signs are
to Derriford in January 2010 in line with national policy among weapons used to fight
recommending "centres of excellence". deadly superbugs at Derriford
Three units in Exeter, Truro and Plymouth were Hospital.
amalgamated into the single centre. But the tool which has reduced
The change sparked fury among patient groups in Cornwall infection rates more than any
when the issue first emerged. other is much simpler – hand
A detailed review published today reports high levels of washing and its dogged promotion across the organisation.
patient satisfaction with the Plymouth unit, and low death In the past seven years, Derriford has brought down its
rates. number of MRSA infections by more than 90 per cent, and
Consultant Surgeon Tim WHEATLEY said: "We are very its C diff rates are the lowest in the South West.
pleased with how well things have come together at the It has recently become the first hospital in the country to
new centre. introduce automated swab processing – to help screen
"As a team, we are working extremely hard together to more than 116,000 a year for MRSA.
ensure that patients receive the best service we can possibly And the 11-strong infection control team has been
give." shortlisted for a national award for reducing infections
In total, 129 people underwent operations at Derriford following surgery.
during 2010 to remove part or all of their oesophagus or
stomach to combat cancer. Overall, there was a mortality Note by the Editor. Well Done Derriford! The complete
rate of 1.1% among the 94 patients undergoing article is a little too long to publish here but it is worthwhile
oesophagectomy, compared to 4.5% across the NHS reading it all. For the full version please visit:
nationally. http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Battle-superbugs/article-3299618-
There was a mortality rate of 5.7% among the 35 patients detail/article.html
undergoing gastrectomy compared to 6% nationally.
Patient surveys over the year show that 93% of patients felt
the overall service was either excellent or good. A further P LYMOUTH HEROES ARE HONOURED at Glittering Gold
Star Awards. This article was published in the Plymouth
th
Herald on Wednesday, 9 March 2010:
6% rated it as average with 1% not responding. The biggest
problem raised by patients and their families was parking. A
number of strategies to try to improve parking are being PLYMOUTH’S unsung heroes and heroines have
considered by the hospital. been recognised and celebrated at an emotional
The results were welcomed by the Peninsula Cancer awards ceremony.
Network Board, which had requested the report from Winners of The Herald & First Devon and
Derriford. Cornwall’s Gold Star awards enjoyed the
Anthony FARNSWORTH, PCN Chair, said: "We know from limelight as they were honoured at a dinner at
survey work that the great majority of people across Devon, The Duke of Cornwall Hotel recently.
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly would be prepared to travel The ceremony, attended by the Lord Mayor
for the best outcome from their operation. The new centre Councillor Mary ASPINALL and Lady Mayoress
at Plymouth seems to be providing exactly that. What we Kate ASPINALL, highlighted the actions of a
need to do now is make sure these high standards are range of individuals who were presented with an engraved
maintained and, where possible, improved, and that all glass trophy.
possible care apart from the highly-specialised surgery These included a brave ambulance worker, an 81-year-old
continues to be offered locally." fundraiser who helped form the Plymouth branch of RNLI,
three carers and a woman who rallied around to ensure a
mother-and-son had the trip of a lifetime after a tragic year.
Others included a volunteer who dedicated his free time to
Welcome Hall, a man who strives to help refugees despite
suffering illness himself and a dynamic duo of women who
bought the community together to aid a family devastated
by a fire.
Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read on (01752) 563800 or 0774581928 (text only)
or email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk, or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com 3

4. Bill MARTIN, editor of The Plymouth Herald, said: “We take Some say it is very useful in all variants of cancer.
great pride in recognising those who go the extra mile for It’s considered also as an anti microbial spectrum against
others; those who cope admirably with adversity and those bacterial infections and fungi, effective against internal
who set an example to their peers through their selfless parasites and worms, it regulates blood pressure if it is too high
actions. and antidepressant, combat stress and nervous disorders.
The source of this information is fascinating: it comes from one
For the fuller version of this article, please visit: of the largest drug manufacturers in the world, says that after
http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Plymouth-heroes-honoured- more than 20 laboratory tests since 1970, the extracts revealed
glittering-Gold-Star-awards/article-3309470-detail/article.html
that: It destroys the malignant cells in 12 cancers, including
colon, breast, prostate, lung and pancreas... the compounds of
this tree actually showed 10,000 times better than the product
Adriamycin, a drug normally used chimiothérapeutte in the
world, slowing the growth of cancer cells.
And what is even more astonishing: this type of therapy with
lemon extract not only destroys malignant cancer cells but
doesn’t affect healthy cells.
Source:
Institute of Health Sciences,
819 N. L.L.C. Cause Street,
Baltimore, MD 1201
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Our grateful thanks to The Devonport Regeneration
Community (DRC) Partnership for their assistance in
reproducing copies of this Newsletter.
Photograph courtesy of Christine REID, enhanced by Kanda P.
Geoffrey N. READ and the Gold Star Award!
Tuesday, 8th March 2011
"I work as part of a Team and so I’ll accept it on behalf
of that Team."
T HE BENEFITS of Lemon. Lemon (Citrus) is a miraculous
product to kill cancer cells.
It is 10,000 times stronger than
chemotherapy.
Why do we not know about that?
Because there are laboratories
interested in making a synthetic
version that will bring them huge The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club
profits.
(PLC)
You can now help a friend in need by letting him know that
lemon juice is beneficial in preventing the disease.
Its taste is pleasant and it does not produce the horrific
effects of chemotherapy.
If you can, plant a lemon tree in your garden or patio.
How many people die while this is a closely guarded secret
so as not to jeopardize the beneficial multimillionaires large
corporations?
As you know, the lemon tree is down, does not occupy much
space and is known for its varieties of lemons and limes.
You can eat the fruit in different ways: you can eat the pulp, – A Charitable Support Group
juice press, prepare drinks, sorbets, pastries... it’s credited for Plymouth Cancer Laryngectomees –
with many virtues, but the most interesting is the effect it
produces on cysts and tumours.
This plant is a proven remedy against cancers of all types.
Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read on (01752) 563800 or 0774581928 (text only)
or email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk, or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com 4