Weston Park Cancer Charity large grant funds new online resources for people living with breast cancer

A new suite of online resources for patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer has launched today, with the help of a £24,196 Weston Park Cancer Charity grant.

The Respire+ resources are all free to access and aim to improve the patient experience by helping individuals to prepare for radiotherapy. They were created through the Respire project, which is run by a team of researchers, audio-visual specialist technicians, Therapeutic Radiographers, and patients from Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Funding from Weston Park Cancer Charity enabled the Respire team to produce a series of bite-sized videos and podcasts, which contain everything from skin care guidelines to advice from fellow patients with a breast cancer diagnosis.

The Respire team also created downloadable self-monitoring tools, which help patients to keep track of the potential side effects of radiotherapy – such as skin reactions and lymphoedema (swelling from fluid build-up) of the breast or trunk.

As well as funding new resources, the grant allowed the Respire team to improve the accessibility of material across the site. All resources now have either audio or text translations available in Cantonese, Punjabi, Urdu, and Polish – four languages which are frequently encountered in UK radiotherapy departments.

The Respire+ resources were co-designed in collaboration with people who had previously gone through radiotherapy following a breast cancer diagnosis. This approach ensures that they are as inclusive as possible and tailored to patient needs.

Professor Heidi Probst, Principal Investigator for the Respire project, said:

"The side effects of radiotherapy can have a huge impact on a patient’s life. Good quality, evidence-based information can ensure patients are prepared and empowered to seek further advice or support when needed.

“With our new Respire+ resources, we aim to standardise the advice available for patients, and support healthcare professionals working in this area.

“We couldn’t have delivered this important project without the Weston Park Cancer Charity grant, and we’re very grateful for the charity’s support.”

Grace Rawson, Governance & Executive Support Manager at Weston Park Cancer Charity, said:

“The Respire project is a brilliant example of how a local initiative can benefit people living with and beyond cancer across the whole country.

“We’re proud to have supported this work and would like to congratulate the Respire team on producing such a fantastic set of resources.”

Weston Park Cancer Charity is there, at every step, for people across the region who have been impacted by cancer. The charity has a comprehensive grant-giving programme, which funds pioneering research, cancer support services, and treatment enhancements at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.

To find out more about Weston Park Cancer Charity’s grants programme, head to westonpark.org.uk/grant-giving.