30 January 2025
Supporting cancer patients at UHS this World Cancer Day
World Cancer Day on Tuesday 4th February is a time to reflect on the challenges faced by those affected by cancer. With your support, Southampton Hospitals Charity is making a real difference in the lives of cancer patients, offering treatments and therapies that enhance the hospital experience.
Here are just a few ways we’re transforming care and treatment:
Offering comfort with cancer-safe beauty treatments
UHS is one of only 12 regional cancer centres in the UK, serving 1.7 million people. Thanks to Southampton Hospitals Charity, patients can access free health, beauty, and holistic therapies tailored specifically for those undergoing treatment.
Grace, our specialist therapist, is among a select few in the UK with advanced training to deliver bespoke therapies designed for cancer patients. From massages to manicures, her expertise provides moments of comfort and helps patients relax during what can be a very difficult time.
Reducing hair loss with scalp coolers
For chemotherapy patients, hair loss can often be one of the most visible and distressing side effects during treatment. With funding from the Charity, scalp cooling caps are now available in our dedicated cancer unit, Hamwic House. These innovative caps help to reduce hair loss during treatment by lowering the temperature of the scalp, limiting the impact of chemotherapy on hair follicles.
One patient currently undertaking treatment for breast cancer has said: “There’s no words for me to explain what it has meant for me to keep my hair throughout this journey. It’s what I was most scared of when I was told that I would need chemotherapy. It’s been a tense time because you never know how someone is going to respond to the scalp cooling, so each week I’ve turned up, hopeful, that it’s doing its job, and thankfully I’m here at week ten and I’ve managed to keep the majority of my hair. It’s been incredible that this technology is available for me and I’m so grateful.”
Vein Finders for chemotherapy patients
On our D3 cancer ward, vein finders funded by Southampton Hospitals Charity are transforming the experience for patients undergoing chemotherapy.
When patients undergo chemotherapy it can cause veins to become harder, narrowing the blood vessels and causing them to shrink away from the skin making it harder and sometimes painful to find them. By making effective veins easier to locate, these devices reduce discomfort and help our staff complete procedures faster.
