End of treatment fundraiser to celebrate fantastic care

An administrator at Scunthorpe General Hospital is saying a big thank you for the care she received from colleagues on ward 18.

Lesley Boyce was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2016 after finding a lump on her left breast. An examination revealed the left breast had pre-cancerous cells as well as a lump in her right breast that was already at stage two.

Lesley had surgery in February to have the cancer removed and is now having chemotherapy. She decided she wanted to give something back to the hospital and is organising an end of treatment fundraiser in December.   

Lesley said: “I have received nothing but first class care from start to finish from all the staff, I’ve felt like a VIP throughout my treatment.

“I used to be an oncology secretary so I knew everyone already but I found it very hard going from being a member of staff to being a patient.

“I needn’t have worried because everyone has made it so easy for me, they’ve been wonderful and made my time here so lovely.”

Lesley is fundraising for three charities – Walk the Walk, Prostate Cancer UK and the Pink Rose Fund at the Health Tree Foundation.

She chose Walk the Walk because she has benefited from the scalp cooler donation the charity made to the hospital last year. Lesley has been able to wear the scalp cooler during treatment and it has prevented her from losing her hair.

Lesley added: “I’ve got a little boy who is seven years old and thinking about him has kept me feeling positive and looking to the future. It’s great that thanks to the scalp cooler I’ve been able to keep my hair and still look normal for my little boy.”

She chose Prostate Cancer UK as her father has had prostate cancer twice.

Clinical sister Julie Walton said: “She’s a wonderful patient to have, it was a shock to see her name on my planner having worked with her for so long. We try very hard to make a happy environment for our patients.”

Lesley’s fundraiser is on Friday December 16 at The Crown Pub in Ashby from 7.30pm onwards. There will be a raffle on the night and any contributions would be much appreciated, to donate a prize please call Lesley on 07835 717867. You can also support Lesley by making a donation here: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LesleyBoyce

Read Lesley’s story in her own words here:  http://healthtreefoundation.org.uk/play-your-part/lesley-s-story