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The Southern Oesophageal Support Group was started by Jack Burrage with the intention of helping pre-op and post-op patients through counselling in the south of England.
Jack (a 22 year survivor of oesophageal cancer surgery) offered advice and reassurance gained from his own personal experience of oesophageal cancer plus knowledge gained from talking to surgeons, healthcare workers and other patients with similar diagnoses throughout the country.
With the increase of oesophagectomies in the South of England, Jack felt it was time to try and help those closer to home, as there were already a number of organisations and charities throughout the UK.
After many years travelling the country, speaking to professionals and offering support to patients, Jack passed away in 2005 after a short, unrelated illness. He will be dearly missed by his wife Kitty all that were privileged enough to know him.
Jack was a very compassionate and caring person with a real commitment and enthusiasm to help other people. The work he did for patients like himself affected by oesophageal cancer was quite fantastic.
From June 2008 this
website is
continued by the
Oesophageal Patients' Association who have
similar aims - former patients helping new
patients. The OPA was founded in
1985, and is a registered charity (no 1062461)
whose Chairman is David Kirby OBE. If you would like to
contact the Oesophageal Patients' Association,
please
click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Richard Williams was diagnosed with
adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus in May 2002. Having suffered for many years with Barrett's Reflux
Rick attended hospital for a twice yearly endoscopy which highlighted an inflammation of tissue.
Tests concluded that the swelling was cancerous and Rick had his oesophagectomy
on June 7th 2002. The operation was a success
and Rick's fears were put to rest through a
variety of knowledgeable sources, principally the skill and experience of his surgeon and staff at Harefield Hospital; his GP, Dr Basab Barua, for his careful monitoring of Rick's condition over the years; and of course Jack, who was such an inspiration to Rick and his family having been contacted by Rick's daughter via the internet just before his operation.
The support Rick received through the SOSG, and
the gratitude he felt, is something that patient
support groups seek to achieve and a motivation
for other patients to help new patients.
***
The Oesophageal
Patients' Association (OPA) works with medical staff
and hospitals throughout the country. The
aims of the OPA are:
a) to provide
information of quality to patients suffering
from oesophageal or stomach cancer at the point
of diagnosis so that they and their carers can
cope knowledgeably with the fact of the disease
and its treatment.
b) to enable them to
have contact with former patients to give some
reassurance by exchange of experiences
c) to co-operate with
the medical teams treating oesophageal and
gastric cancers and to use influence for earlier
diagnosis and improved treatments. |
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