The Voice of PLC 1107 - 08 (July - August, 2011)

1. The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club (PLC)
A Charitable Support Group for Plymouth Cancer Laryngectomees
The Voice of PLC
July - August 2011
Address: c/o 80 Warleigh Avenue, PLYMOUTH, PL2 1DH, Devon, UK
Mobile: 07745819828 (text only) Email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk Website: http://plymouthlc.webs.com
FOREWORD BY THE SECRETARY GREETINGS!
Written by Geoffrey N. Read
Dear Friends & Supporters!
N EW Friends & Members.
New Friend. Mr. Alan PEACEY has become a Friend of PLC.
Alan is a British Laryngectomee living in Norway. Further
Ted, our Chair, welcomed everyone to our July 2011 Meeting
details are shown on our website. Please also read the
and thanked them all Members for attending. Ted then
1 2 Letters to the Editor!
explained that Maggie and Julia had agreed to run our Club
Meetings until further notice and that this had been accepted New Member. We welcomed Ms. Rosemarie STEPHENS
by the Committee (Ted, Geoff & Jean). who was attending her first PLC Meeting, and also her guest,
Dave. Rosemarie showed some photographs relating to the
Ulla ROHRBECK from HEIMOMED UK was our Guest Speaker
Alzheimer’s Charity that she is involved with.
who gave us a Talk about the products made by her
Company. Julia thanked Ulla on behalf of us all, not just for
her presentation but also for the donation of a decorative
mug towards our Raffle Prizes!
We should like to thank our newest member, Rosemarie, for
very kindly providing a tray of tasty pastries for our
sustenance during the meeting!
Further details of our meeting are explained later in this
B EST Wishes to the Secretary of PLC, Geoff READ, for
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his birthday on Sunday, 10 July 2011.
Newsletter.
Best Wishes
M ANY Happy Returns to Ms. Rosmarie STEPHENS for
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her Birthday on Saturday, 16 July 2011. Rosemarie
is a full Member of PLC. Happy Birthday Rosemarie!
Geoff And finally...
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Clinical Specialist Nurse, ENT, Derriford Hospital.
Speech & language Therapist, ENT, Derriford Hospital.
H APPY Anniversary to Christine
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and Jim REID for Sunday, 10 July
2011. Congratulations to you both!
EDITORIAL COMMENT
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
THE PLC JUNE 2011 MEETING
another site for more information on that particular topic.
Put your cursor over the link, hold down the Control (Ctrl) Oth
UR July 2011 Meeting took place at the Mustard Tree
Cancer Support Center at Derriford Hospital on Monday,
4 July 2011 at 11 a.m. There were 13 individuals in
Key and click! Ed.
attendance including three Friends and one Guests.
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
Our Funder: Macmillan Cancer Support
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. C OMMITTEE Meetings. The Committee (that’s Ted, Geoff
and Jean) are well overdue a meeting.
Meetings are usually held fairly frequently in an attempt to
R st
AFFLE. Ted ran the July 2011 Raffle and the results were:
1 Prize: Ron: Tin of Biscuits.
resolve matters prior to monthly Club Meetings. nd
2 Prize: Ron: But he put it back!
However, Geoff has had difficulties talking lately so it’s Julia: 4-piece set of Drinking Mugs.
been necessary to put things on hold for a little while. A rd
meeting will be called as soon as Geoff is able to talk! 3 Prize: Rosemarie: Heroes Chocolates
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4 Prize: Percy: Tin of Biscuits.
E NTERTAINMENTS Member. Organising our meetings
and social events is taking up more and more of Geoff’s
time. At our June 2011 Meeting, Members agreed that the
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5 Prize:
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Maggie: Jar of Coffee (which Maggie
promptly donated to the Tree!).
6 Prize: Eileen: Decorative Mug (kindly donated
Committee should have a fourth member: An Entertainments by Ulla of HEIMOMED UK).
Member to organise the Club’s social diary. No volunteers
were forthcoming at the June or July 2011 Meetings so Ron will therefore provide the prize for the August Raffle!
Members were asked to give this some thought!
F UNDING. Geoff will be making a bid to various funds in
the near future. However, before making a bid Geoff will
S UPPORTING Role of the Club. After receiving advice from
Maggie who explained the Confidentiality Rules,
Members agreed that the onus should be on individual Club
need to know specifically what the Club needs the funds for. Members to let the medical authorities (the Ward Staff,
This might include the cost of printing our Newsletters, Maggie or Julia) know if they would like to receive a visit from
Postage, etc. Or it could be to fund a special trip perhaps, another Club Member should they have occasion to be in an
such as our Christmas Dinner or a Pantomime? Or it might be in-patient at Derriford Hospital. Alternatively, let another of
to finance our proposed Goody Bags. No specific suggestions our Club Members know! It’s up to YOU!
were forthcoming at the May, June or July 2011 Meetings.
Geoff needs Members to make some suggestions at the
August 2011 Meeting so do please give this some thought! In T REASURER’S Report. Jean reported that she was
holding £48.30 and the remainder was held in our
Bank Account. The accounts are open to view by any Club
the meantime, Geoff has applied for a Setting-up Grant from
the National Association of Laryngectomee Clubs (NALC). Member at any time on application to Jean.
G OODY Bags. The Speak Easy Club in Cornwall have given
us this idea and supplied us with information on what is
THE PLC FORECAST OF EVENTS
included. This topic was mentioned very briefly at the July
2011 Meeting and Members agreed to it some further
consideration at the August 2011 Meeting and to think about
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 keep
the cost. This would be a delightful project for one of our yourselves up-to-date by taking an occasional peek!
Members to take on. Interested? Please contact Geoff!
A
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UGUST 2011 PLC Meeting. Monday, 1 August 2011:
The PLC Club Meeting starts at the Mustard Tree
M EMBERSHIP Status. Our current Membership Status
is shown in the table below: Cancer Support Centre at 11 a.m.. There will be a Talk by
our Guest Speaker, Miles WILLIAMS from Platon Medical.
POSTAL EMAIL TOTAL
S
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Confirmed Members: 9 8 17 EPTEMBER 2011. Monday, 5 September 2011: The
Prospective Members: 0 0 0 PLC Club Annual General Meeting starts at the Mustard
Confirmed Friends: 8 20 28 Tree Cancer Support Centre at 11 a.m. After the meeting
Prospective Friends 0 3 3 there’ll be a Talk by our Guest Speaker, Charles HANDLEY
TOTALS: 17 31 38 from Countrywide Supplies Ltd.
S
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EPTEMBER 2011. Wednesday, 14 September2011:
P RESCRIPTION items. Maggie explained that all medical
supplies obtained from Countrywide Supplies Ltd.,
Heimomed UK or elsewhere, were prescription items and as
The Speak Easy Club in Cornwall has made a booking
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for Wednesday, 14 September 2011 at Devoran, near
Truro for a Soup & Sandwich lunch and have invited PLC
such were budgeted for from each local GP’s purse. Patients
Members to join them. Members of the Speak Easy Club
must be registered with their local Allied Health Professional
will arrange to meet anyone travelling by train or bus at
(for our Club Members, this would normally be Maggie or
Truro. Anyone wishing to attend should notify Geoff as
Julia) before ordering anything from any company. Julia
soon as possible. The last date for names will be Monday,
stated that Base Plates from Platon Medical Supplies Ltd. st
1 August 2011 (the August 2011Meeting).
were professionally preferred.
Patients should never order a different item just to try it! But
should always consult with Maggie or Julia prior to ordering
anything different. If in doubt, always consult Maggie or Julia
S EPTEMBER 2011. MINI-BUS Trip. Ted will be organising a
mini-bus trip from Plymouth to Dartmeet for a Cream
Tea sometime in September 2011. Rosemarie and Dave
first. said they could book a mini-bus on favourable terms which
could carry up to 14 passengers. Please book your place
with Ted now to avoid disappointment!
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
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3. O
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CTOBER 2011: Friday, 7 October 2011: Laryngectomee
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Study Day. This event is still in the planning stages and
is being organised by Julia and Maggie. Please make a note Dear Geoff,
of this event in your diaries as we have cancelled our normal
October 2011 Club Meeting! I should be grateful if you would relay the following message
to the Members, Friends and Supporters of PLC:
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OVEMBER 2011: Monday, 7 November 2011: John
MCKENNA of Colebrook Housing Carers has kindly I’ve just joined the Plymouth Laryngectomy Club as a Friend.
accepted our invitation to be our Guest Speaker. I am an ex-British serviceman living in Oslo, Norway and am
now employed as a long-distance truck-driver.
I had my laryngectomy in February 2010 but as I’m a young
LIFTS TO THE HOSPITAL man of 50 I must continue working until I am 67 years
young!
B RITISH Red Cross in Plymouth. Remember what was
said about possibly being able to get a lift to Derriford
Hospital for an operation? I tried it and was informed that
I use a Provox Prosthesis and have done since the operation.
My laryngectomy was not the result of cancer so I didn't have
it’s only for out-patients and the infirm! I duly informed the radio or chemo therapy. However the full laryngectomy
Sister on Erme Ward who seemed somewhat surprised! Oh operation was the same as for cancer patients!
well! I would be very happy to hear from anyone who wishes to
communicate via email.
Submitted by Geoffrey N. READ
Regards,
Alan D PEACEY
PENINSULAR CANCER NETWORK glosters@live.no
P ENINSULAR Cancer Network (PCN) Allied Health
Professional (AHP) Rehabilitation Group. Geoff READ
attended a meeting at the PCN Offices at Dartington on
Editorial Note: Alan has sent us the story of his operation
and this is available on our website. Ed.
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Thursday, 30 June 2011 as a Plymouth Patient. Julia
POCKETT was also in attendance as an AHP. The next meeting
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NEWS & CURRENT EVENTS
is scheduled for Thursday, 1 December 2011. If anyone
should wish to have further details then do please contact DISCLAIMER
Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this section are
Geoff. not necessarily those held by the PLC Committee nor its Members.
THE HEAD & NECK CANCER GROUP OF
HEREFORD & WORCESTER
F UNDRAISING Chief Sian Boosts Cancer Support Team.
This article was published in the Plymouth Herald on
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Monday, 20 June 2011:
T HIS Group has kindly sent PLC a copy of their published
book entitled Soups & Puddings. Geoff is passing a copy of
this book around to Members on a loan basis. If anyone
MACMILLAN Cancer Support has named the newest member
of its local team.
Sian HARRIS has become the Fundraising Manager for
wishes to have a copy of their own they can purchase one Plymouth, North Devon & the Tamar Valley. Leaving her post
from for a suggested minimum donation of £2. Funds raised in Gloucestershire, Sian has moved back to the area she said
contribute towards productions costs of the booklet and to she came to know and love while studying for a degree in
the treatment of patients at the Head & Neck Cancer Unit, social policy at the University of Plymouth.
Beech Ward, Worcestershire Royal Hospital. Please contact Suzie WARREN, Area Fundraising Manager for Devon &
Geoff for further information. Cornwall, said: "Sian is a valuable and welcome addition to
our team, particularly during this, our double anniversary
year. Macmillan Cancer Support is celebrating the centenary
THE SPEAK EASY CLUB CORNWALL st
of its founding and the 21 birthday of its World's Biggest
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N EWSLETTER. Geoff has received the June 2011
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edition of their newsletter on Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Coffee Morning event on Friday, 30 September 2011."
and emailed it out to those Members who are on-line.
Those not on-line can ask Geoff for a hard copy.
G ARDEN Concert. The Memory Conservatory welcomes
you all to an Open Air Garden Concert with the City of
Plymouth Concert Band at Chaplins Superstore in Plymouth
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from 2 until 5 p.m. on Saturday, 23 July 2011. The price
includes a Cream Tea with Langage Farm Clotted Cream, Tea,
Coffee and Soft Drinks. Bumper Raffle Tickets will be on sale
The Memory Conservatory is a self-funded group at £1 each.
for Alzheimer's disease sufferers who meet at Please book your tickets by telephoning (01752) 344923 or
Chaplins Superstore in Plympton. you can pick up tickets on the day at the gate.
→
They have created a garden enabling sufferers and
carers to enjoy the open air, and activities such as
singing old time songs and dancing.
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
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4. I WON'T LET Cancer Destroy My Appetite For Life:
Bon viveur Danny BAKER is hauntingly candid on earning
millions and living on handouts.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
There was a two-page spread
published in the Daily Mail by Our grateful thanks to :
Simon HATTENSTONE on Saturday,
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18 June 2011:
What would be the cruelest trick to
play on a man who talks for a living
and loves his food?
It's nine months since Danny THE PLYMOUTH DIOCESE
BAKER was diagnosed with cancer http://www.plymouth-diocese.org.uk/
of the mouth and throat. His fans
knew something was up... there
were replacement presenters on his
for their assistance
six BBC radio slots each week for starters. But he never in reproducing copies
announced what exactly was wrong. After all, Baker's never of this newsletter.
been big on self-pity.
You can read the complete article by clicking on this link.
And, just for those who may not be aware...
Laryngectomy is the removal of the larynx and separation
of the airway from the mouth, nose and oesophagus. The
Laryngectomee breaths through the neck, a stoma. It is
done in the cases of laryngeal cancer. However, many
laryngeal cancer cases are now treated only with
radiation and chemotherapy, or other laser procedures,
and Laryngectomy is performed when those treatments
fail to conserve the larynx.
The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club If you’re a Laryngectomee you would be most
welcome to come along on your own or with
(PLC) your partner and / or Carer.
is a Charitable Support Group.
Come join us!
PLC aims to offer support and care
to the laryngectomees Our Members and Friends meet on
and their carers and families. the first Monday of every month.
PLC also encourages understanding Do please see our website
and support by the public. for further details.
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
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