Celebrating 25 years of St Luke’s Cancer Centre: 25 people share their stories of our cancer care | News

To celebrate 25 years since the official opening of St Luke’s Cancer Centre at Royal Surrey, we’re sharing the stories of 25 people who have been part of our cancer care.

These shine a light on St Luke’s as well as some of the different specialisms and departments that help to make up our cancer service. You can read perspectives from people in surgery, the emergency department, computer science and our clinical researchers – to name a few.

Medical Oncologist Tony Dhillon reflects on what it means to be a specialist cancer doctor at St Luke’s today. He says:

“When I see patients for the first time it is probably the most difficult time of their lives, cancer has just turned their world upside down. The most rewarding part of my job is being able to say to them, ‘I’m going to help you.’"

The stories include reflections on how cancer care has changed over the last 25 years. Sharadah Essapen, Consultant Oncologist and Chief of Service for Oncology, who joined the Trust in 1999 says:

“When I first joined St Luke’s, I was one of seven oncology consultants and now we have 28 oncologists, which is a huge increase in senior medical staff. We work very differently now. When I first started, you were very much a general oncologist, whereas now oncologists specialise in one or two tumour sites, they can’t be generalists because that’s just a vast field.”

Also among the 25 faces is Debbie Stone, who watched her mum Evelyn go through cancer treatment for a decade. Supporting her from the get-go, she credits the ‘NHS angels’ and team from St Luke’s for her survival to this day.

“The care from St Luke’s has been amazing. They have helped my mum reach the all-clear.

“Last summer she got to see her eldest granddaughter step-out in a floor length gown, graduating school prom. For her to see Amy’s prom, a very special moment between grandmother and grandchild was shared. Thank you, all the team on Chilworth Unit, St Luke’s and Royal Surrey.”

Find out more about our cancer service through the words of the people who deliver, support and use our care .