The super heroes of the Regional Cancer and Blood Service

DATE: February 29, 2012
SUBJECT: The super heroes of the Canterbury Regional Cancer and Blood Service

Staff at the Canterbury Regional Cancer and Blood Service are the unsung super heroes when it comes to the fight against cancer and will be looking the part more than ever this Friday, March 2, 2012.

The service team is dressing up as super heroes to raise money to buy an iPod touch for the children and young people to use while they are being treated.

Dianne Locke, Clinical Educator Radiation Therapist for the Canterbury Regional Cancer and Blood Service, says the day has been organised by the Radiation Department’s Paediatric Team at Christchurch Hospital.

“The team treat at least one child or young person a month. The patient may have from 10 to 30 treatments and younger patients often need to be anaesthetised every day. This is because the treatment can be quite scary for little children as they need to be in the treatment room by themselves and stay still as possible for 10 – 20 minutes and as you can imagine any child would find this difficult,” Dianne says.

“The department hopes to be able to buy an iPod touch, which patients could use during their treatment (which may avoid the use of an anaesthetic) or before to help calm them when are about to receive an anaesthetic. The iPod touch will also be a big assistance for children three years and older who we try and treat without an anaesthetic as it can create a pleasant distraction in the room when they are by themselves and have to stay still.”

Currently four-year-old patient Jens Welford watches movies during his treatment on a portable DVD player brought in by a staff member.

“Jens loves super heroes, hence the theme for the day on Friday, which will also be his last treatment.”

Malthouse Costumes in Colombo Street are kindly supporting the day by offering costume hire to staff at a reduced rate.

ENDS

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