The Sussex Cancer Fund works with the NHS to create new and improved facilities for cancer care in Sussex, including purchasing specialist equipment, providing additional patient services, refurbishment projects and funding cancer research studies. It is likely that every Cancer Patient in Sussex will have benefitted from something the Sussex Cancer Fund has provided. #RaisedInSussexStaysInSussex.

I am undergoing a course of chemotherapy following being diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer earlier this year.  The side effects of chemotherapy are difficult to deal with so the Sussex Cancer Fund are trying to raise funds for an extremely important project, which is a community based Acupuncture Project.

CBAS started in November 2017 and is run by two medical acupuncturists, Dr Carolyn Rubens (Former President of the British Medical Acupuncture Society and GP) and Anna Joseph (Chemotherapy Sister, SCC).

The need arose out of the increasing numbers of patients experiencing side effects from their cancer treatment such as joint pains, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, hot flushes and anxiety. The service is open to all Adults with a Cancer diagnosis in Sussex, all adult age ranges and across a multitude of different cancers.

The service has been very popular and run from the Centre in Brighton. In 2019 CBAS received referrals from consultants in Brighton, Worthing, Haywards Heath, Eastbourne as well as a number of GPs and CNSs in these areas. They saw 78 patients and delivered 375 acupuncture treatments. 92% of patients reported an improvement in their side effects following treatment. However, patients had to travel to Brighton to receive acupuncture.

The proposal is to increase the service to other satellite clinics in Sussex to reduce travel and make the service more accessible and treat more patients. In addition, they are hoping to start (where appropriate) some group sessions, which will allow even more patients to benefit from acupuncture, help build a support network for patients, as it allows them to meet other patients and also learn some self-treatment techniques.

£23,000 is needed for this project, of which they have already fundraised £10,000, so another £13,000 is needed.