FROG – background

The original idea for a local support group for kidney cancer patients and their families was down to Dr Andy Protheroe and our nurse Gemma Crane.  They had identified that patients, and family members, would benefit from being able to meet on a regular basis, to chat and share information, in a supportive environment with others facing the same challenges.

 

So, we held our first meeting in February 2008 in a room kindly loaned to us by the Maggies Centres charity here in Oxford.  I remember that we were just a handful of patients brought together by Andy and Gemma.  We spent most of that first evening deciding how we wanted our group to be structured and of course settling on our name, which was suggested by Andy.  We decided to dispense with the need to have a formal committee, and I was co-opted as Chair of the group and Angela kindly agreed to record the Minutes.  Whilst the meetings are informal we decided to keep to a simple format to give everyone the chance to contribute.  We have all since agreed that the best part of the meeting is when we are able to simply chat with one another over a cuppa and share experience, tips and advice.

 

Many of us have also been involved in fundraising events from time to time for UCARE, an Oxford based cancer charity, which we are associated with.

 

We have been lucky enough to have been entertained by a number of interesting speakers including talks on cancer research, radiology, diet, and meditation.  We also hold social events including, skittles, dinners out, and a river boat trip.  I think that I speak for all when I say that we look forward to our meetings and the chance to catch up, as we do look out for each other.  It feels as though we belong to an extended family, which has now grown to some 35 patients. 

 

Whilst this group is primarily a support group, I cannot close without acknowledging the vital role that many members of this group, both past and present, have played in campaigning successfully for Sutent, the global first line treatment for kidney cancer.  FROG members should be very proud of what has been achieved, as we formed a separate campaign group known as the Justice for Kidney Cancer Patients, which played an instrumental part in obtaining Sutent on the NHS for many hundreds of cancer patients all around the country. 

 

So, our journey continues, and our thanks go out to the time and effort invested by Andy and Gemma on our behalf.

 

Clive Stone   June 2010