Biography

Lung Cancer Nurse Specialist
The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust

Josie is a Macmillan Lung Cancer Nurse Specialist at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust and works with patients and carers throughout the diagnosis of lung cancer and mesothelioma, during treatment and rehabilitation. She is a non-medical prescriber and a committee member of The National Lung Cancer Forum for Nurses (NLCFN).  Her past positions include: Clinical Nurse Specialist in Specialist Palliative Care and Lead Cancer Nurse. She has experience in haemato-oncology and managing the outreach chemotherapy unit. She is an accredited facilitator for the Connect Advanced Communication Training Programme.

An active NLCFN committee member, Josie co-facilitates the NLCFN annual workshop and contributes to the Cancer Nursing Partnership, Living with and beyond cancer programme. Josie participates in research and audit projects and is involved in pre/rehabilitation programmes for patients undergoing surgery and treatment for lung cancer.

She is currently conducting research on living with and surviving lung cancer with the support of the Research Interest Group (RIG).

Biography

Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer Clinical Specialist
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust

Rachel Thomas is a Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust caring for patients (and their relatives) diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer.

Following her graduation with a BSc in Adult Nursing (in 2000), Rachel spent 5 years specialising in HIV patient care, completing a parallel MSc in Healthcare Research. She progressed to a Clinical Nurse Specialist after gaining extensive cancer patient care experience gathered across the various stages of the oncology patient pathway.

Rachel joined Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in 2009 and was awarded funding by Mesothelioma UK to be a nominated Mesothelioma Clinical Nurse Specialist. She is a nurse prescriber and a NLCFN committee member, which has enabled her to advocate for patients on a national and international stage, and also sit as the nurse representative for the British Thoracic Society.

Rachel mentors Clinical Nurse Specialists to set up and manage tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) nurse-led UK clinics. She runs the only Mesothelioma Support Group for patients and carers in London and works with Mesothelioma UK to raise awareness for mesothelioma across London, Kent and Brighton.

Rachel regularly presents on the role of Immuno-oncology and the treatment impact on patient prognosis and outcomes. She has written several articles surrounding nurse management of patients treated with immuno-oncology, taking part in advocacy for equality of access and nursing care in the UK.

Biography

Lung Nurse Specialist
Christie Hospital Foundation Trust 

Jackie Fenemore is a Lung Cancer Nurse Clinician working with the Lung Medical Oncology and Clinical Oncology Team at the Christie Hospital Foundation Trust. She is the Vice Chair of the NLCFN Committee.

Previous positions include: a Grade 7 Research Sister working on Phase I and II clinical trials of gene therapy and novel treatment therapy for cancer patients (2002–2007); and a Lung Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist (2007–2017). She is a registered non-medical prescriber and is lead on the concurrent chemo/radiotherapy treatment pathway at the Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Over the years, Jackie has supported lung cancer patients in both in- and out-patient settings, performing assessment and review of treatment, symptom control, emotional support and co-ordinating the multidisciplinary team. In addition, she has developed patient information surrounding lung cancer and completed clinical secondments overseas.

Biography

Macmillan Lung Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist
Maidstone Hospital, Kent Oncology Centre

Sandra Wakelin is a Macmillan Lung Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist who supports cancer patients from pre-diagnosis and throughout their treatment alongside a multidisciplinary and primary care team. She has completed a degree in Cancer Nursing, Clinical Skills and Consultation, and is a registered non-medical prescriber who runs several nurse-led clinics. Her professional achievements include being involved with the development of an electronic nursing assessment tool to allow other nurses to assess patients on immunotherapy safely.

In 2017, Sandra was elected onto the Committee of the NLCFN and presents regularly on the topic of nurse-led services and immunotherapy.

Biography