Working as part of the Montgomery Unit at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Elaine has been supporting patients with bone and soft tissue sarcomas since 2021.
“As a Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist working in one of only five bone cancer and soft tissue sarcoma tumour units in England, I am inspired daily by the strength and bravery of the patients I have the privilege to meet and get to know,” said Elaine.
“Sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that starts in soft tissue, such as muscle and fat, and presents with subtle symptoms, making early detection challenging. One of the reasons I love my role is it gives me the chance to highlight and shout about sarcoma and raise awareness of the disease and the support that is available.
“There is not a lot we can do about the reason why people must utilise our services, but we can do so much to support them and provide the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to entrust their care to us at a time when they, or their family members, are at their most vulnerable.”
“My favourite part of my role is getting to build relationships with our patients, sharing their ups and downs and knowing they can count on us to give them respect and honesty. Sometimes we will have patients who may have learning disabilities, or will be receiving bad news, so we ensure we are offering a holistic approach to all patients and their individual needs.”
Elaine has gone above and beyond in her role and has worked diligently to establish a local sarcoma support group demonstrating her dedication to patient care beyond the clinical setting.
She also frequently fundraises for Sarcoma UK, and last year took part in the Ultra Trail Wales for the Bone Cancer Research Trust – running an incredible 57 miles and raising £1,097 in the process.
She added: “Because the disease is so under-recognised, supporting charities and fundraising is a huge part of helping raise awareness and highlight the need for improvements in research and early diagnosis
“Working in sarcoma has been a steep learning curve, and one that provides me a learning experience every day, but it’s one of the reasons I find my role so rewarding and I really couldn’t imagine doing anything else”.