The unit is so well placed for me. I really don’t miss the stress of battling through the traffic to get to the hospital
For Barry Diedericks, keeping busy is part of who he is. As an IT consultant, long days and full schedules are normal—but cancer treatment quickly made that lifestyle difficult. The introduction of a mobile cancer care unit just ten minutes from his home has allowed him to continue working while receiving the treatment he needs, without the disruption and stress of long hospital trips.
Just a year ago, Barry could barely speak. He was initially treated for a strain of Tuberculosis, but after several biopsies carried out to understand the cause of fluid build-up in his lungs – he was diagnosed with Mesothelioma, a cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs.
At the time, Barry lived 15 miles from his nearest hospital, West Suffolk in Bury St Edmunds. The fluid on his lungs made conversation difficult, and he was physically unable to drive himself to appointments.
Barry holding a teddy bear hot water bottle to his side to help reduce pain.
“My sister, who stayed 30 minutes on the other side of Bury, was my taxi driver for a long time,” Barry says. “It wasn’t ideal—we’d both have to take off a whole day from work because you never knew how long the hospital appointments would take.”
After moving to Thetford, he was offered the chance to switch his immunotherapy treatment from the hospital to the mobile unit; he didn’t hesitate. ‘Frisbey’, his local mobile cancer care unit, regularly parks at the local health centre as part of its rotating schedule.
“On my first visit, I was pleasantly surprised. There’s a lovely familiarity and intimacy about it. There’s minimal waiting around. Everything works like clockwork.”
At 51, and as the sole earner in his household, maintaining his career was essential. The convenience of the mobile unit has made that possible.
Barry visits the mobile unit every three weeks, and because it is so close to his home and because of the convenience, he can pop out and be back at his desk in no time at all.
“A trip to London with my wife to visit Westminster Cathedral, an item from my bucket list”
He also values the sense of community the unit provides.
At Christmas we were all sitting around sharing cookies and chatting over a cup of tea whilst having our treatments. It was relaxed and a lot less clinical. Immunotherapy has given me back most of my life, and the mobile unit has made everything simpler—no doubt about it.”
“The bus [mobile unit] alleviates the time pressure, it’s a big gamechanger.”
The unit is so well placed for me. I really don’t miss the stress of battling through the traffic to get to the hospital
Barry holding a teddy bear hot water bottle to his side to help reduce pain.
Just a year ago, Barry could barely speak. He was initially treated for a strain of Tuberculosis, but after several biopsies carried out to understand the cause of fluid build-up in his lungs – he was diagnosed with Mesothelioma, a cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs.
At the time, Barry lived 15 miles from his nearest hospital, West Suffolk in Bury St Edmunds. The fluid on his lungs made conversation difficult, and he was physically unable to drive himself to appointments.
“My sister, who stayed 30 minutes on the other side of Bury, was my taxi driver for a long time,” Barry says. “It wasn’t ideal—we’d both have to take off a whole day from work because you never knew how long the hospital appointments would take.”
“On my first visit I was pleasantly surprised. There’s a lovely familiarity and intimacy about it. There’s minimal waiting around. Everything works like clockwork.”
At 51, and as the sole earner in his household, maintaining his career was essential. The convenience of the mobile unit has made that possible.
Barry visits the mobile unit every three weeks and because it is so close to his home and because of the convenience, he can pop out and be back at his desk in no time at all.
“A trip to London with my wife to visit Westminster Cathedral, an item from my bucket list”
He also values the sense of community the unit provides.
At Christmas we were all sitting around sharing cookies and chatting over a cup of tea whilst having our treatments. It was relaxed and a lot less clinical. Immunotherapy has given me back most of my life, and the mobile unit has made everything simpler—no doubt about it.”
“The bus [mobile unit] alleviates the time pressure, it’s a big gamechanger.”
