I wasn’t worried at all about switching to the mobile unit for my treatment.
Former teacher Anne Steel clearly remembers opening the letter that informed her she had bowel cancer.
“I was standing in my kitchen and the words on the paper absolutely floored me.”
“ It made no sense at all to me as I was feeling so well,” says Anne who had taken part in the routine testing that is sent out to everyone over the age of 60.
“I didn’t really have any symptoms. I had been attending a clinic for a couple of years for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) but cancer? No, absolutely not, that hadn’t crossed my mind.”
That diagnosis was back in 2022 when Anne was 66 and she was referred to the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital for an operation to have the tumour removed.
But things didn’t go smoothly. Traces of cancer were then found in Anne’s lymph nodes so she began her chemotherapy treatment at the hospital.
Unfortunately, after six months of treatment, it was discovered the cancer in the lymph nodes wasn’t responding to the chemotherapy.
Some of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust mobile cancer care unit staff.
Anne was instead offered a course of immunotherapy on the mobile cancer care unit which visits Attleborough in Norfolk, less than 30 minutes from her home in Diss.
“I wasn’t worried at all about switching to the mobile unit for my treatment. I had a friend who was very positive about it, and she assured me I was in good hands.
“I now attend the mobile unit every three weeks and take medication at home in between those visits, and I much prefer it to going into the hospital.
“For me, many of my medical appointments had been less than positive in the early days. Just pulling up outside the hospital always used to induce negative feelings in me, it really induced bad feelings and I couldn’t help but feel anxious.
“But my treatment on the mobile unit couldn’t be more different. It has now become a part of my normal routine and overall, it is relatively stress-free.
“Previously the drive to the hospital used to take a good 40 minutes from where I live, obviously depending on the traffic and the time of day.
“Also, not having too many side effects means that I am quite happy to drive myself to appointments. If I go to the hospital I have to allow time to find a parking space, whereas this isn’t a problem when I attend the bus [unit].
“Everything about cancer and the treatment that goes with it is quite an emotional experience.
But for some reason, I really don’t know why, it seems less of a big thing going to the mobile unit for my treatment.
“Somehow the unit manages to normalise it, if that makes sense, I know it sounds a bit odd because, at the end of the day, it is the same treatment. I think the intimate environment really helps to take the stress out of it.
“The unit parks up in the Sainsbury’s car park in Attleborough which has made it very easy to build into my routine.
“It has become my day of the week when I have to go out and get things done and that just so happens to include getting my treatment.
“I have been very lucky as I don’t get too many side effects so it really doesn’t impact on my day too much. I can pop in, get my treatment and then get on with everything else.”
Anne’s approach to her treatment and the desire to keep ticking along as normal has extended to her taking part in an 85-mile charity fundraising walk.
“I was hoping to do the Santiago de Compostela in Spain but I had to cancel after the diagnosis, so I found a local alternative,” says Anne.
Instead, over a period of three weeks she did the Boudicca Walk between Norwich and Diss which is named after the legendary warrior queen, and she also incorporated the Walsingham Way Walk, from Norwich to Walsingham, to the National Anglican and Catholic Shrines.
In total, she raised £1,000 which was her testament to showing that living with cancer doesn’t have to stop life in its tracks.
“There’s no rhyme or reason for what happened to me,” says Anne.
“But I am determined to live the best life I can, and for me that is trying to be as normal as I can be, just getting on with everyday things that people do.
“The bus [ unit] definitely helps me to feel normal. It’s friendly and it’s sociable.
“I often bump into a familiar face and we exchange a smile and say hello and that’s reassuring and comforting.
“Our driver on the bus [unit], Jack, is great. He always seems to be able to remember everyone’s name and he is always eager to have a little chat and a laugh. It’s those little things that help you through
“The bus [unit] works on every level for me. Less hassle and parking is a plus. Shorter appointments are great, and I appreciate the all-round gentle environment.”
I wasn’t worried at all about switching to the mobile unit for my treatment.
Former teacher Anne Steel clearly remembers opening the letter that informed her she had bowel cancer.
“I was standing in my kitchen and the words on the paper absolutely floored me.”
“ It made no sense at all to me as I was feeling so well,” says Anne who had taken part in the routine testing that is sent out to everyone over the age of 60.
“I didn’t really have any symptoms. I had been attending a clinic for a couple of years for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) but cancer? No, absolutely not, that hadn’t crossed my mind.”
That diagnosis was back in 2022 when Anne was 66 and she was referred to the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital for an operation to have the tumour removed.
But things didn’t go smoothly. Traces of cancer were then found in Anne’s lymph nodes so she began her chemotherapy treatment at the hospital.
Unfortunately, after six months of treatment, it was discovered the cancer in the lymph nodes wasn’t responding to the chemotherapy.
Anne was instead offered a course of immunotherapy on the mobile cancer care unit which visits Attleborough in Norfolk, less than 30 minutes from her home in Diss.
“I wasn’t worried at all about switching to the mobile unit for my treatment. I had a friend who was very positive about it, and she assured me I was in good hands.
“I now attend the mobile unit every three weeks and take medication at home in between those visits, and I much prefer it to going into the hospital.
“For me, many of my medical appointments had been less than positive in the early days. Just pulling up outside the hospital always used to induce negative feelings in me, it really induced bad feelings and I couldn’t help but feel anxious.
“But my treatment on the mobile unit couldn’t be more different. It has now become a part of my normal routine and overall, it is relatively stress-free.
“Previously the drive to the hospital used to take a good 40 minutes from where I live, obviously depending on the traffic and the time of day.
“Also, not having too many side effects means that I am quite happy to drive myself to appointments. If I go to the hospital I have to allow time to find a parking space, whereas this isn’t a problem when I attend the bus [unit].
“Everything about cancer and the treatment that goes with it is quite an emotional experience.
But for some reason, I really don’t know why, it seems less of a big thing going to the mobile unit for my treatment.
“Somehow the unit manages to normalise it, if that makes sense, I know it sounds a bit odd because, at the end of the day, it is the same treatment. I think the intimate environment really helps to take the stress out of it.
“The unit parks up in the Sainsbury’s car park in Attleborough which has made it very easy to build into my routine.
“It has become my day of the week when I have to go out and get things done and that just so happens to include getting my treatment.
“I have been very lucky as I don’t get too many side effects so it really doesn’t impact on my day too much. I can pop in, get my treatment and then get on with everything else.”
Anne’s approach to her treatment and the desire to keep ticking along as normal has extended to her taking part in an 85-mile charity fundraising walk.
“I was hoping to do the Santiago de Compostela in Spain but I had to cancel after the diagnosis, so I found a local alternative,” says Anne.
Instead, over a period of three weeks she did the Boudicca Walk between Norwich and Diss which is named after the legendary warrior queen, and she also incorporated the Walsingham Way Walk, from Norwich to Walsingham, to the National Anglican and Catholic Shrines.
In total, she raised £1,000 which was her testament to showing that living with cancer doesn’t have to stop life in its tracks.
“There’s no rhyme or reason for what happened to me,” says Anne.
“But I am determined to live the best life I can, and for me that is trying to be as normal as I can be, just getting on with everyday things that people do.
Some of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust mobile cancer care unit staff.
“The bus [ unit] definitely helps me to feel normal. It’s friendly and it’s sociable.
“I often bump into a familiar face and we exchange a smile and say hello and that’s reassuring and comforting.
“Our driver on the bus [unit], Jack, is great. He always seems to be able to remember everyone’s name and he is always eager to have a little chat and a laugh. It’s those little things that help you through
“The bus [unit] works on every level for me. Less hassle and parking is a plus. Shorter appointments are great, and I appreciate the all-round gentle environment.”
