Patient Care

We are committed to ensuring that patients can avail of the best treatment and care available by funding vital medical staff and equipment.

Our work in patient care ensures that anyone going through cancer has the best care available to them when they need it most.

Friends of the Cancer Centre’s doctors, clinical nurse specialists and nurses provide expert medical care and support to hundreds of patients each year. We also support the work of staff on the ground through the on-going funding of vital medical equipment, ensuring that staff have the equipment they need to diagnose and treat patients.

Meet some of our wonderful staff below and read how they, as well as the vital equipment we support, are making a difference to patients.

Professor Suneil Jain

Consultant Clinical Oncologist

Professor Jain is a Consultant Oncologist in the Cancer Centre and a Clinical Reader at Queens University Belfast. His post has been supported by Friends of the Cancer Centre since 2013 and he specialises in the treatment of prostate cancer. He delivers advanced external beam radiotherapy and is one of two oncologists in Northern Ireland who treats patients with prostate brachytherapy.

Elaine Shaw

Breast Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist

Elaine is a vital lynchpin in a patient’s care and she has been funded by the charity since 2011. Elaine, who is the Cancer Centre’s only breast oncology CNS, works with the consultant team and is the point of information, guidance and support for patients.

Laura Croan

Advanced Nurse Practitioner for Haematology

Laura provides specialist care for Haematology patients in the Bridgewater Suite. She monitors a range of patients who are attending for treatment, including through SACT prescribing, reviewing Haematology patients for ambulatory care, and providing medical assessment for patients in the Apheresis Suite.

Renée Reid

TYA Lead Nurse/TYA Clinical Nurse Specialist

Renée is the point of contact for teenagers and young adults going through treatment. For many young people, a cancer diagnosis can be a worrying and confusing time, but Renée is on hand to provide a listening ear, information, and guidance for these young people.

Rachael Anderson

TYA Clinical Nurse Specialist

Rachael acts as a key worker for teenagers and young adults going through cancer. She cares for patients and families through diagnosis, treatment, and beyond by providing advice, support, clinical information, and signposting.

Shelley Mooney

Uro-Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist

Shelley specialises in supporting men with prostate cancer and she is on hand to offer advice, guidance, and support throughout a patient's treatment. Shelley also holds health and wellbeing events for men who have finished their treatment, ensuring they have the information and support they need post-treatment.

Mel McNally

Urology Clinical Nurse Specialist

Mel specialises in kidney and testicular cancer, working closely with urology consultants to offer vital care and support to patients. Melanie has also established her own nurse-led clinics which allow her to see more patients and help reduce waiting times.

Olivia McLaughlin

Uro-Oncology Nurse

Olivia works alongside Shelley to care for those with prostate and bladder cancers. She provides psychosocial support for patients and their families at all stages of diagnosis, treatment and beyond.

Claire Duffy

Head & Neck Clinical Nurse Specialist

Claire joined us in 2017 and she is a vital source of support for patients dealing with head and neck cancer. She is an important link between clinical teams, ensuring patients have access to the right care and support when they need it. Her own nurse-led clinics allow her to see more patients with this complex cancer.

Gillian Lindsay

Head & Neck Clinical Nurse Specialist

Gillian provides specialist care and support for patients and their families affected by Head & Neck cancers. With these often complex cancers, Gillian provides crucial psychosocial support to help patients have the best quality of life during their treatment and beyond.

Stephanie Todd

Lung Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist

Stephanie provides care and support for lung cancer patients and their families. Acting as their keyworker, she offers advice, guidance and support through diagnosis, treatment and follow up.

Chloë Girvin

Lung Cancer Nurse

Chloë supports lung cancer patients as their key worker, across the whole pathway, from diagnosis, treatment, and follow up, to palliative and end of life care. She also provides support for patient families and carers, at what can be a really difficult time for them too.

Gemma Potter

Secondary Breast Cancer Nurse

Gemma is the only nurse of her kind in Northern Ireland, providing tailored care for people affected by metastatic breast cancer. She is an accessible point of contact for patients and provides a valuable link between the surgical, oncology and secondary breast cancer services.

Andrea Patterson

Lymphoma Nurse Specialist

Andrea provides a dedicated support system for lymphoma patients. She works closely with her patients and their carers and families, acting as a keyworker. She cares for their needs and signposts to other supportive services during their treatment and beyond.

Laura Morrison

Upper GI Nurse

Laura cares for patients with Upper GI cancers at the North West Cancer Centre at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry/Londonderry. She provides vital support for patients and their families, helping to guide them through the treatment process.

Lorraine McKenna

Leukaemia Nurse Specialist

Lorraine works as part of the haematology team at the Belfast City Hospital to care for those affected by leukaemia and their families.

Sophie Graham

Clinical Specialist Dietitian

Sophie provides crucial support for people affected by pancreatic and oesophageal cancer, particularly if they are in need of dietetic intervention. Sophie helps patients with tolerating any side effects, and can improve their quality of life both during and after treatment.

Jillian Wright

CNS Admin Support Officer

Jillian provides admin support for clinical nurse specialists in Urology and Head & Neck cancer. She deals with telephone queries, arranging appointments and follow up.

Vital Equipment

for treatment areas

Friends of the Cancer Centre has previously funded a range of vital equipment for Cancer Services, ensuring staff have the resources to meet patient demand. This has included nebulisers, observation monitors, and ECG machines, all of which are crucial for ensuring that staff can carry out their work and safely monitor patients.

Pressure Reducing Cushions

for Occupational Therapy

Friends of the Cancer Centre has recently supported the Occupational Therapy team in the NI Cancer Centre with the purchase of new pressure reducing cushions. The cushions, made from high density foam which disperses pressure when sitting, have become an important resource for the team when supporting rectal cancer patients.