Grandad-of-six praises Sheffield’s adult haematology team for exceptional care
A grandad-of-six who was left with excruciating back pain after a series of accidents turned out to be caused by an incurable blood cancer has thanked the specialist haematology team at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for giving him “top-notch” care.
ExCo
Daniel Broderick, 75, who lives in Park Hill, said he was reaching for some tomatoes in the supermarkets when he first pulled a muscle in his back in March 2023.
Over the next few months his symptoms got “worse and worse” and he had what he thought was another accident reaching for an automatic door as they were closing in front of him, and again when his “legs went” as he swerved to avoid a car crossing the road. On the last occasion the disease had weakened his bones so much he had to be helped to the side of the road.
An ambulance was called, and he spent the Easter weekend in hospital. However, myeloma is one of the most difficult cancers to diagnose, with symptoms often linked to general ageing and minor conditions, and despite X-rays and investigations Daniel was discharged home, reliant on crutches and heavy painkillers to walk and ease the excruciating pain.
Eventually a locum ordered blood tests, and myeloma was immediately identified as the underlying cause of the problem.
As soon as the diagnosis was made, Daniel says his care was exceptional and following an appointment with Sheffield's specialist haematology team in May, he joined a clinical trial which included initial therapy with a stem cell transplant. He also had operations and keyhole surgery on his back.
Trial puts Daniel into complete remission
The trial, known as RADAR (UK-MRA Myeloma XV) is testing a combination of treatments in patients newly diagnosed with the condition, including those who are considered less likely to respond to standard treatment due to genetic abnormalities found in the myeloma cells.
The trial is continuing to suppress his cancer, and he remains in complete remission.
“As soon as I got the diagnosis and was put in the hands of the Sheffield haematology team the care and expertise I received was top-notch. I was walking on crutches with heavy painkillers when I was first diagnosed in spring 2023; by autumn I was fully fit, and up and walking again.”
Myeloma is a relapsing-remitting cancer, meaning that although many patients will experience periods of remission following treatment, the disease will inevitably come back.
Top-notch care
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is now one of only a select few hospitals in the country to have been presented with the Myeloma UK Clinical Service Excellence Programme (CSEP) Award in recognition of the outstanding care it provides to patients with the incurable blood cancer.
The team scored highly in the assessment, including in key areas such as coordination of care, treatment, symptom management, frailty and end of life care, research and clinical trials, and education and self-management.
They also achieved above-average results with stem cell transplant patients and were praised for supporting patients to prepare for and recover from treatment with personalised care.
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust cares for around 50 to 100 newly diagnosed myeloma patients a year, with around 100 to 300 of these are on treatment and 100 to 300 on review.
The RADAR (UK-MRA Myeloma XV) trial is being funded by Cancer Research UK in partnership with the University of Leeds, Sanofi and Bristol Myers Squibb.