Life-changing stories and you

Chris Curtis, chairman of the Swallows Head and Neck Cancer Charity, Honorary Senior Lecturer at the School of Health Sciences at the University of Central Lancashire, and World Cancer Advocate, vividly remembers the day he was diagnosed with throat cancer.

His presentation, From Cancer to the Palace in Six Years, which meets GDC development outcome A, offers awareness and education on head and neck cancer; a patient insight to the cancer pathway, and education from a patient’s view, as well as an insight into the challenges in survivorship and the side effects of cancer and cancer treatment.

Melissa Mead, Ambassador for the UK Sepsis Trust and campaigner, lost her one year old son William to sepsis – a condition of which, at the time, she was completely unaware. Upon discovering the shocking statistics, she felt compelled to campaign for better recognition, diagnosis and treatment of sepsis amongst health care professionals. Her presentation, Together We Can Beat Sepsis, which meets GDC development outcome C, aims to widen attendees’ knowledge and understanding of sepsis and looks at the role we all have to play in driving down the number of avoidable deaths.