A PATIENT of North Cumbria's specialist breast cancer team has called her nurse "my lifesaver," on a national day celebrating clinical cancer nurses.
The touching tribute came on National Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist Day, on Monday March 16.
North Cumbria’s NHS celebrated the occasion by highlighting the important role its cancer nurse specialists play in supporting patients on a daily basis.
Victoria Hendren, 40 from Cumbria, shared her experience of the NHS trust's care, provided to her by Selina Keenan, a Metastatic Breast Cancer Nurse Specialist.
Ms Hendren, who was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in January 2025 said: "I honestly couldn’t have done the last 12 months without Selina. I message her and call her and she sorts any issues I have out.
"I have had numerous issues over and above my cancer including Sepsis and Covid-19 and Selina has supported me through it all. I am currently having more treatment and I am very glad that Selina is there for me.
She said: "I am not exaggerating when I say she is my lifesaver and I would like to thank her for everything she does for me."
With a background in oncology nursing, general medicine and respiratory, palliative care and district nursing, Selina Keenan started her current role in November 2024.
Ms Keenan said: "My role is a new position at North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC), so I have visited colleagues at other Trusts to learn from their experiences which has been really useful.
"I have a really busy role with around 160-170 patients across the Cumberland Infirmary and West Cumberland Hospital. I do ward reviews, breast clinics and occasionally home visits when required.
"I am also passionate about making sure we have patient support groups in place, with a new group recently starting at Whitehaven Golf Club for secondary breast care patients.
Ms Keenan said: "It is important to me that I can provide personalised care as every patient’s needs and wants are different."
Sarah Morley, 43 from Cumbria, is also one of Ms Hendren's patients, she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in June 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and when her daughter, Ava, was only eight months old.
Ms Morley's cancer had already spread to her lungs, liver and bones when she was diagnosed.
She said she felt "on her own" as she didn’t have a cancer nurse specialist until Ms Hendren started in her role.
In October 2024, Ms Morley discovered the cancer had spread to her brain and she started seeing Ms Hendren after she had brain surgery in Newcastle.
Ms Morley said: "I honestly don’t know how I managed without Selina, she is my port of call for everything.
"She makes sure she chases up results for me and that everything is in place before I attend an appointment.
"During periods when I have been unwell and admitted to A&E, Selina has met me there and explained my story to the A&E team."
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Ms Morley said that she is "currently stable and continuing with treatment."
"I am grateful to have Selina’s continued support" she said.
Kiyla Murray, Lead Cancer Nurse at NCIC, said: "The new 10 year cancer plan reaffirms how central cancer nurse specialists are to the care of people living with cancer. Since Selina started in her role, she has shaped and created her own service for the benefit of our patients.
"I would really like to recognise National Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist Day as an opportunity to thank our wonderful team for their commitment to what is a really challenging role but also such an important role."
She said that the difference NCIC's team can make to patients’ cancer journeys "cannot be underestimated."
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