OUR MISSION
Our mission is to raise awareness, help and support those around us with Prostate or Breast Cancer, and the loving families that have supported loved ones during their difficult time.
Prostate and Breast Cancer
The Breast Screening unit (DBSU) is run by Poole Hospital and is responsible for providing a high quality Mammographic service for the woman of Dorset.
It is responsible for screening approximately 40,000 woman in South Dorset as part of the National Health Service Breast Screening Program. The (DBSU) require many thousands of pounds for the maintenance of this machine and other services and this is where the Fletcher Foundation comes in to support the short fall of money that the Breast Department desire.
The Radiotherapy department in Poole Hospital consists of a cause of high energy radiation given very accurately to a defined treatment site, in order to eradicate any cancer cells in that area.
The highest proportion of referrals is for Prostate and Breast Cancer.
The equipment needed for radiotherapy is very expensive and this is where the Fletcher Foundation again comes in to help with the costs of running these expensive machines and added on equipment for example the ProSTEP.
ProSTEP Lower Limb Immobilisation System
The ProSTEP is designed to improve accuracy when positioning the hip region and the lower extremities. The system combines the advantages and the functionality of the FeetSTEP and the KneeSTEP cushions, both of which are available as standalone devices.
If you use both cushions together with the ProSTEP baseplate the performance is enhanced, especially when treating in the pelvic area.
Individual Components ProSTEP knee and foot components can be purchased individually to use as standalone immobilisation devices. They index to any couch top with a two pin locating bar.
The ProSTEP includes an adjustable sliding holder for the FeetSTEP which allows 17 different longitudinal (1.5cm increments) and 10 different indexed angular adjustment positions (5° increments).
The KneeSTEP is fitted at the lower end of the baseplate, and can be used with the elevation block for additional height if required. The device can be attached to any couch top using a two pin
Pro Step
Funds have gone towards Poole Hospital buying a Pro Step which you can see in the picture below. Patients are being treated by the Radiotherapy department can visit daily for anything up to 7 weeks’ worth of treatment. It is very important to give the treatment very accurately in order to avoid damaging normal healthy tissue and reducing the impact of side effects.
The Pro Step is designed to be able to compensate for Pelvic tilt by adjusting the Ankle angulation. Treatment is already given to millimetre precision, but currently cannot compensate for changes in Pelvis tilt. This piece of equipment will improve patients positioning and reduce variability of the tilt pf the Pelvis, enabling even more accurate treatment and reducing the dose to healthy cells.
The equipment needed for Radiotherapy is very expensive, a linear accelerator (treatment machine) costs approximately £1.6 million. Which there is four of at Poole Hospital with planes to expand. Although these do not cover the cost of all the plaining equipment and immobilisation equipment is vital to be able to provide items that improve patients experience and service developing over and above what the NHS is able to provide. Our aim is to be able to keep up with an area of ever-changing technology.
Lateral Arm
The Lateral Arm device has changed the face of stereotactic – guided breast biopsies and localizations by allowing a new approach to perform these procedures. It gives a 3D scan of the breasts issue being able to pinpoint lesions within the breast much more accurately.
Whereas scans would have shown where in the breast they could be. They were unable to identify how deep within the breast tissue needed to be treated as it would scan a left to right image. Unlike the lateral arm which can allow treatment vertically from either the left and right side.
Now treatment can be worked out to a millimetre precision from a 3D left to right and top to bottom of the breast tissue which has improved care to patients by Allowing treatment to get to areas previously not within the biopsy window, decreased biopsy time and increased patient throughout allowing the sufficient flow of patients through the hospital.
The Fletcher Foundation UK is completely independent and relies on the support of members of the public to help with its fundraising.
With your support we can make change happen!
