A TRIO of Macmillan nurses who have dedicated their lives to helping cancer patients have spoken about the importance of specialist care as the iconic service celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Since its inception in 1975, Macmillan has become a familiar name to patients fighting the deadly disease.

For 40 years the charity has helped train and advise nurses on how to provide specialist cancer care.

Macmillan Cancer Support clinical nurse specialists are often partly funded through their training period and undertake specialist courses in chemotherapy, palliative, paediatric and breast cancer care.

Great Western Hospital clinical nurse specialist Jane Douglass has been a registered Macmillan nurse for 16 years, and works in the field of lung cancer.

She said that in its four decade history, Macmillan has become a comfort to those diagnosed with cancer.

“It’s the influence that Macmillan has that is astounding, especially after 40 years," she said.

"Nursing seems to have come full circle and as soon as you say you are a Macmillan nurse people instantly recognise the name and feel reassured by it.

"The work they and all nurses do is incredible."

Australian-born Gail Daley started working for GWH in 1997 and was 'adopted' by Macmillan four years ago.

More than 40 years into her nursing career and working in the field of gastro-intestinal oncology, she said there is no greater feeling than providing care to patients at the worst time of their lives.

“To know, that we are making that difference and can be there for every step of a cancer patient’s journey, it’s what makes being a Macmillan nurse so special,” she said.

“When people realise I am a Macmillan nurse they feel assured that I will be a strong advocate for their needs and I will help them with any questions or concerns they may have.

“It’s the specialist care that Macmillan provides that’s kept it going for the 40 years. It’s become more proactive and the work we do is more effective. People think that Macmillan focuses on end of life care but thanks to the work of the NHS and charities like Macmillan more people are surviving cancer.”

Sally Black joined GWH in 1987 and worked as a lead cancer nurse before becoming a part-time breast care clinical nurse specialist.

Although not a Macmillan Cancer Support nurse, she said she realises the importance of the service to patients.

“I have seen Macmillan’s influence steadily increase; its scope has broadened and I’m proud to have worked with such an organisation," she said.

"Patients respect the name greatly and over my 42 year career I feel deeply privileged to have met so many very brave patients and their families.

“With increasing patient numbers and growing expectations, we are always trying to improve the quality of cancer services. My hope for the future is continuing improvement in cancer survival and improving patients’ quality of life both with and after cancer.”

Each month, an average of 284 people are diagnosed with cancer at the hospital, with an estimated 3,000 diagnosed with some form of cancer every year.

There are now more than 4,000 specialist Macmillan nurses in the UK.

On September 25, Macmillan will hold the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, to raise money for their vital services.

The event sees countless groups, venues and organisations host coffee mornings to raise money for the charity.

For information on the charity, nurses and the World's Biggest Coffee Morning, log on to macmillan.org.uk, or call 0300 1000 200.