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In Touch - Factsheet BBC Radio 4 |
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Tuesday 7 June Listen to 7 June TALKING CASH MACHINES Guests: Terry Riley, developed products for talking cash machines Lynn Hunter, Clydesdale bank Sandra Quinn, APACS – representing other banks Philip Sime, BBC researcher Clydesdale bank in Glasgow is pioneering a new system of talking cash machines, specially adapted for visually impaired users. The programme ask why, when the technology has existed for at least a decade, there is currently no standardisation across cash machines installed in the UK. CONTACTS APACS (ASSOCIATION OF PAYMENT CLEARANCE SERVICES) Mercury House Triton Court 14 Finsbury Square London EC2A 1LQ Tel: 020 7711 6200 Fax: 020 7256 5527 www.apacs.org.uk CLYDESDALE BANK Tel. 0141 248 7070 www.cbonline.co.uk RETINOBLASTOMA Professor Michael Tobin investigates the myth that individuals, blind through retinoblastoma (malignant tumour of the eye), are more intelligent than other individuals. Professor Tobin is asking for volunteers for research into retinoblastoma, he can be contacted at: Professor Michael Tobin School of Education, University of Birmingham Birmingham B15 2TT WECHSLER INTELLIGENCE TEST You can find out more about the intelligence test used by Professor Tobin, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Test, by contacting the British Psychology Society THE BRITISH PSYCHOLOGICAL SOCIETY St Andrews House 48 Princess Road East Leicester LE1 7DR Tel: 0116 254 9568 Fax: 0116 247 0787 email: enquiry@bps.org.uk www.bps.org.uk WHAT IS RETINOBLASTOMA Retinoblastoma is a tumour that occurs in the retina, the light-sensitive lining of the eye. It can occur in two forms: an inherited form where there are often tumours in both eyes a non-inherited form where there is usually a tumour in only one eye SYMPTOMS Some cases of retinoblastoma may have no symptoms and will be picked up by screening. If there is no family history of retinoblastoma the first sign of the condition is often a white pupil that does not reflect the light. This may be detected when a picture is taken using flash photography. The affected eye may look white in the photograph. If the tumour is large it may cause a painful red eye. DIAGNOSIS Tests may involve an examination under anaesthetic in which an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) will examine the eye while the patient is asleep. Once a retinoblastoma is diagnosed, other tests are done to check the exact position and size of the tumour and whether it has begun to spread. An ultrasound scan may be used, which is a painless scan that uses sound waves to examine the eye and the surrounding area. TREATMENT Treatment depends on the number, position and size of the tumours in the eye. Depending on the treatment, some patients may lose some of their sight. Smaller tumours are treated using treatments to the eye itself. These include: Cryotherapy This is used to freeze the tumours. Often one or two sessions are needed. If two sessions are needed the second is one month after the first. Laser therapy A laser is used to vaporise the tumour. Two or three sessions may be needed at monthly intervals. Plaque radiotherapy For slightly larger tumours, and tumours that have not been successfully treated using other methods, a small disc containing radioactive substance (usually iodine) can be stitched to cover the tumour. The disc needs to stay in place for two to four days. Thermotherapy This process uses heat to destroy the cancer cells and may be combined with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, as heat can improve the effect of these treatments. The heat is produced by a laser that is directed at the tumour. Larger tumours can be treated in a number of ways. Chemotherapy Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. This may be given before the local treatments mentioned above, to help to shrink the tumour. This can make the treatment more successful. Chemotherapy can also be used if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Radiotherapy External beam radiotherapy can be given to the whole eye. Radiotherapy treats cancer by using high-energy rays, which destroy the cancer cells while doing as little harm as possible to normal cells. Surgery If the tumour is very large and the vision in the eye is lost, the eye is removed. This is called enucleation. An artificial eye (prosthesis) is then fitted. OUTLOOK Nine out of every ten children with retinoblastoma are cured. Following treatment, the eye specialist will frequently examine your child’s eye under anaesthetic to check that the cancer has not come back. Follow-up is then usually in a clinic for childhood cancers (a paediatric oncology clinic). CANCER CONTACTS NHS CANCER SCREENING PROGRAMMES The Manor House 260 Ecclesall Road South SHEFFIELD S11 9PS Tel: 0114 271 1060 E-mail: info@cancerscreening.nhs.uk Web: www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/ For More information on screening programmes in the UK CANCER BACUP 3 Bath Place Rivington Street LONDON EC2A 3JR Freephone: 0808 800 1234 (Mon – Fri, 9am to 7pm) Web: www.cancerbacup.org.uk Helps people with cancer, their families and friends, live with cancer. Cancer nurses provide information, emotional support and practical advice by telephone or letter. A range of free publications and a newspaper are available. There is a free and confidential counselling service based at their Glasgow office. CANCER RESEARCH UK P.O. Box 123 Lincoln's Inn Fields London WC2A 3PX Tel: 020 7009 8820 (Customer Services) Web: www.cancerhelp.org.uk The Cancer Research UK is committed to beating cancer by understanding its causes, finding ways to prevent it, developing new treatments - then making sure that the best new treatments reach patients. The charity operates at a regional level, and funds various research centres throughout the UK. For your nearest group contact the HQ in London at the above address. MACMILLAN CANCERLINE Freephone 0808 808 2020 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm) Textphone 0808 808 0121 www.macmillan.org.uk E-mail: cancerline@macmillan.org.uk Macmillan CancerLine is a new service providing information and emotional support for people living with cancer. The new service will integrate the best elements of the Macmillan Information Line and Cancerlink’s Support Link services. They will listen to your concerns and put you in touch with the right support for you, whether it’s Macmillan services, another organisation offering information or guidance, or your local self-help and support group. Although Macmillian Cancer Relief and Cancerlink have merged to give concise information and support through Cancerline, they both have their own websites which are as follows; CANCERLINK Web: www.cancerlink.org TENOVUS CANCER INFORMATION CENTRE Velindre NHS Trust Velindre Hospital Whitchurch CARDIFF CF14 2TL Helpline: 0808 808 1010 09:00 and 16:30 Mon to Fri Email enquires can be sent via their website www.tenovus.com Tenovus Freephone Helpline allows any person seeking information about cancers and their treatments to access their Oncology Nurse Specialists and Social Workers, wherever the caller maybe. An answer-phone service is available out of hours. NEXT WEEK’S PROGRAMME The opera singer Denise Leigh will be presenting next week’s In Touch. GENERAL CONTACTS RNIB 105 Judd Street London WC1H 9NE Tel: 0845 766 99 99 (UK callers only - Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) Tel. 0207 388 1266 (switchboard/overseas callers) Textphone users call via Typetalk: 0800 51 51 52 Web: www.rnib.org.uk The RNIB provides information, support and advice for anyone with a serious sight problem. They not only provide Braille, Talking Books and computer training, but imaginative and practical solutions to everyday challenges. The RNIB campaigns to change society's attitudes, actions and assumptions, so that people with sight problems can enjoy the same rights, freedoms and responsibilities as fully sighted people. They also fund pioneering research into preventing and treating eye disease and promote eye health by running public health awareness campaigns. HENSHAWS SOCIETY FOR BLIND PEOPLE (HSBP) John Derby House 88-92 Talbot Road Old Trafford Manchester M16 0GS Tel: 0161 872 1234 Email: info@hsbp.co.uk Web: www.henshaws.org.uk Henshaws provides a wide range of services for people who have sight difficulties. They aim to enable visually impaired people of all ages to maximise their independence and enjoy a high quality of life. They have centres in: Harrogate, Knaresborough, Liverpool, Llandudno, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Salford, Southport and Trafford. THE GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND ASSOCIATION (GDBA) Burghfield Common Reading RG7 3YG Tel: 0118 983 5555 Email: guidedogs@guidedogs.org.uk Web: www.guidedogs.org.uk The GDBA's mission is to provide guide dogs, mobility and other rehabilitation services that meet the needs of blind and partially sighted people. ACTION FOR BLIND PEOPLE 14-16 Verney Road London SE16 3DZ Tel: 0800 915 4666 (info & advice) Tel: 020 7635 4800 (central office) Web: www.afbp.org Registered charity with national cover that provides practical support in the areas of housing, holidays, information, employment and training, cash grants and welfare rights for blind and partially sighted people. Leaflets and booklets are available free of charge, including 'Getting on - a Guide to Services for Visually Impaired people'. No SAE required. NATIONAL LEAGUE OF THE BLIND AND DISABLED Central Office Swinton House 324 Grays Inn Road London WC1X 8DD Tel: 020 7837 6103 Fax: 020 7278 0436 Textphone: 020 7837 6103 National League of the Blind and Disabled is a registered trade union and is involved in all issues regarding the employment of blind and disabled people in the UK. NATIONAL LIBRARY FOR THE BLIND Far Cromwell Road Bredbury Stockport SK6 2SG Tel: 0161 355 2000 Minicom: 0161 355 2043 Email: enquiries@nlbuk.org Web: www.nlb-online.org The National Library for the Blind (NLB) is a registered charity which helps visually impaired people throughout the country continue to enjoy the same access to the world of reading as people who are fully sighted. Visit the In Touch Message Board Back to the In Touch page The BBC is not responsible for external websites |
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