Bristol Cancer Help Centre: success and setbacks but the journey continues

Abstract: In under 10 years the Bristol Cancer Help Centre developed from an idea into an international centre for cancer patients. Its principal goals were to meet the psycho-social needs of people with cancer and help them to challenge the disease process. Despite its popularity with patients its philosophy and radical therapies invoked opposition from mainstream medicine. From the mid 1980s, a supportive model of care emerged and less emphasis was placed on dietary therapies and challenging the disease process.The publication of the Chilvers Report and the resulting publicity seriously damaged the Centres public credibility and financial viability. Donations and patient attendance were cut drastically leading to redundancies and discontinuation of programmes.Following a period of reflection and reorganisation, the Centre remains committed to the principle of healing and transformation. A new era of co-operation with the NHS and the academic world is planned to influence the quality and nature of cancer patient care in the UK.

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