Tayside can boast one of the best centres for lung cancer treatment in the UK, a professor said this week.
Elaine Rankin, consultant and professor of medical oncology, was speaking on Thursday as she retired from NHS Tayside after 13 years’ service.
She did a BSc at St Andrews University and worked in Manchester, Glasgow and Amsterdam before coming to Dundee as head of the division of cancer medicine.
Prof Rankin said: ”In my inaugural address, when I took up post, I bemoaned the poor standards of care for patients with lung cancer in Scotland. With the help of many colleagues in the NHS we have been able to build up a centre which is second to none in the UK.
”The collaboration of patients and their families has allowed me to establish a programme of clinical research which has contributed to the development of new methods for treating this difficult disease. These treatments are more effective and less toxic, so the outlook for patients has improved considerably.”
There are around 4,500 cases of lung cancer diagnosed annually in Scotland and survival rates remain low compared to many other forms of the disease. Last year the Government announced a £30 million scheme aimed at early detection of the three most common types of cancer, including lung cancer, aimed at saving 300 lives a year.
Prof Rankin said: ”Teaching students has brought me great satisfaction since it provides the opportunity to improve the clinical skills and acumen of the next generation of doctors.
”As the first female professor of cancer medicine in the UK, I have faced many challenges. One of these has been to try to persuade Dundee University not to overlook the importance of recognising excellence in clinical care in its drive to increase the number of scientific publications, many of which will never be relevant to patients.
”It is essential that our medical students have exposure to role models who are able to combine superb clinical skills, critical thinking and a broad knowledge of their subject with compassion and empathy for those in their care.”