FUNDRAISING FOR A CURE
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HISTORY
PLANETS started with a focus on pancreatic, liver and neuroendocrine tumour patients, initially with small aims to provide support groups and purchase additional equipment for the service. However, we quickly realised that there was a greater need for patient support and also the introduction of novel treatments. As we became more successful, other clinicians from different tumour specialities were keen to join us so that their patients could access the same benefits. We also decided that we should start to fund research into some of the most important evolving areas for cancer such as immunotherapy and genetics. So our initial target of raising £70,000 soon was replaced by a much larger target.
The liver and pancreatic team had always had an interest in improving patient outcomes by offering novel combinations of treatments and breaking down the barriers between different cancer specialities by challenging conventional ideas on what might be treatable or operable. This was particularly suited to neuroendocrine tumours but has also changed our thinking in regard to many other tumour types where combinations of chemotherapy and immune therapy can be used to work alongside radiotherapy treatments, surgical treatments and interventional radiology (specialist types of targeted cancer treatment guided by x-ray imaging). One of the best examples of this is our approach to advanced pelvic cancers where patients may receive chemotherapy and radiotherapy during surgery which might be carried out by a team of surgeons from 4 or more cancer specialties.
By pushing the boundaries and providing access to the world’s most cutting-edge treatments, we believe that we can help the NHS to offer cancer treatments to patients from our region that are as good as any available worldwide.
Since our conception, Southampton has become the principal centre for liver and pancreatic cancer treatment in the South outside London, with a catchment population of 3.5 million and 250 major resections are carried out for these cancers each year.
2003
The first keyhole liver surgical operation was carried out in Southampton
2004
Development of a surgical programme to tackle conventionally inoperable tumours involving the liver and pancreas and, particularly, neuroendocrine tumours
2005
Appointment of interventional radiologist with an interest in NET
Formation of informal monthly NET meetings between endocrinologists, surgeons, nurse specialists and radiologists to discuss scans and treatment plans
2006
Appointment of a second surgeon with an interest in minimally invasive (keyhole) surgery on the liver who also started Southampton’s keyhole pancreatic surgical programme
2007
Development of multi-modality treatment concept for primary and secondary NET
First monthly, multi-disciplinary, NET clinic, involving physicians and surgeons
2008
Appointment of a laparoscopic colorectal surgeon with interest in NET
2010
The first meeting between Brian, Neil and Layla was to discuss setting up a charitable fund to fund a NET patient study day, something which later evolved into our annual conference and support groups
Opening of Southampton’s first tumour bank to store frozen samples of cancers for future research
First international Fellow in NET / HPB Surgery
2011
1st December – PLANETS website goes live
PLANETS patient support group is formed
PLANETS NET nurse specialist is appointed
The ‘Great Wight Attack’ event is held, where two PLANETS supporters swam across the Solent and then ran and cycled around the Isle of Wight before swimming back, raising over £25,000, which opened our eyes to the fundraising opportunities
PLANETS holds its first charity ball at the Concorde Club in Eastleigh
2012
PLANETS Charity surpassed it’s target of £100,000 reaching £121,000 by the end of 2012
New ultrasound scanner is purchased with PLANETS funds (subsidised by the NHS)
2013
PLANETS Charity reached its target of £200,000 by the end of 2013
Purchase of a shielded box to assist with our nuclear medicine treatments
Purchase of a laparoscopic slave stack for theatre 7 giving us a second equipment stack on the opposite side of the patient so that when operating, the surgeon and team can switch sides of the patient easily, improving ergonomics and saving time
A patient becomes the first Southampton patient to receive PRRT (peptide receptor radionuclide therapy). The equipment for this treatment was jointly funded by UHS and PLANETS
Members of the colorectal team join PLANETS and we start to discuss the possibility of funding intraoperative radiotherapy
The first group PLANETS skydive is held at Netheravon raising over £20,000
2014
PLANETS Charity target of £300,000 by the end of 2014 is exceeded
Outpatient seating is updated to improve patient experience
PLANETS continued to fund their tumour banks and were able to employ a full-time lab-based researcher for preliminary analysis into genetic sequencing (relating to the tumour bank)
2015
PLANETS were able to start funding Jo Tod’s research program in combination with Pancreatic Cancer UK. Preliminary experiments on the genetic make-up of the many different tumours in our tumour bank were commenced
The contracts for a 30-month lease of the IORT (Intra Operative Radiotherapy) machine were completed with a view to start treating patients in 2016
PLANETS were awarded the Southampton Hospital Charity Star at the Hospital Heroes Awards
PLANETS take part in Tough Mudder for the first time
2016
PLANETS announce that the bid by the Southampton, Bournemouth and Portsmouth teams to become an ENETS-accredited European centre of excellence was successful, making the ‘Wessex NET Group’ one of 25 centres across the whole of Europe that have achieved this level of recognition
IORT arrives at Southampton and the testing phase begins
Patient support groups begin in Bournemouth and Portsmouth (in addition to the already established Southampton group)
PLANETS host a London to Paris cycle ride – a 24-hour, 200km extreme fundraising event in which over 50 cyclists, including novices, Drs, nurses and patients cycled from London to the Eiffel Tower raising over £60,000 for PLANETS
2017
A Southampton bowel cancer patient becomes the first in the UK to receive radiotherapy during surgery using the IORT machine that PLANETS has funded
PLANETS expanded their aims to include support and treatment for Oesophageal, Stomach and Colorectal cancers moving forward
PLANETS host first ‘Scrap To The Future’ car rally going from Southampton via Popham airfield and Leeds to Loch Lomond. This hilarious event raised over £45,000
2018
The introduction of TargetNET, a research study that investigates the molecular, immunological and genetic features associated with neuroendocrine tumour dissemination, progression and response to treatment. Funding is through research grants held by the investigators, in particular, the Southampton NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (funded by Cancer Research UK), the UK Department of Health, PLANETS and the Robert White Fund
2019
PLANETS hosted the 1st National IORT (intra-operative radiotherapy) Symposium to present the fantastic work and great initial results to medics from all over the country. 56 patients had been treated to date for pancreatic, colorectal, rectal, anal, endometrial retroperitoneal, head and neck, bladder and gastric cancers
HIPEC is introduced at UHS, funded by PLANETS. A treatment not routinely available in the UK and mostly used in bowel and ovarian cancers and carefully selected patients with more uncommon cancers such as neuroendocrine cancers, research suggests that this treatment may more than double the odds of survival for affected patients in some situations
PLANETS host second ‘Scrap To The Future’ rally raising over 25k
PLANETS host millionaires ball to celebrate reaching £1 million of funds raised
2020
The IORT machine, funded by PLANETS is used to benefit patients as University Hospital Southampton cancer services continue to function at 90% despite the COVID-19 pandemic
PLANETS introduce online patient groups and conferences to continue their patient support offering
2021
PLANETS continue their online patient support information days and conferences
A generous legacy allows the charity to pay off the lease purchase of the IORT machine, securing its future for the rest of its life span at University Hospital Southampton
The Wessex NET Group, supported by PLANETS Charity, secures the European Centre of Excellence for a further 5 years
PLANETS support the Remacs study a study assessing the success rate and quality of life in patients undergoing compass reconstruction after pelvic surgery
PLANETS host 10th-anniversary ball, a fantastic opportunity to all meet up again after the worst of the pandemic
2022
PLANETS moves back to in-person support groups, both patient-led coffee groups and also clinically support patient groups and conferences
Celebrity chef Lesley Waters becomes PLANETS’ first patron marking her new role with a tasting evening in aid of the charity
PLANETS creates a campaign to challenge inflated travel insurance prices for cancer patients, securing over 150,000 signatures on an online petition and gaining media awareness which leads to discussions with industry bodies
IORT goes through a public consultation for NICE approval which although not successful, marks the first step to it being recommended as a treatment option for patients on the NHS
2023
PLANETS extends their patient support offering, now running groups for Oesophageal, Colorectal, Pancreatic and NET patients with 13 groups in total being organised throughout the year with the assistance of the CNSs and Consultants from each cancer group and offering patients the opportunity to listen to presentations from many healthcare and holistic health experts
The career of inspirational and revolutionary surgeon and PLANETS founder, Neil Pearce, is celebrated as he retires from University Hospital Southampton
Dr Zaed Hamady and Dr William Tapper, of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and the University of Southampton identify genetic patterns that could help to predict the likelihood of someone developing pancreatic cancer. This research is ongoing and funded jointly by PLANETS and the LAPR&D Charity
PLANETS takes over funding from LAPR&D
The team in Southampton, led by Brian, become the first in the UK to receive accreditation as an international centre of excellence
PLANETS host their 3rd ‘Scrap To The Future’ car rally bringing the overall total for the 3 rallies to over £100k
How is the money raised spent?
PLANETS funds novel 3D printed livers to aid complex surgery
Surgeons in Southampton are the first in the UK to begin using 3D printed models of patients’ livers to help them perform a complex cancer operation. Converting the data available from CT and MRI scans of patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma – a type of bile duct cancer – into 3D models will enable better planning and decision-making prior to surgery. …
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