SURVIVORS of a one-in-a-million cancer had a unique chance to meet each other, and world experts, at a special event in Basingstoke.

Dozens of patients travelled from across Europe to meet others who have battled Pseudomyxoma Peritonei, PMP, at The Ark Conference Centre.

The special meeting marked the end of a three-day conference, hosted by Pelican Cancer Foundation, which focused on the rare and aggressive cancer.

Sarah Crane, chief executive of Pelican Cancer Foundation, said: “We had some wonderful feedback. This cancer is so rare that patients will not usually get to meet another sufferer. There is a good online community, but there is nothing like meeting up face-to-face.”

Between 50 and 60 former patients attended the meeting, along with 20 or 30 friends and family members.

They were greeted by surgeons Mr Brendan Moran, Mr Tom Cecil and Mr Faheez Mohamed – all world-leaders in what is known as the Mother Of All Surgeries, MOAS, undergone by PMP patients.

The operation involves removing the complete tumour, stripping the lining of the abdomen and operating on the small intestine, colon, rectum, liver, gall bladder, spleen omentum, and in women, the ovaries and uterus.

The abdomen is then washed out with hot chemotherapy liquid for one hour. The average time of the operation is more than 10 hours.

At the special meeting, former patients got the chance to hear about the latest medical developments, and to hear one another’s stories, as well as meeting key nursing staff.

The event was the second of its kind to be held at The Ark Conference Centre, in Aldermaston Road, and it is hoped that it will become a yearly event.

The conference saw experts from around the world visit Basingstoke to learn more about how to treat the disease.

Dr Paul Sugarbaker – the man behind the Sugarbaker operating technique, or MOAS – was a special guest at the conference.

Mrs Crane explained that the technique could be used to treat patients with peritoneal malignancy, which affects some people with colon cancer.

She said: “Centres will be set up around the country, and this surgery could be used on patients who have what was previously thought to be incurable cancer.

“The operation is so specific that they need very specific guidance and there are only a few surgeons who can act as mentors. It was a very valuable meeting.”

Pelican, which specialises in ‘below-the-belt’ cancers, also recently hosted a conference at which bowel cancer screening nurses from across England met with local nurse Thelma Cornwell, to learn about recent developments in bowel cancer treatment.

Basingstoke is a leading centre for bowel cancer treatment, and the day emphasised the importance of screening to help more people be diagnosed and treated successfully.

Mrs Crane said: “All adults between 60 and 75 receive an invitation, but only half of them accept joining the ‘party’ that can save your life.

“Bowel Cancer Screening has been with us since 2008, and we know that the earlier you are diagnosed, the better your chances – it is curable.

“Yet many people are still unwilling to take part. Screening involves putting poo on some card and sadly no one likes to talk about poo, even when it can save your life. Raising awareness effectively is absolutely vital.”