Katherine Mutsvangwa is an Orchid Male Cancer Information Nurse. Katherine was born in Zimbabwe and came to the UK in 1990 to train and qualify as a Registered General Nurse (RGN) at Princess Alexandra and Newham School of Nursing and Midwifery - Royal London Hospital. She knew during her nurse training that she wanted to be a specialist cancer nurse and has worked as one since she qualified in 1993.

During her nursing career she had an opportunity to become a Grasp (workload measurement tool) Project co-ordinator for cancer services. In this role she trained all the staff and rolled out the project out in all cancer wards within the given project time frame. She worked carefully with all ward managers in cancer services, finance managers and the matron to identify patient care activities, identify the nursing skills required to meet patient activities and to help set up budgeting with the findings.

In 2000 she received a BENTLEY award following this post at Barts and the London Hospital for being the best nurse and best achievement as a Grasp Project nurse. In 2001 she specialised in Haematology Oncology Nursing. In this role she became interested in new treatments for cancers and wanted to spend more time educating, supporting patients and relatives undergoing cancer treatment or with a cancer diagnosis. In 2004 she had the opportunity to work as Research Nurse funded by Orchid, specialising prostate and testicular cancer.

She currently works as a Research/Oncology Nurse in genito-urinary cancer at Barts and The London NHS Trust. In her free time she enjoys gardening, sewing and doing some DIY. She teaches bead jewellery making and sewing in summer and half term holidays.

Related Links

http://www.yourprivates.org.uk/

http://www.orchid-cancer.org.uk/