National Cancer CNS Day - meet Eve McGarry

Eve McGarry, 25, has been a Macmillan lung cancer clinical nurse specialist (CNS) with East Kent Hospitals since August 2022.

She said: “I’ve always known I wanted to be a nurse, I think it suits my personality. Caring for patients, in particular those living with cancer, seems like a natural fit for me.

“I got my nursing degree as soon as I left school, and then started my nursing career in Newcastle on an oncology ward. During the pandemic, I joined the Cathedral Day Unit at Kent and Canterbury Hospital.”

Eve later joined Maidstone NHS Trust as a cancer research nurse, caring for patients undergoing clinical trials before returning to East Kent Hospitals as a Macmillan lung cancer CNS.

She said: “I’m actually now caring for some of the patients that were in the clinical trials which is really nice. I love building a rapport with patients so I’m really glad that I get to see some of them in my new role.”

Eve supports patients with cancer throughout their time with us, from the moment they begin clinical investigations following their urgent two-week referral.

She said: “Macmillan Cancer CNSs are the heart of a multi-disciplinary team that work together to treat patients living with cancer.

“We ensure patients know all of the support and benefits that are available to them, we check in regularly to see how their treatment is going and we are always just a phone call away if they need someone to talk to.”