"In a career spanning nearly forty years I knew many patients with oesophageal cancer and other oesophageal disorders. I saw the distress and the difficulties suffered by individuals and their families as a result of these diseases. Doctors and nurses are nowadays able to alleviate many of the unpleasant symptoms which arise from the condition itself or from the treatments used to deal with it. In my experience, however, one of the greatest helps was for patients to be able to talk to other patients who had already been through the process and were able to reassure them that what they were going through was to be expected, that they were not alone in this and could give them simple tips on how to cope with some of the problems. Bearing in mind that the idea is not to give medical advice, I am happy to give my full support to this new initiative which can really help a lot of people through some of the most difficult times of their life." Professor Raymund Donnelly, FRCSE Founder and President of the Roy Castle Foundation.