Galway Advertiser 2010/GA_2010_03_11/GA_1103_E1_023.pdf 

Extracted text

March 11 2010

www.advertiser.ie

N E W S 23

Cancer Care West Support Groups
Cancer Care West is a non profit charitable organization dedicated to offering information support and guidance to cancer patients and their families. Through Inis Aoibhinn, Cancer Care West has been providing residential accommodation to patients availing of radiotherapy treatment at Galway University Hospital since March 2007. In May 2009, Cancer Care West opened its Support Centre at 72 Seamus Quirke Road, Galway. To date over 600 cancer patients and their families have availed of services here. There are a variety of services available at the centre, ranging from individual supports to classes and group support. Please see below for details of our timetable. All services are confidential and free of charge. Each month we are focusing on a different aspect of our service. This month we are talking about the support groups available at the centre. Every Tuesday at 10.30am we offer a support group for cancer patients. This is for people with all types of cancer, at varying stages in their illness. This group is provided for a number of reasons: Research worldwide has shown that support from other cancer patients has proven to be of extraordinary benefit to other patients. Patients frequently feel that people who have been through a similar journey to themselves often have a greater understanding of the illness, treatment and all the other factors associated with a cancer diagnosis. The opportunity that the group gives for that sense of a shared experience thereby leading to a decreased sense of isolation. The group is an opportunity for `time out' to reflect on what having cancer means for each individual in a safe and quiet setting. Individuals can participate in the group in whatever way they wish. Sometimes people want to sit quietly and listen, on other occasions they want to share their own experiences. If you would like the chance to experience the patient support group, please feel free to come along on any Tuesday. The Support Centre also offers a support group for family members and carers each Wednesday at 10.30am. Again, the focus of this group is on giving people who care for cancer patients the opportunity to express and discuss issues and concerns that may arise for them when they take on this role. Often it is as stressful to watch someone suffering from an illness as it is to have the illness oneself. Cancer can affect relationships, communication skills, intimacy and coping as well several other aspects of our lives. If you would like to attend this group, please join us any Wednesday at 10.30am. A Young Persons Support Group takes place on the first Wednesday of every month at 6pm. This group transpired as a result of an initiative from Sara Alvarez Jimenez who was diagnosed at the age of 26 with Hogdkins Lymphona. Through her experience, she realized the experience of cancer can be very different for younger adults. In collaboration with Sara, we offer a support group for adults aged 18 to 35 years. The response to this group has been very positive and the participants get a lot of support from others whose experience of cancer is very much influenced by their young age. Unfortunately not everyone who receives a cancer diagnosis survives the disease. For this reason, we offer a support group to people bereaved through cancer on the second Monday of every month at 6pm. When people are bereaved through cancer, their experience is very unique, particularly by the stresses of perhaps a prolonged illness, the role of caring, loss of predictability about life and so on. This group is a chance for people to share and discuss their experiences of loss and grief in a safe and caring environment. A breast cancer support group also runs on the third Wednesday of every month at 6pm. The experience of breast cancer can be a traumatic and frightening experience for many people. Sometimes the fear of treatment can be as significant as the illness itself. This group offers people the opportunity to explore the experience of breast cancer with others who are on a similar journey. The initiative for this group was originally highlighted by BreastLife which was formed in late 2008 by a group of five Galway women who had suffered from breast cancer. They experienced a sense of isolation and from this their commitment to forming a support group grew and blossomed. BreastLife has now been incorporated into the breast cancer support group and we are very grateful to these women for highlighting the need for this group and for their hard work in setting up and maintaining this group initially. The Support Centre also hosts the Brain Tumour Support Group on the second Thursday of every month at 7.30pm. This long established group has been a great source of support to people affected by this illness and Cancer Care West is delighted to support their great work in this area. If you want any further information about the groups discussed above or any other services offered at the Support Centre, please contact 091-540040 or visit www.cancercarewest.ie. Please remember all of the services provided by Cancer Care West are free of charge.

Timetable of activities, courses and events
Monday
Morning
Drop in all day (9am-5pm)

Tuesday
Drop in all day (9am-5pm)

Wednesday
Drop in all day (9am-5pm)

Thursday
Drop in all day (9am-5pm)

Friday
Drop in all day (9am-5pm)

*Individual Support Sessions Relaxation Class (11am - 12.30pm)

*Individual Support Sessions Weekly Support Group for Cancer Patients (10.30am - 12pm) *Massage Therapy - Individual Sessions Exercise Class 10.30am-12pm (every Tuesday)

*Individual Support Sessions *Reflexology - Individual Sessions Weekly Support Group for Family and Friends (10.30am - 12pm) *Nutrition Workshop (10.30pm - 12.30pm) a three week course
Expressive Art Group (2.30pm - 4.30pm) OR Expressive Writing Group (2.00pm - 4.30pm)

*Individual Support Sessions Benefits advice (10.30am - 12.30pm) *Reflexology - Individual Sessions Relaxation Class (11am-12.30pm) Breast care fitting service last Thurs of every month (10.30am -3.30pm)
*Managing Stress, Learning Relaxation and Visualisation Techniques (2pm-4.30pm) a four week course OR *Living with Cancer (2pm-4.30pm) a four week course

*Individual Support Sessions *Massage Therapy Individual Sessions Yoga Group - A gentle continuation (10.30pm - 12pm)

Afternoon

Yoga - A Beginners Group (2.45pm - 4.15pm)

*Mindfulness (2pm-4.30pm) An eight week course *Transition Support Group From treatment to wellness First two Tuesdays of every month (2.30pm-4.30pm)

*Mindfulness Refresher Group 1pm-2pm (Friday)

Craft Class (occassional) Monday afternoon from 2pm to 4pm.

Evening

Bereavement Support Group Second Monday of every month (Starting at 6pm)

Young Persons Support Group (18yrs - 35yrs) First Wednesday of every month at 6pm Breast Cancer Support Group Third Wednesday at 6pm

Brain Tumour Support Group (7.30pm - 9.30pm) Second Thursday of the month

Cancer Care Line 9am - 1pm Monday to Friday

* Requires Pre-Booking

Lending Library Available

Cancer Care West Support Centre 72 Seamus Quirke Road, Westside, Galway Free and Confidential Service - Call: 091 540040 www.cancercarewest.ie