A cancer support group that aims to improve services for people with cancer and their families is looking to widen its membership. The County Durham and Darlington Cancer Patients and Carers Support Group was established in 2004 and aims to influence improvements in services as well as offering members support with their experiences of cancer.

Since then, the group has expanded to cover the whole of County Durham and Darlington and is hoping to widen its membership, with monthly meetings now held at venues across the patch.

People attending the group may have had cancer in the past, be undergoing treatment for cancer or care for someone with cancer. Their common theme is a desire to improve services and link with other networks to raise awareness of the support available for people with cancer and their families across County Durham and Darlington.

Case study one Sandy Allan is 62 years old and was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996. She lives in Belmont, Durham and also helps to run the Durham and District Women’s Cancer Support group.

She said: “We discuss items, issues and probable outcomes, which might benefit future patients and carers who are embarking on cancer journeys and feeling the emotions, trauma and uncertainties that cancer can bring.”

And she described how the group can influence service improvements and raise awareness about important issues: “Two topics which we are discussing at the moment are neutropoenia sepsis and lymphodema, two states which can affect cancer patients; the former is a life-threatening state which can occur as a result of chemotherapy lowering our protective neutrophil cells in the blood. The latter is a painful, debilitating swelling of part of the body which can occur when lymph glands are removed from the body. Forum members are discussing how we can help raise awareness about these two issues.”

The group makes a real difference to the lives of cancer patients, as Sandy explains: “This is a wonderful group to belong to and I have no hesitation in recommending it to other patients and carers across County Durham and Darlington. It has certainly enriched my own understanding of Cancer and strengthened my belief that cancer patients and their carers can make a difference to the way we help to improve cancer services in our local area.”

Case study two Clare Singleton is 52 and was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and had chemotherapy treatment in 2008. During this time, Clare’s husband, Jeff cared for her. They live in Shotley Bridge, County Durham.

Clare found out about the group after picking up a leaflet when visiting the University Hospital of North Durham. She said, “The leaflet asked if you had been affected by cancer and whether you would like to use your experiences to help influence local services.

And although they had been happy with Clare’s treatment, they felt that their input could help future patients and joined the group.

Clare said: “We learn a great deal from other people who attend the meetings, such as health professionals, staff from other organisations such as Macmillan, and representatives from local network and support groups. As well as learning new information we find out about other events that are happening in the local area and nationally. The group have been asked by health professionals to comment on the content of leaflets and are hoping to be involved in similar work in the future. In the past the group has attended events to promote the awareness of the different types of cancer. This is an area that members feel is important and would like to continue to be involved in the future.

“Patients and carers, who have gone through the cancer journey, have valuable insight and experience, which can be shared with others in the group, as well as health professionals. It is a very informal and friendly group who are open to new suggestions and ideas. You are made to feel very welcome and do not feel inhibited when contributing to the discussions.

“The group is very positive and keen to make a difference. At the moment it is a fairly small group and we could benefit from having more members. This would enable people who have had cancer in the past or those recently diagnosed or undergoing treatment to become better informed, to have a voice, share their experiences and use their knowledge to help patients and carers in the future.”

Future meetings will take place on: 7 October 09 - 6pm-8pm County Hall, Durham City DH1 5UG 5 November 09 - 10am-12am SureStart Centre, Clifford Rd, Stanley DH9 0AB 2 December 09 - 6pm-8pm County Hall, Durham City 7 January 2010 - 10am-12pm Pioneering Care Centre, Newton Aycliffe DL5 4SE 3 February - 6pm – 8pm County Hall, Durham City DH9 0AB 4 March - 2pm – 4pm Dolphin Centre, Horse Market, Darlington DL1 5RP 7 April - 6pm – 8pm County Hall, Durham City DH1 5UG 6 May - 10am – 12pm Wheatley Hill Community centre DH6 3JS 2 June - 6pm – 8pm County Hall, Durham City DH1 5UG 8 July - 1pm – 3pm Pioneering Care Centre, Newton Aycliffe DL5 4SE For further information about the group, contact Debbie Richardson on 01207 523 659.

ENDS Note to editors Caption for attached jpeg: Members of the group pictured at a recent meeting in Bishop Auckland.

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