***Cancer Chat Canada Online Support Groups for Patients and Caregivers***


We are please to inform you of several new professionally-led online support groups offered by CancerChatCanada! 

This would benefit anyone who is unable to attend meetings, is a support person/caregiver or anyone looking for support from the comfort of their home. 

A great article about these online support groups was recently featured in Forward Magazine: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/284469 (Pages 18-19)

Group 1 is for all cancer patients and survivors (currently in, or post treatment with any diagnosis or stage) – starting Wednesday, September 17

Group 2 is for patients and survivors with breast cancer – starting Thursday, September 18

Group 3 is for caregivers (caring for loved ones currently in, or post treatment with any diagnosis or stage) – starting Thursday, September 25

Register at www.cancerchatcanada.ca or email cancerchatcanada@bccancer.bc.ca or call 1-877-547-3777 ext 645234

Hope everyone has had an enjoyable Summer. Here is the August Update!

August 9 Peer Support Group Recap:
Attendance: 9 people
Facilitator: Kathy Bolton
Guest: Barb Crombie, Resource Guide Organizer

Meeting started with a check in with individuals. Some members are back from visiting with families. This lead to a discussion of energy conservation. (How to conserve our energy when visiting and traveling). Not packing your day with too many activities, taking time for relaxing activities. Embracing the (New Normal) accepting how we are today and not trying to live up to our former expectations of ourselves.

There was also more spiritual discussion of “why are we here”, Is a day that I don’t accomplish anything a day wasted. Kathy suggested a movie called “the five people you meet in heaven”.

Our guest Barb Crombie attended the meeting with an out line of the Resource Guide that the Ruby Slipper Fund in funding. Individuals made suggestions and added material. A helpful tip was that not booking a room with an internet service (like Expedia), if you need to stay in the city because of a medical appointment or procedure. Hotels like the Burrard Inn across from St Paul’s, or the Holiday Inn near the Cancer Clinic have substantial discounts for people attending medical appointments or procedures. The meeting ended with a few jokes :) 


August 23 Peer Support Group Recap:
Attendance: 9 people
Facilitator: Kathy Bolton

The meeting started off with a discussion of Barb Crombie’s question of whether there would be benefit to Cancer Thrivers on the coast to have access to a professional counsellor. The answer was a resounding yes! Group members, made suggestions like: it would be preferred that the counsellor have Cancer experience, would be available be phone or in person, that they are easily understood (clear English).

Kathy read the hand out that Ashley sent about do's and don'ts with peer support (link below from YA Cancer Canada). The group found it a useful reminder. The group also talked about how they thought having a cancer diagnosis could be different for young people and wondered how many young people on the coast had cancer diagnosis. 

A round the table introduction of members and where they are on their healing journey. Members voiced how difficult it seems to be to get some of the advanced care plan done. 

A group member mentioned that her pharmacist had put together a list of benefits available to people with the “Palliative Care Designation”. Perhaps the group could get copies of what that entails and make it available for the group as a hand-out. If you are interested in this let us know and we can find this info out for you.

Just a reminder that we understand when a member cannot stay for the whole meeting, because of fatigue, etc. We are just happy to see them, for however long they are comfortable at the meeting.

Peer Support Do's & Don'ts Article link: 

http://www.youngadultcancer.ca/dos-and-donts-of-peer-support/?utm_source=Up+to+Here&utm_campaign=9e9d0c1099-Up_to_Here_for_August_20148_7_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_13b2667c3b-9e9d0c1099-41782577