We welcomed 9 members this evening, including 2 new members who had heard about our Support Group from the Wessex Cancer Trust Charity Support Centre. Hearing their cancer stories is always humbling, and sometimes shocking, but we are so pleased when patients reach out to us as we can offer reassurance, guidance, advice and a listening ear.
Support Groups aren’t for everyone, but we can provide practical advice on side effects, aswell as empathy and often a little humour too as we share and compare our experiences.
We also had a visit from Penny this evening – an experienced local curtain maker – who has recently been making and donating the heart shaped cushions which tuck under the armpit, and which are so beneficial to patients after breast and lymph node surgery.
She brought along a huge bag of the beautiful heart shaped cushions which we will drop off at Southampton’s Princess Anne Hospital Bramshaw Ward, having already delivered some to Winchester Hospital’s Breast Care Unit, Wessex Cancer Trust Charity and the Pink Place Charity in Basingstoke.
Penny is also arranging to take some to Basingstoke Hospital Breast Care Unit, Jane Scarth House Romsey Support Centre and the Portsmouth QA Hospital’s Breast Care Unit.
If you know of any other local hospitals, support groups or charities who might want some heart shaped cushions, please get in touch with us and we can pass your details to Penny to see if she can help.
Penny has also made some seat-belt padded cushions which can be attached to the seat-belt with velcro straps and depending on whether you are a driver or a passenger, and which side you’ve had surgery on, these are really useful to cushion the wound / scar area which can remain tender, even years later. We had a variety of sizes and thicknesses and several of the group members have taken the seat-belt cushions away to try and we will feedback to Penny on the best designs.
We are so very grateful to Penny and to other people who make these cushions as they are all created with love and donated to local hospitals and support groups to help patients after their breast surgery.
We also had discussions about the best deodrants to use and how to prevent night cramps which are common with the Hormone Therapy pills that many breast cancer patients have to take for 5-10 years after treatment.
Date: Tuesday 18th April 2023
Time: 19:30-21:00
Venue: Wessex Cancer Trust, 91-95 Winchester Rd, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh SO53 2GG (just above Domino’s Pizza)
Cost: £1 donationwho
Our next meeting will be 2nd May at Christ Church at Winchester and we look forward to seeing you there. If you are new and would like to come along, please contact us via our website or leave a message on our voicemail, and we can chat to you before the meeting.