Meeting Summaries

16th May 2023 at Chandlers Ford with Liz Morland – Reflexologist

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At our meeting on 16th May at Chandlers Ford, we were joined by Liz Morland who is a local Reflexology Practitioner.  

Liz talked us though how reflexology works and can be done on the feet aswell as on the hands. We were shown diagrams of how the parts of the body are represented by different areas on our hands and feet. 

Liz then talked specifically about using Reflexology for Lymphatic Drainage (RLD). She explained how we can help to improve our Lymph flow around our bodies which is especially important if you have, or might develop, Lymphoedema after cancer surgery affecting the lymph nodes.  She did a quick demonstration on the feet of one of our group’s willing volunteers, who unfortunately lives with Lymphoedema in her arm which is very painful and requires daily massage to manage the symptoms. 

We would like to thank Liz very much for her time and for sharing a little of her knowledge with us. 

If you would like to contact Liz directly, her website is here.

Date: Tuesday 16th May 2023

Time: 19:30-21:00 (doors open 7-7.15pm and we lock the doors and start the meeting at 7:30pm)
Venue: Wessex Cancer Trust, 91-95 Winchester Rd, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh. SO53 2GG (just above Domino’s Pizza)

 

Cost: £1 donation

 

Chandlers Ford (Eastleigh) 18th April 2023 – Chill and Chat Evening

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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.

11th April (not 4th April) in Winchester – Chill and Chat

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We had changed our April Meeting in Winchester from 4th to 11th April due to the venue being unavailable on 4th and we welcomed 10 people along on a wet and windy evening. 

We welcomed 2 new members this evening who told us about their cancer journey so far and it never ceases to amaze us how everybody’s story is different, and unique to them. We are always learning about new techniques, procedures and the challenges faced, through listening to them. It continues to give us hope that treatments are being improved year by year and the horrible side effects from any cancer treatment are constantly being learned from.

Date: Tuesday 11th April 2023
Time: 19:30-21:00
Venue: Simeon Room, Christ Church, Winchester, SO23 9SR

Cost: £1 donation

We hope to see you at our next meeting.  

Chandlers Ford (Eastleigh) 21st Mar 2023 – Chill & Chat

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We had a lovely chill and chat relaxed evening at the Wessex Cancer Trust Support Centre with tea and biscuits. 

We welcomed a new member to the group and welcomed back another who we’d met the month before, and we are always so happy to see so many of our existing members coming along.  

The group is not just a place for receiving support – it’s also an opportunity to share our advice and experiences (good and bad) with new members. We really enjoy these evenings but the time flies by so quickly, so we’ll have to continue the conversations next month! 

We also discussed ideas for speakers that we could invite along to our meetings in 2023 as well as some social events to look forward to. The Longstock Water Gardens / Leckford Estate Cafe in June, and we have 2 invitations from members for an evening in their gardens in the summer. 

We announced that Liz Morland is coming along to our May 16th Meeting to talk to us about using Reflexology to help with Lymph Drainage and we will hopefully have some live demonstrations, on a couple of willing volunteers! One of our group members has recently had therapies with Liz and has found it to be very beneficial.     

Date: Tuesday 21st March 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 donation

We hope to see you at our next meeting.