Personal experiences

Being told that you have cancer is your first hard battle to fight.   Radiotherapy and/or Chemotherapy are two more hard battles to take on as well.  You may have had an operation too.   Put all four together and by the end your body is low and run-down and you're not in any real position to feel that positive about yourself or your body.

You can spend months dragging yourself to hospitals where they pump you full of a toxic cocktail, which has horrible side effects and generally makes you feel extremely unwell.   When the treatment is over is when you need another form of support, because this is when you need to build yourself up - whether it be your self-esteem, diet, exercise, but most of all a positive belief that with the help and support of others you can do so much for your own well-being.I, for one, do not want to be going back to hospital for any of this as it would always be a reminder of my cancer journey and as I have had 3 courses of chemotherapy already, when would I ever be free of hospitals.  These are big considerations for all cancer patients, as well as patients with other life-affecting illnesses.   We need some space with the chance to look forward.

My support group, at Complementary Cancer Care Trust, meets all my needs and many more people need the chance to experience what is on offer - emotional support, friendship, joy, laughter, exercise, diet, therapies, confidence building and guidance to help you look to the future.  Some experts say that a properly planned programme of complementary therapies can increase your personal chances of survival by as much as 60% and there is a growing acceptance within the medical world that there are things you can do for yourself that can greatly improve your chances of survival.

'Knowledge is power', and with cancer knowledge can be the difference between life and death, between a few years in fear and pain, or a lengthier and more positive life.

I spent 8 years with no support and no direction, which I feel should have been offered to me before I even left the hospital, after having my radical Mastectomy.  In truth I believe the nursing staff should have directed me towards Macmillan's nursing staff or offered me contact details for local support groups, even if I had of chosen not to contact them immediately.

Having waited so long for backup and support, I have to say Macmillan has proved to be very helpful, but it was such a long time in coming.  Signposting between them and patients perhaps needs working on, like ripples of water starting in the centre, ie. the hospital, and working outwards towards nursing home care, hospices and support groups.   Direction with finance is much needed, as cancer can be very costly.

by Lisa & Jeff Martin - July 2005

When my husband was first diagnosed we felt there were very few organisations we could turn to especially locally - Our GP advised us that we should seek counselling, so we did, the NHS list was so full that Jeff and I were unable to attend counselling - Jeff was diagnosed with an Astrocytoma Grade III Brain Tumour in February 2004, and the counselling assessment appointment came through for Wednesday 13th April 2005 - Jeff did attend this appointment but was told he was dealing with the situation extremely well! Bearing in mind by that time I had also been diagnosed with Breast Cancer and Secondary Bone Cancer in February 2005.

So we decided to look elsewhere for help. When I contacted the Complimentary Cancer Care Trust back in 2004, Sheila Botwright was very helpful and understanding, and has become an important person in our lives. If we do not see Sheila she will ring and make sure we are all okay, which is very reassuring and makes us feel valued.

The counselling my husband and I receive from the Complimentary Cancer Care Trust has become immensely important in our lives. Jill Hanney has become to know us as people and can read our moods extremely well. She knows when we are feeling a bit low and also helps when we have family issues to deal with, and gives sound advice. Jeff and I feel very comfortable with Jill, and feel we can share our deepest thoughts and feelings. Jill's help has become invaluable.

Jeff and I also receive Reiki via the Complimentary Cancer Care Trust, which we find very relaxing and emotionally helpful. Therefore our counselling and dealings with the Complimentary Cancer Care Trust as you can see has become reliable, important, invaluable, and very helpful. THANK YOU TO YOU ALL.

by Merlyn Willey - September 2004 (sadly Merlyn died in February 2008; she was a great supporter of the Trust and will be missed by many)

I originally discovered Complementary Cancer Care Trust when I attended a Carer's Conference in June 2002. At the time, I was caring for my mother who was 99 years old and recovering from a critical illness. I was having back problems and decided to try a 'hands on' therapy at the Trust stand. I became a member of the Trust and started attending the Monday Support Group, which includes talks, activities and therapies. Sheila Botwright and her staff are complete professionals at all times, and provide an environment that gives the individual the confidence to discuss any problems that may be bothering them. We find that the ability to talk openly, helps the group, as well as the individual, and is a great healer to all of us.

The Monday Support Group gives us the opportunity to have a cup of tea and a chat with each other and, after a therapy we feel relaxed and ready to cope with anything. As a result, I feel that I had quality time with my mother until her death in January 2003. Afterwards, I found that the Trust provided a real lifeline in helping me to recover from the loss.

I then began to feel unwell myself. I was receiving reflexology sessions as part of the Home Visiting Service, and the therapists picked up on disturbances in my digestive system. Sheila and her staff gave me the confidence to keep going back to my GP until I received a referral letter to see a specialist. I had a scan at the hospital, which revealed a large tumour. After my operation, the tumour and four lymph nodes were found to be cancerous. I had to start a programme of chemotherapy, which lasted from January until August. Throughout, I have had support and advice from the Trust, which has helped me cope with my diagnosis and treatment. They also got me a special diary so that I could keep a record of how I was feeling, my temperature and blood counts. The hospital also found it very useful when it came to monitoring my chemotherapy.

I feel that I could not have managed without the backup of the Trust, their team, and the Support Group.