For Women With Advanced Cancer
BreaCan’s Making Connections program for women with advanced* breast cancer or gynaecological cancer seeks to strengthen connections between women, providing a safe place that facilitates women sharing experiences and learning from each other. BreaCan supports women living with advanced cancer in a range of ways;
- Advanced cancer mailing list. Keep up to date with events and resources related to living with advanced cancer. Join the mailing list here.
- All women using our service are welcome to attend the general information sessions and many of these incorporate issues that are relevant for women living with advanced disease. In addition some information sessions are conducted specifically for women living with advanced cancer. These sessions offer women the opportunity to connect with other women who face similar issues, in a group setting. Past sessions have focused on understanding palliative care, money matters, cancer and bones, adapting to changed energy levels and creative therapies. Click HERE to download a copy of the current program of events.
- Peer support is provided by our trained volunteers some of whom themselves live with advanced cancer. All of our volunteers are familiar with issues and concerns that may affect women living with advanced disease and are happy to talk with you, in person or on the phone, at the Resource Centre.
- We regularly host ‘coffee & cupcakes’ morning teas. These informal gatherings give women the opportunity to meet other women who are living with advanced disease, to discuss common issues and concerns and share strategies, or simply to enjoy a social gathering in a welcoming environment and thereby reduce the sense of isolation and invisibility that some women feel.
- Over the past few years BreaCan has run a number of Here and Now groups specifically for women living with advanced disease. These groups offer a professionally facilitated supportive discussion group run over 6 weeks. The groups aim to provide a safe environment to allow women to address complex and difficult issues such as grief and loss, intimacy, relationships, death and dying, hopes and fears. The frequency of these groups is determined by demand. The next Here and Now support program will be run in February 2013. Download a flyer with more information here.
- BreaCan has a list of recommended resources for women living with advanced cancer. These can be borrowed from our library. Download the list here.
If you would like to speak to a staff person regarding the programs for women living with advanced disease please contact Wendy Pullan, Information and Support Officer on 1300 781 500.
*Advanced cancers are also known as secondary, metastatic or progressive cancer. All these names describe cancer that has moved beyond early stages and spread to another part of the body.
