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‘Hope In The Face Of Uncertainty’: Forum for Women Living with Advanced Cancer
Women living with advanced cancer are invited to this very special forum, a joint initiative by BreaCan and Cancer Council Victoria. Come and connect with other women living with advanced cancer, listen to our guest speakers, attend an information session and participate in some fun and creative workshops. Booking is essential and partners or a family member are also very welcome to attend.
Please register by Monday 6 September to BreaCan on 1300 781 500 or breacan@breacan.org.au
An innovative pilot program, set up in partnership by BreaCan and the Royal Melbourne Hospital, is providing support to women undergoing treatment for breast cancer. ‘The Bridge of Support’ program was officially launched on Thursday, 17 June 2010 by the Hon Daniel Andrews MP, Minister for Health, at The Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Each week, BreaCan volunteers are available to talk to women undergoing chemotherapy, surgery or attending the outpatient clinic. The trained volunteers have each experienced cancer and by drawing on these experiences, they can make a remarkable difference to the health and wellbeing of women with a breast cancer.
Mr Andrews recognised the importance of the Bridge of Support program in complementing the exceptional care already being provided by the hospital,
“This program recognises the need to go beyond just clinical care of women with breast cancer and provides a holistic approach to supporting women and their families throughout their cancer journey. The volunteers give the gift of hope to women with Breast Cancer… I’d like to congratulate the volunteers and team at BreaCan, who together with their colleagues from the hospital, are extending care to women at a difficult point in their cancer treatment.”
The pilot project started in April and will run until September next year. Seven of BreaCan’s experienced peer support volunteers are involved in the program, which currently operates every Thursday at the Royal Melbourne Hospital between 10am to 2pm. It is hoped that this program will ultimately lead to collaborative programs with other hospitals.
BreaCan is hosting a FREE forum for women who have been diagnosed with breast or a gynaecological cancer. The forum will provide information and is also a wonderful chance to talk and meet with other women with similar experiences.
The forum will be held on:
Saturday 15th May, 2010
9.30 am - 2.45pm (Lunch included)
At Maroondah Federation Estate,
32 Greenwood Avenue, Ringwood
This forum is an opportunity for women to:
- Learn more about living well following a cancer diagnosis and treatment
- Meet other women
- Find out about services available locally to support them
- Participate in a creative and/or relaxing activity
Registrations are essential - please contact BreaCan on 1300 781 500 or email breacan@breacan.org.au
BreaCan and The Royal Melbourne Hospital are trialling a collaboration which aims to extend supportive care to women undergoing treatment for breast cancer, through the use of BreaCan peer support volunteers. The project seeks to understand the benefits that trained peer support volunteers may bring women undergoing treatment and how this service initiative might be provided within the hospital environment.
Both anecdotal and practice evidence suggests that women would benefit from connecting with a woman who has been through a similar experience, while undergoing treatment. BreaCan and RMH have been working closely to shape the project, with the aim of extending it to women with gynaecological cancer in the future.
Seven experienced BreaCan peer support volunteers have nominated to be involved with the project and have recently gone through training at the hospital. Two volunteers will work every Thursday from 10am - 2pm at the hospital, beginning at the end of April.
BreaCan is hosting a FREE forum for women who have been diagnosed with breast or a gynaecological cancer. The forum will provide information and is also a wonderful chance to talk and meet with other women with similar experiences.
The forum will be held on:
Saturday 14th November, 2009
9.30 am - 3.30pm (Lunch included)
At Best Western Frankston International,
389 Nepean Highway, Frankston
There are at least three (and many more) good reasons to come along:
- Maria Ftanou, Psychologist from Peter MacCallum will be the guest speaker and will talk about how to find the ‘new normal’ after a cancer diagnosis.
- You will have the opportunity to connect with other women from your local area.
- You can be apart of an enjoyable and therapuetic workshop, maybe art therapy or a dance workshop.
Registrations are essential - please contact BreaCan on 1300 781 500 or email breacan@breacan.org.au
BreaCan will be conducting a forum on Saturday 24 October for women aged 45 and under. The forum will be an opportunity for young women with breast and gynaecological cancers to meet and connect with other young women as well listen to some interesting speakers on the challenges of living with cancer as a young woman. Full program here.
Starting soon... a 4 week exercise program in Bulleen, Epping and Mitcham. Read more about this program here.
Women often tell us that they would love to visit BreaCan, but find it difficult due to work or family commitments that prevent them from coming in during the day. From August 2009 to March 2010 (except January), the BreaCan Resource Centre will be open the first Thursday of every month from 5.00pm until 7.30pm. Whilst the continuation of the later opening hours is dependent on demand, we hope that the option of visiting BreaCan in the evening will meet the needs of many women, their partners, family and friends. We would welcome the opportunity to meet you - come and chat with volunteers and staff and have a look through our resources.
The dates of the extended opening hours are:
August 6
September 3 (join us for wine and cheese; BreaCan open until 8pm)
October 1
November 5
December 3
February 4
March 4
BreaCan will be conducting a Young Women’s Forum on Saturday 24 October. The forum will be an opportunity for young women with breast and gynaecological cancers to meet and connect with other young women as well listen to some interesting speakers on the challenges of living with cancer as a young woman. There will be some relaxing and therapeutic sessions - maybe art, dance and more so put the date in your diaries. More details to follow.
In March 2009, Camp Quality a national organisation that provides recreational activities for children with cancer, approached BreaCan about working in partnership to provide a pilot program of activities to the families of women who have had cancer. This was a fantastic opportunity to offer a weekend away to a small number of BreaCan families, facilitated by the wonderful Camp Quality volunteers.
The weekend was held in Hepburn Springs, north-west of Melbourne, late in April 2009. Even though the weather was chilly, the families who attended had a great time: the children were well entertained; the partners had an opportunity to relax while the mums talked and laughed while being pampered. It gave the families an opportunity to spend a fun filled weekend together without having to think about the normal domestic chores that occupy most families.
Camp Quality is currently reviewing the scope of its role so this initiative was very timely. We thank Camp Quality for this unique opportunity.
Camp Quality leader John, with one of the many families who enjoyed their weekend away
