THREE Donegal cancer
support groups will attend a major Irish Cancer
Society conference for cancer survivors next month
at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
The free annual conference which is in its 19th
year, is an opportunity for cancer survivors from
across the country to get together and share
information and support on all aspects of a cancer
diagnosis, including treatment and aftercare.
The local groups include representatives from the
Cancer Support and Social Club, Carndonagh, the
Forge Cancer Support Group, Pettigo and Living
Beyond Cancer, Letterkenny.
The theme of the 2012 conference is 'Living Well
with Cancer' and the aim is to help people with
cancer deal better with the life changing
implications such a diagnosis brings. The two day
programme includes practical information on
treatment advances, dealing with fatigue, exercise
and diet as well as dealing with the emotional and
psychological effects of cancer.
This year’s keynote speakers include Dr Brian Bird,
consultant medical oncologist, Cork; Ms Natalie
Doyle, nurse consultant, Royal Marsden Hospital,
London; Dr Maureen Gaffney, professor of psychology,
UCD and Mr Padraig O’Ceidigh, entrepreneur.
Irish Cancer Society patient support groups manager,
Olwyn Ryan, said: “Life with and after cancer means
making huge adjustments both physically and
emotionally. Learning to recognise and acknowledge
the changes can be stressful. The aim of this unique
conference is to identify the issues and support
patients and those close to them to make the
necessary adjustments in order to live as well as
they can following a diagnosis.
"Conference delegates will be offered the
opportunity to engage with experts in the field of
cancer with a particular emphasis on psycho-social
adjustment and keeping well into the future.
Bringing survivors together so that they may
befriend, help and support each other is a powerful
way of improving the lives of those living with
cancer.”
The Cancer Support and Social Club in Carndonagh are
a support group for people living with the diagnosis
of cancer, providing support to all affected by a
cancer diagnosis including family, friends and
carers. They can be contacted on 086 602 8993 or 087
763 4596.
Forge Cancer Support Group, Pettigo, are currently
in development and can be contacted through the
Forge Family Resource Centre, Pettigo.
Living Beyond Cancer, Letterkenny was founded in
2007 by the oncology nurses in Letterkenny General
Hospital and can contacted through the Oncology Day
Services at the hospital.
For more information or to register for the
conference go to
www.cancer.ie/nccs or call the Irish Cancer
Society on 01 2310500. |
