Patient Support
People who have been given a diagnosis of cancer are likely to be feeling very frightened, uncertain, alone and angry. This is a very normal and understandable reaction. However, these feelings may sometimes overwhelm people and prevent them from doing the things that they need to do, such as sleeping properly, eating well and enjoying a good book or TV programme.
There are a number of sources of support for patients and carers attending the Cancer Centre to help them cope during this difficult time.
Support Groups
No matter how supportive family, friends, doctors and nurses are, it can often be useful to talk to people who are going through a similar experience.
Some support groups are locally-run agencies. These usually consist of groups of people who meet at regular intervals to share their experiences and learn from each other.
Details of the local groups in Dorset are available from the Health Information and Resource Centre and from staff in the Cancer Centre.
Nationally run support groups often have a telephone network and can frequently put people in touch who have the same type of cancer who live locally, Organisations such as Cancerbackup have a directory of support groups and are able to help patients find appropriate groups.
Counselling
When life becomes uncertain, it can be helpful to talk to someone who is outside the usual circle of family, friends and carers. Counsellors are professionally trained to listen and to help explore and clarify thoughts and feelings. People often find that this enables them to cope and find their own solutions. The Cancer Centre Counselling Service has counsellors who deal particularly with people who have cancer. No charge is made for this service which is also available to family, friends and children if they are finding it difficult to come to terms with a cancer diagnosis.
Information for Families with Children
Many people affected by cancer will have children in the family and it can often be difficult to know how, and when, to share information with them. Help and support in how to talk with children about cancer is available from professionally trained counsellors in the counselling service.
There are many different books and leaflets written especially for children that cover a range of age groups and styles which are available to borrow through the councelling service.
The Chaplaincy Team
The team consists of two full-time chaplains, several part-time chaplains and a team of lay visitors. The Team is drawn mainly from the Christian tradition although we have a Jewish visitor and links with representatives from the other main faith communities. However, the chaplains are happy to talk with anyone, regardless of their faith background or lack of it.
The hospital chapel is on the first floor of the main building. It can be reached from either the ‘A’-block or the ‘B’-block stairs, and is situated halfway along the corridor that links the two. It is open twenty-four hours a day and provides a quiet space where patients and visitors can think and pray.
Complementary Therapies
The complementary therapies offered at the Cancer
Centre act to balance the highly technological and specialist environment
of modern healthcare. They aim to encourage the potential of self-healing
and empowerment. Our complementary therapists provide aromatherapy, reflexology
and relaxation classes to patients. For further information please speak
to a member of the team caring for you or click
on the link here.