Meeting Feedback

This feedback will help members unable to attend a meeting keep up with what's been

happening, and give non-members an idea of what we do at our meetings.

October 2019

Nothing major to report back just snippets this month: Helen was eager to tell us about her trip to The Show, the fashion show organised by Breast Cancer Care each year, and what a fabulous time she and her sister had at the event. We reminded members that if they were going to The Conquest for treatment then they were able to get a free car park pass. We discussed having sessions on mindfulness and meditation next year. Our Tesco fundraising date for this year is15 th December. The Pelham had restructured their Hire Agreement, Pat read out the relevant details for all members present. Food for our December “Christmas” meeting was discussed and celebrating our 40 th anniversary in May next year. Pam, Pat and Gloria attended the Civic Service for Kathy Harmer (Bexhill Mayor) who is one of the group’s greatest supporters and fundraisers during her reign of office.

November 2019

The last of our 4 lymphoedema sessions with Lymphoedema specialist Jane and Julia, who were very keen to hear honest feedback, especially on how they could imporve things. Constructive opinions were given and we all agreed that we had gained a lot of very useful information particularly in the correct techniques in massage. It was suggested by the group that perhaps 6 monthly refresher sessions cold be given, possibly on another evening other than our usual meeting date. Pat will speak to Ollie re the availability of the room. Gloria thanked everyone for their donations and gift bags for our tombola stall early December and also asked for requests of help on the day.

December 2019

We welcomed 2 new members to our group amid the chaos of our usual disorganised party games and delicious food. A great evening, in addition Sally Cowlard’s group, who kindly pay for any flowers that we might send to members, also gave us a cheque for £200 and our Tesco collection on 15 th raised £460.66!

January 2020

A well-attended meeting for this time of the year, we welcomed a new member who had travelled all the way from Rye, she was going through a really emotional tough time and hopefully found being able to confide in the group a comfort. Pam was keen to keep numbers up at Powder Mills Natural Rhythms sessions on Wednesday mornings – a very calming few hours, set in the lovely Powder Mill Woods

February 2020

Lovely to welcome back a long standing member who hadn’t been to a meeting for over 6 years, but has continually supported us since her diagnosis 13 years ago, she came along with her sister who is planning a 30 mile run in the summer to raise money for us – we are so lucky to have supporters like this, it’s amazing, people are very kind. Pam reported that she had written to our local Oncologist inviting him to speak at one of our sessions. When Pam was in post she found it an invaluable insight as to how we feel and are affected by our diagnosis. We also touched on our 40 year anniversary in May and the fact that we would be doing something that month to celebrate.

March 2020

With the worry of Coronavirus being reported on the news, it was a surprise to see how many attended. We had a visit from Rebecca, who is in the last part of her PHD on the effects of heat in exercise on breast cancer patients. She spoke passionately about her theories and promised she would give us a chance to read her final paper as so many of our members had taken part in her trials, but the end of the meeting she had 4 new candidates. Well done girls. At the end of the meeting we weren’t sure when we’d be able to physically meet again but promised to try and keep in touch with all our members.

April 2020

With no physical meeting this month and for the foreseeable future, we have been trying to keep in contact with everyone. Our group although made up of vastly different ages, treatments, diagnosis, shares a bond, one that unites us at each of our support group meetings. We understand that those still going through treatments must being finding this time very stressful and worrying as some of the locations for treatments changes to keep everyone safe, so please check before you turn up for treatment. The breast care nurses are still available to give professional advice and reassurance, but we encourage anyone to give us a ring if they feel the need for a chat, a cry or a laugh.

May 2020

We have now decided to meet online using Zoom. This week we held a toast to Pam and Fiona, both founder members of the group 40 years ago. We are so lucky that our local breast surgeons are still there for us, Elizabeth Shah giving up some of her annual leave to do some breast surgery so that people were not kept waiting during this Covid epidemic, and Ash Suramanian made a video reminding people that despite all that was going on, they are still there for us and anyone newly diagnosed. As a group we decided to send a personal thanks to both on behalf of ourselves and other patients. We also received a surprise cheque for £818 from Bexhill Academy who had been doing some fundraising for the group since a couple of us spoke to them in a year group assembly last year. Pat showed cloth masks/facecoverings that she has been making and offered to make and post to any members and their families if requested.

June 2020

We are now holding weekly 40 min Zoom meetings – great to keep in touch, discuss matters and have a laugh. This month We learned that our resident Oncologist has moved on two others from Brighton have been temporarily appointed Dr Bloomfield at The Conquest and Eastbourne DGH and Dr Simcock predominantly at Eastbourne. Kathy Harmer Bexhill Mayor had been in contact to say that although her term of office had now come to an end, she still wants to hold her “Mayor’s Ball” intended to round off her year of office and raise money for us and the local Macmillan fundraising group who had been her two charities. Kathy is also hoping that with Government restrictions gradually being lifted, she will be ale to open up her shop again, which is going through a refit giing a much larger room at the back for wig fitting. She also hopes to provide other headwear suitable for those going through treatment too. It was interesting to find out that many members want to get rid of their wigs after treatment – but somehow couldn’t. It had become a sort of talisman – if they got rid of it, they might need it again. We have been able to welcome several new members to the group via Zoom, some of them desperate to have someone to talk to about their treatment and the feelings they are going through at the moment. Members who have been shielded were able to discuss their feelings and anxieties with others in the same position. Counselling via Macmillan had been highly recommended, one of our members has been having weekly counselling sessions via Zoom and found it extremely useful.. We all agreed that it doesn’t matter how long ago we had our cancer, we still worry about it returning and sometimes we think we have things under control, but then something comes and tips us over the edge. It was brought to our attention that Amoena have now brought out a new Adapt Air Breast Form, which gives the freedom to adjust to suit scarring, at the same time being both light and comfortable. Two of our members spoke about the parcels they had received from the Wolo Foundation (We only love once) and we have made contact with its founder Fler Wright, who herself had breast cancer a couple of years ago. Based in Peacehaven, she and her husband set up this charity to offer financial help, services and practical advice to families affected by cancer. wolofoundation.org