Oldham cancer patients invited to go ‘back to the future’ with local charity
Patients in Oldham are being invited to go ‘back to the future’, by signing up to a series of sessions designed to help them move forward after a cancer diagnosis.
NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group has appointed the Oldham Cancer Support Centre (OCSC) to organise a number of events and programmes designed to help and support patients who currently have cancer, or who have had a cancer diagnosis in the last five years, to try and counteract the effect the condition has had on their lives.
As part of this work, the Centre is running the ‘Back to the Future’ programme, scheduled to take place at Failsworth Town Hall from Monday 26 February until Friday 9 March 2018, designed to help patients get back to a ‘new kind of normal’, following what can be a life changing experience.
The comprehensive programme will include sessions on exercise, fatigue, nutrition, relaxation, voluntary work, podiatry, alternative therapies including music and gardening and meditation amongst other topics, and is designed to give attendees a positive outlook on their future and help to connect them with people who have had similar experiences.
Matthias Hohmann, NHS Oldham CCG’s Clinical Director for Cancer told Saddleworth News and Life: “We know that patients who have been through a cancer diagnosis are likely to need further support once their treatment is completed, or during their ongoing treatment for a more advanced diagnosis.
“By inviting patients to attend a programme like Back to the Future, we hope to enable them to step slightly outside of their diagnosis and take part in something which gives them a real and tangible sense of hope, purpose and confidence during what can be a very challenging and traumatic time.”
The course is designed to include short sessions on a variety of topics, including leisure and hobbies, finance, benefits, getting back to work after a diagnosis of cancer and volunteering. The programme is delivered by a team of experts who have experience of working with people who have cancer or are recovering from cancer.
Feedback on similar courses run by the team at Oldham Cancer Support Centre has been very positive, with many patients saying that the sessions helped boost their confidence, made them feel much more positive and enabled them to meet people who understood what they were going through. Some of the previous attendees said:
• “I’d reached the point where I didn’t even want to leave the house, the Back to the Future programme changed that completely. Thank you.”
• “For the first time since diagnosis, I feel positive about the future.”
• “This programme helped me at a very bad time in my life. Throughout the two weeks I could feel my confidence coming back, and being with people who completely understood me was incredible.”
The course runs from 10am until 3.30pm Monday 26 Feb to Friday 2 March and from Monday 5 March to Friday 9 March 2018.
All transport costs, refreshments and lunches are provided for attendees, to book a place call the Oldham Cancer Support Centre on 0161 770 8751. There are 15 places available, and the course places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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