PLWC Cancer Buddies now at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (“Bara”).

21 November 2011.

Pictured at the conclusion of the Cancer Buddies training course in October 2011 are, from left to right:

(Standing): Peter Hers (Chairman, PLWC Johannesburg); Snowy Maphakela, Agnes Mosebekoa, Raynolda Makhutwe, Bev du Toit (PLWC, course lecturer), Lehlohonolo Mokgobo, Sibongile Manyama .

(Seated) Itumeleng Letoaba.

Six volunteers, all cancer survivors who received their treatment at Bara, have been trained as Cancer Buddies and have started providing support to patients at the Breast Clinic.

This initiative is a joint project between People Living with Cancer (PLWC) and BrestSens, an NGO dedicated to providing support to breast cancer patients. The training course was conducted by PLWC volunteers, with the encouragementand support of medical and nursing staff of the Breast Clinic at Bara.

Once over their treatment and on the road to recovery, many cancer patients have a desire to volunteer their services to help newly-diagnosed patients. PLWC provides a structured support system for cancer patients, based on cancer survivors who have been trained to provide first-line support.  Every attempt is made to match patients with someone who has had a similar diagnosis, providing someone who will understand the specific challenges and be able to provide as much guidance as possible.

Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital is the second largest hospital in the world, with 3 200 beds and 6 760 staff members. Bara is one of the 40 Gauteng provincial hospitals, and is financed and run by the Gauteng Provincial Health Authorities.  It is a teaching hospital for the University of the Witwatersrand Medical School.

Enquiries:

Peter Hers                             083 445 4634

Email: peter@peterhers.co.za

Kwanele Pooe-Shongwe     082 902 7929

Email: batsips@mweb.co.za

PLWC Pretoria

Here are some trainee feedback:

Gawie Lotter

The Cancer Buddies (CB’s) of  Pretoria have been in active operation since May/June 2009 under the organization and guidance of dr Wilma Lotter and Nella van den Berg.

Since then they have gathered on a monthly basis sharing, comforting, listening, telling, supporting each other. This group of  PEOPLE LIVING WITH CANCER have over the past months influenced each other in a very positive and encouraging manner.

The CB’s get together on the first Saturday of each month at 14:00 in the conference room of the Little Company of Mary Hospital in Groenkloof, Pretoria. The management of this Life Hospital make their facilities available to this group free of any charge and tea and coffee are always also available.  Over the months the group was also “entertained” by various guest speakers, sharing and motivating! Always with the most wonderful results! Unfortunately a few of the Buddies lost their battle against CANCER over this period.

This CB group is now actively in action for 8 months. However, although going strong and being active, there was a huge need for Cancer Buddy training. The aim of this being to provide basic communication skills preparation of a Buddy visiting newly diagnosed cancer patients with a similar diagnosis to them;  to provide greater self awareness in the use of a trained Buddy as a tool to support others going through a crisis and most importantly to set clear guidelines as to the Do’s and don’ts of a Buddy visit to a newly diagnosed patient. This all incorporated in a BASIC COMMUNICATION SKILLS TRAINING WORKSHOP.

So, at last a CB training was formally organized over the weekend of 6/7 March 2010. Linda Greeff from People Living With Cancer, Cape Town, flew up to Pretoria to head the training program and act as facilitator. A group of 16 Buddies attended the course. Of the most important aspects dealt with were :  emotional aspects in dealing with cancer, self awareness, self complexity, building relationships, key principles to be taken in account and first visit practical patient session. Detail time was spend on the following over the two day period : self awareness, building a relationship, positive language, non-verbal communication, observing, listening, empathizing, self complexity, hardiness, patient active approach and buddy documentation.

The training weekend session was a huge success with a very positive outcome. Linda Greeff did a tremendous job and was complimented with her ability to facilitate.

The following CB’s were trained :

Phumelele Zulu          (Breast Cancer)
Jean Robinson            (Breast Cancer)
Caroline Nel               (Breast Cancer)
Nella van den Berg     (Breast Cancer)
Hannie Belsten            (Psychologist;  Non-Hodgkins Limfoma)
Wilma Lotter               (Medical Doctor; Ovarian Cancer)
Leonie Joubert             (Oncology Sister; Osteo Sarcoma)
Frans Joubert               (Brain Cancer; husband of Leonie)
Marinda Foster             (Myelodisplasia Syndrome)
Raynolda Makhutwe    (Ovarian and Cervical Cancer; Call Centre Johannesburg)
Alet vd Westhuizen      (Pharmacist; work in oncology research, care giver, father died of lung cancer, mother died of pancreas cancer)
Amanda Basson            (Care giver)
Brian White                   (Care giver, friend got Karposi Sarcoma)
Ken-Charles                   (Care giver, friend got Karposi Sarcoma)
Florence Maseloane       (Care giver, friend got Karposi Sarcoma)
Danie Foster                   (Care giver, wife cancer sufferer – Marinda above)

Dr Wilma Lotter; CB Pretoria Branch Co-ordinator

Jean Robinson

What an inspirational weekend !!!

Phumelele Zulu

I only realized when I was sharing with other trainees that I shifted the attention away from cancer into work after I was diagnosed with cancer in 2001. The week-end gave me a chance to reflect on how I felt then and also during and after chemo, surgery and radiotherapy. I was lucky in that I consulted a Psychologist before surgery; she gave me confirmation that I was stronger than cancer. Somehow I walked over it all this time.

The training made me realize that it is a giant step that I have taken, that is, to want to be a buddy. I am ready to take the first step to offering my support and share my experience with any person living with cancer that I will come across. Although I stay in Pretoria, I hope to go back to KwaZulu-Natal and share with more women and men even especially because it is taboo in my culture to talk about cancer.

I want to thank Dr Lotter and her team for arranging the training and also Linda Greef for empowering us.

Raynolda  Makhutle

I  became  one  of the previlaged and  honoured trainees to attend a  Buddy  Training this past weekend of the 7th & 10th March 2010. This course was facilitated with great insight and excellency by Linda Greef, the director and founder of  PLWC.

As a  cancer survivor I expierienced  a very eye-opening, inspirational, motivating and equipping weekend in Pretoria.
I  have learnt so much about the following:

. The  important role/approach  of  a volunteer  in giving support to people living with cancer.

. The  engagement of  Patient  Active  Model with newly  diagnosed  cancer  patients.

. Understanding  the ” Cancer  Buddy ” Program, Vision and Goals

. Being passionate in what  one is doing.

. Allowing  patients to draw an action plan (not  forcing one’s will).

. Allowing people to express their feelings and being  sensitive.  (Being there doesn’t mean you know it all)

This training has changed the way I used  to do, think and act.  Gratitude became my motto: ” knowing that one has to live to the fullest even after diagnosed, not die before”.  Being a cancer survivor  is a privilage.  I have learnt to apreciate life and the chance I was given to add value in the lifes of people who have lost hope.   I have learnt that  you don’t judge people, but understand what they are going through.

By being there for people makes a difference.  Caregivers/families feelings are also very important.  They have emotions and should be given a space to express their feelings.  We don’t have to focus on the survivor only.  A Buddy should  be sensitive and humble at all times.  There were moments where we cried together when sharing what everybody went through and some still going through.  Knowing that people experience pain in different ways, taught me to love unconditionally.

I  thank  The Almighty for providing us with Health Professionals and  Buddies who were in the training.  They gave motivation and words of wisdom to everyone there.

Once more this has been, and still is, a great achievement to be imparted with such knowledge.

THANKS    LINDA – YOU ARE A  LEGEND!

The content of the training was as follow:
o Understanding the goals of the “Cancer Buddy” program.
o Understanding the role of the “Cancer Buddy” volunteer and how to support people living with cancer.
o Basic communication skills.
o How to engage with newly diagnosed cancer patients within the “Patient Active Model”.

For me personally the weekend served as an eye-opener in terms of what the cancer survivor and his or her family goes through from the moment the diagnoses is made. All the emotions of shock, fear, uncertainty, severe distress and loss of control (to name a few) that the survivor, caregiver and family face is overwhelming. And that is what the training is all about. You, as a cancer survivor who experienced all the emotions of going through cancer and the treatments can be of so much help to a new survivor and his or her family. As a buddy you will be able to make the life of someone else a little bit easier at a time that is not easy. You will be able to have the satisfaction of giving back and helping someone else.

I’ve learnt that not only the survivor, but also the caregiver, needs attention. A small gesture like just sitting with the person, holding their hand, to fetch the children from school or dropping of a prepared meal might make a big difference to the family. It’s also to listen if they want to talk, but to understand if they do not want to talk.

I’ve learnt that there is no such thing as a cancer sufferer. The moment that a person is diagnosed with cancer, he or she becomes a cancer survivor.

I’ve learnt that laughter and being positive is an inspiration to the soul.

Feedback provided by Jana Strydom