CanSurvive Cancer Support Group

The group is run by members of the Johannesburg branch of People Living with Cancer in association with the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre and is open to any patient or caregiver.

Meetings are held on the second Saturday of each month.

Time:                   09h00 – 11h30
Venue:                 18 Eton Road, Parktown (opposite Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre main entrance)

The date for meetings in 2012 are:

January 14
February 11
March 10
April 14
May 12
June 9
July 14
August 11
September 8
October 13
November 10
December 8

Enquiries:            073 975 1452

After the talk we hope to have some time to sit and share experiences.

We would appreciate it if you would pass this notice on to anyone you know who may be interested in attending the meeting.

All patients and caregivers are welcome and there is no charge.

Thank you

Chris Olivier,
cansurvive@icon.co.za

Prostate Invite

The group is run by members of the Johannesburg branch of People Living with Cancer in association with the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre and is open to any patient or caregiver.

Meetings are held on the second Saturday of each month.

Time:                   09h00 – 11h30
Venue:                 18 Eton Road, Parktown (opposite Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre main entrance)

Dates for 2011:

8 January                             9 July
12 February                        13 August
12 March                             10 September
9 April                                   8 October
14 May                                 12 November
11 June                                 10 December

All patients and caregivers are welcome. No charge is made.

Speakers lined up for 2011 include:

Dietician, experienced in helping cancer patients
Occupational therapist, discussing daily living
Oncologist
Interventional Radiologist
Music therapist
Legal aspect of the PMBs and dealing with medical aids
Laughter therapist
Physiotherapist

Enquiries:            073 975 1452
Email:                    jhb@plwc.org.za

Our vision is to be there in good times and bad; to provide a warm and loving environment for women going through treatment for a unique and devastating cancer; to create hope and focus for the future.

In June 2009, a support group was formed to advise, mentor and uplift men and women with anal canal cancer.  Some of us have had surgery to remove the rectum and anus, resulting in a permanent colostomy and followed by a lengthy course of radiation. Others have opted for the treatment route, and have undergone chemotherapy in conjunction with extensive radiation.  All have “after effects”; all have had to adapt to a changed lifestyle.

If you have a colostomy, you’ll get helpful advice on the best products to use and how to make them work for you; you’ll get tips on the day-to-day difficulties of living with a colostomy and you’ll benefit from the experience of people who have survived the trauma and lived to tell the tale.  Finally, we’ll do our best to help you regain your self esteem and find your “new normal”.

This is a place where you can talk about anything and everything without embarrassment; where laughter is loud and compassion is strong.

Please get in touch with us.  Contact Gail Silberman on 082 600 8901 or email: gailann@mweb.co.za

Join us on 10th July at our Cancer Support Group at 18 Eton Road, Parktown.  Our speaker will be TK Mofokeng who is the resident Donald Gordon Medical Centre’s physiotherapist and he will be talking about the importance of exercise for cancer patients.  He will also be giving exercises to help you during cancer treatment and beyond.
We meet at 9h00 for coffee and start at 9h30.  Afterwards there will be time to share your stories and chat with other members.
We look forward to seeing you. Remember, there is no charge.

Contact Chris Olivier
Cell: 083 640 4949
cansurvive@icon.co.za

Linda Greeff, co-founder and Director of People Living With Cancer and an expert in dealing with people undergoing cancer treatment, will be in Johannesburg on 17 and 18 July 2010 presenting their introductory ‘buddy’ training course at the Donald Gordon Medical Centre.
Hosted by Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre (WDGMC) and People Living With Cancer, Johannesburg, the goal of the course is to train a group of volunteers to be involved with PLWC in Johannesburg in preparation of being able to visit newly-diagnosed cancer patients, helping and supporting them through their cancer. Hospital oncology visitors are also catered for.

Linda comments: “the intention is to educate interested parties about the disease and provide them with greater self-awareness and the required communication skills needed in preparation for visiting patients.Volunteers learn how to become tools to sup- port those going through a crisis.  While it not essential that a volunteer has a similar diagnosis to the patient, if they are either a cancer sufferer, survivor or caregiver this does help. It is important also for volunteers to know very clearly the guidelines around the do’s and don’ts of a ‘buddy’ visit”.

The first day of the seminar discusses cancer and the different types of scans and their uses. It covers the emotional aspects, relationship building and need recognition, as well as hospital etiquette. It also addresses when to involve Hospice.

Day two surrounds basic communication skills, positive language and non-verbal communication, listening, empathy and observation around a ‘patient active’ approach.

Other speakers include Bev du Toit and Bernice Lass (an oncology unit manager), with guest speakers from Hospice and an interventional radiologist from the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre (WDGMC).

The course is free. See newsletter here:  2010 June Newsletter .   More information can be obtained from Chris Olivier on 083 640 4949 or email cansurvive@icon.co.za.

Just a reminder that our next meeting is on Saturday 12 June. and our speaker will be Dr Elna Macintosh. She is a Sexual Health Care practitioner, Medical Director of the DISA Health Care clinic, cancer survivor, sex-educator, researcher, author and Media personality for the past 25 years. She has run seven Comrades, climbed Kilimanjaro twice, done the Iron man triathlon and completed several Dusi canoe marathons and many road races and cycling events; She has a weekly radio talk show on KAYA FM. Together with Masechaba Moshoeshoe they tackle Sexual Health topic on the “What’s your take” show.
As usual, the meeting will be held at 18 Eton Road, Parktown at 9h00 for 9h30.
We look forward to seeing you there.

Contact Person:  Chris Olivier
Cell: 083 640 4949

Wits University

Donald Gordon Medical Centre

Cancer Support Group

to be held on the following dates:

2010

January 9
February 13
March 13
April 10
May 8
June 12
July 10
August 14
September 11
October 9
November 13
December 11

9h00 for 9h30

at 18 Eton Road, Parktown

(opposite WDGMC main entrance)

Enquiries:

Bernice Lass, WDGMC, (011) 356 6148

Chris Olivier, People Living with Cancer / CANSA
plwc@icon.co.za or 083 640 4949

Any Patients and caregivers are welcome