News

Prostate Cancer group on the move

Mon, 27 Feb 2017 04:15:00

SUNRAYSIA’s Prostate Cancer Support Group is hoping a new member-friendly venue for its meetings from this week (Wednesday night) will help make new members more comfortable and to introduce a more social feel to the gatherings.

The group aims to provide support and information to men diagnosed with prostate cancer and their partners and was rejuvenated about 18 months ago.
It’s now attracting up to 20 people to its monthly meetings, but says a move to The Workingman’s Club is in response to feedback from those attending.
“To get the group up and running again, first at Mildura Base Hospital, then at Sunraysia Cancer Resources, we had a guest speaker at every meeting focussing on one particular element or issue relating to prostate cancer,” one of the group’s volunteers Gary Smith said.
“It’s been really successful and there’s a lot more awareness, but the men have told us they’d feel more comfortable out of a clinical setting, and away from places that are associated with cancer services,” he said.
“The Workingman’s Club offered their support and have been generous enough to provide us with a meeting room each month and we think it’ll be ideal to help us getting more people prepared to come along.”
Group co-leader Alan Harris said with an average of just over one prostate cancer diagnosis in Mildura each week, a significant number of men have been through, or are going through, treatment of prostate cancer.
“Everyone’s experience is different and some people really aren’t sure about the whole idea of a support group – I wasn’t any different,” Mr Harris said.
“But for most people, once you come along to a meeting you find there’s a lot to be gained.  Everyone’s struck something along the way that’s familiar and it helps to confirm the positivity and that you are not the only one and that’s important,” he said.
“It’s also great just to be able to support other people, to talk openly about your problems and know that what you say isn’t going anywhere else.”
The first meeting at the Mildura Workingman’s Club on March 1 will introduce new Mildura Base Hospital Prostate Cancer Nurse Kylie Harry, who is now sharing the Prostate Cancer Nurse role with Craig Millard.
Ms Harry said while the five and 10-year survival rates for prostate cancer are now higher than 90 percent, being diagnosed with cancer was always a confronting, emotional and confusing process.
“The group’s planning to continue its specialist guest speakers because they’ve found people value the opportunity to chat informally with a specialist in the field and ask questions away from the treatment room,” Ms Harry said.
“In the past 12 months the group has had talks from an oncologist and a psychologist as well as presentations on exercise physiology, physiotherapy and from a continence nurse,” she said.
“Medical professionals provide support in every possible way, but there’s also a lot to be gained from involvement with a support group and I think it’s a great initiative to move the group further out into the community.”
The Sunraysia Prostate Cancer Support Group will meet on the first Wednesday of each month at the Mildura Workingman’s Club starting at 6 pm.