The Salford and Greater Manchester Gynaecological Cancer Support Group is a voluntary self-help group of ladies who have all had, or have, various forms of gynae cancers, and are dedicated to helping others going through the same issues.
Today, five of them are sat around a table explaining what they do and why they help women undergoing treatment...
"We don't say it's counselling, we just understand how they're feeling" says Kim, who was diagnosed with endometrial cancer three years ago "You can get over the physical but sometimes it's the mental that doesn't show and that can be more difficult.
"We just want people to know that there's support out there and all they've got to do is pick up the phone, or email or go onto our Facebook group and there's always someone available" she adds.
The group runs regular monthly get-togethers at Salford Royal Hospital, with the next meet-up on Friday 14th June*, and the women are keen to stress that they don't just talk about cancer-related subjects, they have a laugh, organise lunches out and have socials.
One of the main things they also do is provide comfort bags for female patients undergoing treatment in hospital...
"When you go in, you feel lost and lonely, as all your life has changed" says Noreen "In the comfort bags are things you need but don't think about..."
Within the bags are everything from sweets to toothpaste and a toothbrush, deodorant, face wipes, body spray, lip balms, and hand towels, with a few items to cheer people up, like home-made get well soon cards...plus..."an eraser so you can make yourself disappear; a penny so you'll never be completely broke, a marble in case someone says you've lost yours; a rubber band so you can stretch yourself beyond your limits; a piece of string so you can tie things together when they fall apart and a paper clip to hold us all together" Noreen explains.
"When I was diagnosed at St Mary's, the McMillan nurse came through with a comfort bag for me, and in that bag there were little bits and pieces, toiletries, things to cheer me up" recalls Kim "When I got home I burst into tears, not for what was in the bag but because someone had thought about me.
"When we had our first meeting I mentioned it to the ladies and we decided to do something similar, and so we purchase plain canvas bags, hand print them and then decorate them with a few jewels and we put things in. It just lets them know that we are thinking of them and that they're not on their own."
Christine was diagnosed five years ago and says there was nothing like these bags then... "It's the emotional thing that can affect you the most" she explains "It's very scary and to have any sort of support like this is marvellous. If I'd have received one of these bags I would have been over the moon because you know that somebody is out there."
The group currently supplies comfort bags at Salford Royal Hospital, Christies and Royal Bolton Hospital... "The ladies cry as they're so overwhelmed" says Noreen "It's the best thing I ever did."
The group would like to supply more hospitals in Greater Manchester as well as keeping up current supplies but need donations of goods to fill the bags...
"We get donations from the public or get the stuff ourselves, and we do awareness days for the public with a tombola which also helps fund the bags" says Karen "Our donations come direct from the community."
The group is looking for any toiletry items to be donated, including toothpaste, toothbrushes, lip balm, wipes, flannels, small hand towels (white if possible), deodorant, soap..."anything you think a lady would need or appreciate" explains Kim.
Anyone wishing to donate items for the comfort bags can email any of the ladies...
Karenegilbert@hotmail.co.uk
s.davies650@ntlworld.com
kim.bowden@aol.com
noreenbailey2012@live.com
c.heardman@ntlworld.com
Or contact them through the Salford and Greater Manchester Gynaecological Cancer Support Group Facebook page – click here
The Salford and Greater Manchester Gynaecological Cancer Support Group meets once a month, usually on Friday between 10:30am and 1pm.
* The next meeting is on 14th June at Room 2, Humphrey Booth, in the Mayo Building (the big yellow building). The following meeting is on 19th July. For more details see the Facebook group.
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