For the past few months a local charity, Bowel Cancer IOM, has been holding patient and carer support group meetings in Douglas.  Bowel Cancer IOM aims to bring people together to share experiences and to help them obtain practical and emotional support.

A cancer diagnosis is frightening. Patients and their loved ones may find themselves overwhelmed as they try to navigate the issues that come up relating to treatment and the emotional aspects of battling cancer. In order to support bowel cancer patients and their families, Bowel Cancer IOM has formed the IOM Bowel Cancer Patient & Carer Support Group, for people that have or had colorectal (colon) cancer.

Support groups such as this enable members to share experiences and discuss mutual concerns such as coping mechanisms, how to handle the side effects of chemotherapy, life after treatment has ended and how the disease process affects family and close friends, in a non-judgemental and accepting environment.  In some cases members may discover information that they had missed or ways in which they can do things differently, or simply feel reassured from meeting others and hearing what they had to say about their experiences.

Heather Norman from Bowel Cancer IOM says it has been really interesting to hear about the different experiences patients and carers have had, both during and after their treatment.  Each patient’s “cancer journey” is uniquely tailored to that patient’s particular requirements however there may be similarities in parts with other patients. 

The next support group meeting will take place on Monday, 2 February 2015 from 10am till 12 noon in the function room at Douglas Golf Club. The information that is shared in these discussions stays within the group. The importance of confidentiality is stressed in the beginning. The format of these meetings is informal so that there is a mixture of educational items as well as time for the participants to share their own personal stories with one another. If you know of anyone dealing with colorectal cancer, please invite him or her along. Questions about the support group may be directed to Heather Norman on 07624 480973.