Support group for cancer patients
Providing support for cancer patients, caregivers and friends is important.
In light of World Cancer Day (February 4), City Times spoke to Ronnie Nkabinde, a CanSurvive executive committee member and prostate cancer survivor, about the importance of providing support to families, caregivers and friends of those affected by cancer.
Nkabinde said having a supportive structure is very important; hence he saw the need of creating support groups in the East Rand where patients can share their experiences and concerns and obtain support and useful information from others who have been through similar experiences.
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The East Rand-based CanSurvive Support Group is a member of the Prostate Cancer Foundation and has support groups in Daveyton, KwaThema, Tsakane and at the Far East Rand Hospital.
Two support groups will be started in Wattville and Tembisa.
The Crystal Park resident said they also have a buddy support system where patients can interact with and receive advice and support from cancer survivors who often have a similar profile, disease and treatment protocol.
At every meeting held there will be different guest speakers, such as doctors, dieticians, occupational therapists, laughter therapists and physiotherapists, who will address the patients.
The CanSurvive Support Group was founded in 2009 with the aim of providing support for cancer patients, caregivers and friends at various levels, no matter what type of cancer they are affected by and where they receive their treatment.
The group meets once every month.
• Daveyton, February 20 at the Oasis Church of Life from 10am.
• KwaThema, February 6 at the Ekurhuleni East TVET College from 10am.
• Tsakane, February 13 at the Tsakane Day Care Centre, Letswalo Street from 10am.
Anyone interested in being part of this initiative can call 062 275 6193 or email cansurvive@icon.co.za
• Hospice East Rand also offers individual psychosocial and emotional support to home-based care patients registered with hospice.
This support is offered to patients and families by the hospice social workers and trained caregivers.
Emotional support and counselling is also offered to bereaved families on an individual basis.
They also offer psychosocial support to patients in Vosloorus twice a week at their day care centre at 218 Kemston Avenue in Benoni every Wednesday.
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