Saturday afternoon marked another meeting for the members of the Act of Random Kindness (ARK Support Group) as well as the Cancer Survivors Group. A handful of people met at the AFM Church in Brickhill Road to share their stories as well as learn more about debilitating illnesses.
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Shailen Sunderpersad started off the meeting by explaining how in September 2008 his health took a serious turn and reduced him to a life as a ‘cabbage in bed’. He said that this experience motivated him to reach out and help others in a similar situation and thus the ARK Support group was founded.
The support group’s mission is to be a confidential gathering where there is no doctor bashing or judging, instead there is respect for each other. Saturday’s meeting concentrated on cancer.
In this first part of the topic, a broader look at cancer was examined as well as types of cancer, what is not cancer, viruses linked to cancer, amongst other topics.
Mr Sunderpersad told the gathering that he is in the process of writing a book for cancer survivors that deals with life after cancer, coping with cancer, recurrence and post-traumatic stress. He is hopeful that with the assistance from locals the book will be published and distributed to those in need.
READ: Regular meetings are a comfort for survivors
A cancer survivor spoke of her experience before and after being diagnosed with breast cancer. She described how when the word ‘cancer’ was mentioned by the doctor, she ‘shut off’.
“The first thought that comes to mind is ‘I’m going to die’ but with my family there, I had their support,” she said adding that we must be in tune with our bodies so we are able to pick up any abnormalities.
The meeting wrapped up a prayer. The next support group meeting will be held on July 21 at the AFM Church at 2pm.
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