Firstly I will introduce myself, my name is Catherine and I work at the Birmingham Disability Resource Centre (BDRC).
At the centre we are looking to set up a cancer support group for individuals affected by cancer, their carers and family members who live in central Birmingham and the immediate surrounding areas. We are working closely with Macmillan to develop this.
We’ve noticed there is a lack of cancer support groups in this particular area and through searching on this forum i’ve found there a quite a few members who live in Birmingham, hopefully some people will feel the group could be helpful to them and would like to come along.
Let me know and I will keep you updated with our progress.
I don’t consider myself disabled, although I am on sick leave until early summer at least.
However I mentioned to my OH just the other day that I was not aware of any local support groups for breast cancer. A few of us got together for a coffee in the Bull Ring at the beginning of the month and there may be another meet-up at the beginning of next month.
I would certainly be interested in helping to get a group going, whether for cancer generally or for breast cancer in particular. I am an adult education basic skills tutor in the Sparkhill area, so I have some awareness of the amazing variety of people who live in Birmingham and of the wide range of backgrounds and other needs (language, learning needs, other disability and general health) that people may have in addition to a diagnosis of cancer.
Please feel free to send me a PM if you think I can be of help.
Hi -I am intrested in helping with the cancer support group for individuals affected by cancer, their carers and family members who live Birmingham.
Can you keep me posted when the next meeting is as I would like to get involved.
My mother has suffered from Breast Cancer and would like to get in touch with women who are going through this specially asian women in birmingham.
My mum speaks english as well as punjabi and hindi.
I would like to be involved in a group in Birmingham. I was surprised to find that in a city this size there is such a dearth of support groups etc. I have finished treatment, trying to cope, struggling at times but very good at being cheerful for the sake of others.
please let me know if this support group has been set up,i have finished treatment 4 weeks ago and am struggling emotionally to get back to normal , just trying to take it day by day and its hard x
There is a group called The Cancer Support Centre at Sutton Coldfield tel: 0300 012 0245. They are in the St Giles Treatment centre, and are brillient. I lost my husband to cancer and within 3 days someone had contacted me and I have attended there many times since, especially as I then went onto have breast cancer. They do all sorts of treatments (which are very nice) they are a special group of people, and make you very welcome and have plenty of hankies.
Also in Sutton Coldfield is Breast Friends run from Good Hope Hospital, they are also very nice they have monthly meetings and various outings.
Libralady, and anyone else in the area, what about getting together for coffee somewhere in the city centre? There have been a couple of small gatherings in the past, so we could try again. (I’ve finished treatment except for anti-oestrogen, I hope.)
What do you think? Early November, at one of the coffee shops in the Bull Ring area? That’s handy for the trains and most buses. Perhaps an informal group is enough–there seem to be some that go on for quite a while, but perhaps we could also talk about how to get something more permanent and official.
I’ve heard of the St Giles Centre, but of course you have to be able to get there.
We’ve been contacted by our partners at The Haven to make community members aware of an event taking place in Birmingham. They’re running an outreach day from the Hereford Haven at The Westmead Hotel, Redditch Road, Hopward Birmingham B48 7AL, on Thurs 3 November from 10 till 4.30pm. They’ll be running an “Introduction to The Haven ” day and are trying to get as many people as possible registered to attend.
For more information, call the centre manager, Frankie Devereux on 01432 361 052.
I am a Brummie girl and would also welcome a meeting up if there are still plans to do so, currently undergoing chemo after MX. The Haven event sounds very good but sadly that’s my next chemo day and not my neck of the woods at all.