About Us
Duncan
Joining the South East Cancer Help Centre in 2015 was one of my best decisions and undoubtedly made an enormous difference to my recovery from bowel cancer. I had the benefit of counselling from one of their very professional team which helped me deal with the present and restructure my future. A nutritionist analysed my diet and regulated my food intake to make sure my energy levels had a chance to build up.
The most helpful of all was the Bowel Cancer Support Group which took me and my wife on a journey of support, explanation, knowledge, reassurance and fun. I realised that what I was experiencing was not unique and had been the experience of other members of the group. I am so grateful for the confidential sharing of views and thoughts about not just the physical but also the emotional impact of the disease. The culture was one of sharing every and all experiences for the mutual benefit of the attendees.
Another group I joined was Mindfulness and this was fascinating and sometimes difficult to grasp the concepts. I found myself slightly embarrassed one day when during a period of meditation, I was so relaxed that I fell asleep!
I bravely attended a drama group which was very challenging especially when taken outside my comfort zone by playing a Shakespearian character – great fun and the group was run by a very talented drama teacher.
An organisation that is truly steeped in its mission of helping as many people as possible with or affected by Cancer in a safe and supportive environment. I will be eternally grateful for their services and I will continue to support SECHC and the Bowel Cancer Support Group in all their endeavours.
Christine
Thank you very much for organising the meeting last evening. It was so lovely meeting everyone – they were all so friendly and supportive – and it was very helpful to hear their experiences.
Martin
I have been attending the Bowel Cancer Support Group meetings at the Centre for several years. The group provides a relaxed, supportive, confidential and often highly entertaining environment where one can simply be - everyone has the same or similar experiences and it is good to know that whatever you share someone else has already been there before you and will have useful input.
In addition, there are often presentations from healthcare specialists with opportunities to ask questions that you never got to ask before.
Come along and try it - nothing shocks us!
Ann
Thank you for all your help and support when I most needed it.
Phil
Following the trauma of major bowel surgery, I took advantage of the range of services offered by Croydon University Hospital and the Cancer Help Centre at Purley. This included the full range of complementary therapy sessions, counselling and joining the Bowel Cancer Support Group.
The monthly meetings of the Group have supported me over the last 5 years and I have even joined them on-line while out of the UK during the pandemic. Being in the group enables us to talk together about the practical and sometimes very personal issues of living with the aftermath of cancer treatment. These conversations can sometimes be hilarious but are always informative especially when we have expert outside speakers. The group provides a much needed, non-medical social opportunity to talk with others about this life experience, which is common for many people today.