We offer caring support to cancer sufferers and their carers
The Acorn Cancer Support Group has been operating for more than 20 years and aims to alleviate the distress surrounding people diagnosed with cancer or other life-limiting illness, and their carers. Our Support Groups meet monthly in St Ives, Huntingdon and Ramsey. We offer free relaxation therapies, friendship and support to patients and their carers. The group also offers the opportunity for sharing experiences and giving mutual support, as our clients are often in the position of being able to advise and help each other.
Why the community needs us
Acorn fills a gap by providing support to cancer sufferers and their carers in-between medical treatments for the patients. It does this via its group meetings, which provide the chance to make new friends who understand the issues they face, and offer free relaxation sessions. Together with free social events these provide an antidote to loneliness and isolation.
Our impact on the community
At our monthly support meetings, as well as the social support they offer, we provide a range of relaxation therapy sessions including reflexology, aromatherapy and shoulder and back massage, along with fun seated exercise. We also provide a range of free social outings: boat trips, a summer lunch, a Christmas lunch and a monthly film club. Taken together these help to provide an improved quality of life for our members. The wider benefit to the community is that the worries of family members (e.g. their children) are reduced when they know that their parents are getting free support and have access to free social activity which is reducing their loneliness and isolation. This is a clear indicator that they are living in a supportive and caring community, especially if the family is financially disadvantaged.
I was diagnosed with rectal cancer in January 2010, the surgery in April 2010 was successful but left me with peripheral damage which limited my mobility and left me feeling isolated. I was introduced to the St Ives Acorn Cancer Support Group by a Macmillan nurse (Mandy). I didn't attend at first as I was sceptical about such a group being able to help me. Eventually I was so desperate I decided to try. What I found was a lively friendly group of cancer sufferers and survivors who understood and shared my problems. The support team, nurses, therapists and refreshment providers are friendly and helpful. I came away greatly cheered by my experience and now look forward to our meetings and events. Loss of mobility limits my lifestyle, the Acorn Support Group provide a lifeline to the outside world. The meetings and events have become a highlight of my month. I cannot praise them highly enough.
Upon reaching retirement I was taken ill with what turned out to be prostate cancer, living alone, support from family and friends is so valuable but sometimes they can be too close to the problem. The 'Acorn' group have been invaluable in the support with therapies, a chat and an opportunity to meet others in a similar situation. The professionals involved can put life into perspective and provide support when your emotions get the better of you during setbacks, which inevitably occur.
I have attended the Huntingdon Branch of the St Ives Acorn Group now for the last 3 years. I had cancer of the uterus, and following my hyterectomy in Addenbrookes Hospital I felt alone, a little confused, very scared, and isolated. I knew only one or two people with or recovering from Cancer. And more people who had died, and I thought I would be next. I discovered the group through Bedford Hospital group whilst visiting a friend there Id seen a poster and went in and asked if there was anything in Huntingdon. I soon found many friends, a wealth of information, alternative therapies on offer, courses to help deal with life after Cancer, and other people who were sharing the same experiences as me. I cannot praise the group enough for the support that is there for each one of us.
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