Testimonies

The Bury Cancer Support Centre offers a wonderful service for anyone who suffers from any type of cancer and also for their carers.
   I have been attending the Centre at St James since the beginning of this year and find it very helpful in many ways. I was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2002 and have spent a lot of time since then having operations to remove various tumours. At the Centre you are among people who are all in the same position, they all have different types of cancer. Talking to people is a good therapy in itself. All of the therapists at the Centre are caring and highly trained in their various fields of therapies.
   I have found over the last 7 or 8 months that my condition has improved dramatically. After my last Review Cystoscopy I was found to be clear of any tumours.
   Now the Centre has achieved charity status I can only see it going from strength to strength. I thank all of the staff for the way that they have helped me.
                                                                                                  Brian

I have been ill for quite a few years and heard about the Bury Cancer Support Centre from being a patient at Bury Hospice. For me, the Centre offers a place of refuge, an oasis, amid the ever-present dark thoughts, doctors appointments, hospital visits and the like.
As everyone is in the same boat it is easy to talk, or listen, to others to offer help, encouragement or even just lend an ear. This forms a bond of friendship that is not only a valuable therapy in itself, but is also recognised as one of the strengths of the Centre. This is because when you are seriously ill you often change your outlook on life and truly learn what life’s priorities really are, and this includes caring for others.
I cannot thank the Centre, and all the staff, enough for the help, support and encouragement they have given to me during this long dark journey. The therapists are all caring, experienced and properly qualified to be in the position that they are.
The Centre is a great and valuable asset to the region and every help should be given to ensure that it grows to fulfil its enormous potential. Thanks again.

Steve

The Centre ran a questionnaire and here are some of the comments received, together with the questions that the responses relate to.

Question:
Would you please tell us how important having access to safe complementary therapies is to you in respect of improving your quality of life?

Responses:
“Very important. Even though I am lucky enough to have access to such therapies from two sources, I still get quite anxious about how I will manage if these sources are removed, I attend both the Centre and the Hospice for reasons other than a severe spinal injury, so if these places ever discharge me, I would be left with no access to the therapies.”
“I wanted to try safe complementary therapies for the dreadful pain in my legs and body.”
“To help me relax and to help me feel positive towards my health and the situation I am in.”
“Very important, makes me feel human again.”
“I feel that it is very important to be able to access alternative therapies. They provide a valuable and worthwhile aid for stress relief and other ailments, without the need for drugs and their side effects.”
“A mixture -- once I sat and cried the whole way through my treatment -- but it was what I needed and I wasn’t judged. Most of the time -- it’s been relaxing -- some days I have come out feeling rejuvenated and better about myself. Its ‘time for me’, which I don’t often have time for.”
“I have felt the benefit of having complementary therapies with people who know what they are doing.”
“We have enough wrong with us and need to be sure that nothing aggravates things further.”
“I’m gradually finding out.”
“Could not lift her right arm and now she can lift it right up. Also, it helps her to walk better.”
“To feel free of pills and therefore finding a quality I never had before.”

Question:
Question 3 asked ”Which complementary did you have?” Then, in the box headed ‘Please add your thoughts and feelings if you wish to’, the following comments were put.

Responses:
“I feel that all therapies have their place. Even though there are two specific areas I have treated by aromatherapy massage, there are occasions when something else would be more suitable. This is where it is important for people to ‘listen’ to their own body to see what it needs at that time.”
“The aromatherapy massage and the head & face massage have helped enormously with stress and tension headaches, but I feel the reflexology has had the most lasting effect on my general well-being and stress levels.”
“Before having the treatment I didn’t understand how good it was, and after treatment I was amazed how good I felt for a couple of days after.”
“I was very surprised how relaxing it is. And also being able to talk about anything in confidence helps also.”
“I find the Centre and these treatments very helpful and the staff are very considerate and understanding of all my concerns.”

Question:
Besides the main reason for having a complementary therapy, has it given you any other benefits?

Responses:
“Besides reducing the pain and discomfort from my spinal injury, it also helps my well-being, helps me to have a more positive outlook, helps my concentration greatly, etc.”
“After reflexology, I feel I have an inner balance and calmness. I sleep much better and have renewed energy to cope with everything and am generally more organised. It increases my self-confidence.”
“I enjoyed the conversations with the therapist. The peaceful atmosphere made it easier to relax.”
“Touch is comforting and makes me feel nurtured. It helps to have someone who has empathy and understands what might help.”
“Reflexology helped me to relax, massage helped me with tension, counseling helped me with anxiety - generally being able to chat.”

Question:
Could you say how you knew that the therapy had helped?

Responses:
“ It makes me feel less anxious and very calm. It helps me deal with difficulties in a more relaxed way. Relaxation helps with both mental and physical problems. It makes the discomfort more bearable.”
“The hand-on experience made me feel like a human being again and not a leper.”
“I feel more able to cope with my husband’s illness. I have the confidence and energy to get through each day.”
“I was less tense and much more positive instead of being depressed.”