Barrow-in-Furness residents living with and beyond cancer can sign up for a free course to help them get their lives back on track after treatment.
Macmillan Cancer Support’s Information and Support Service at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) is relaunching its HOPE (help overcome problems effectively) course in the town later this year.
The six-week self-management programme, which was developed by Macmillan Cancer Support and Coventry University, is due to start on Wednesday, 21 September, and will be held at CancerCare on Duke Street.
The HOPE course helps people to rediscover their strengths, manage the day-to-day impact of their treatment and make the most of the positive things in life.
Lorraine Jones, Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Service Manager, and one of the course leaders, explains: “Cancer is one of the toughest things most of us will ever face. But people don’t have to go through it alone. The HOPE course aims to help people get their life back on track after cancer treatment. It is delivered in a friendly, helpful and informative way, and enables the people taking part to feel happier, more confident, motivated and positive about the future.”
During the programme attendees will be able to share their experiences and get support from others going through the same thing. They will also learn how to strengthen their coping skills for dealing with different problems, like anxiety, fatigue and concerns for the future, so they can feel more like themselves again.
There are nine places on the course, which are open to anyone affected by cancer across North Lancashire and South Cumbria. The weekly group-based programme will start at 10am and last around 2.5 hours.
It will be led by trained facilitators from Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Service (MCISS) based at Furness General Hospital, Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Westmorland General Hospital.
For further information, or to sign up for the course, contact Macmillan’s Information and Support Service on 01524 519578 / 07972 639424, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm (excluding Bank Holidays) or email macmillan.info@mbht.nhs.uk