It was purely by chance that I decided to try hypnotherapy.

I had been diagnosed with prostate cancer back in October 2006. This was a very traumatic time for me. My way of dealing with this was through Reiki. After my treatment and medication I was experiencing very strange dreams, physical pain and emotional issues. I mentioned this to my Reiki master, he suggested that it may be helpful to try hypnotherapy.

So being of an open mind I approached Kathleen about trying hypnotherapy at the Centre, she kindly gave the go ahead and my first session with Christine was in January 2008.

I had no idea how hypnotherapy worked and so went along with an open mind and no expectations. At the first session we discussed my background and briefly discussed how hypnotherapy worked, Christine was of the opinion that a course of treatment would be helpful to me. At the second session I had my first hypnotherapy treatment. The third and fourth sessions were to help me to relax and release tension, Christine recorded these on cassette for me to play at home when I felt the need.

At subsequent sessions we explored self-hypnosis, EFT, and levitation techniques. The purpose of these being to help me to accept my current situation and bring more flexibility into my lifestyle by accepting new ways of enjoying being me. During all of the sessions we had open and frank dialogue. I had my last session with Christine in July 2008, I came away knowing that Christine had given me all of the tools necessary to cope with what lies ahead of me. I now use these inconjunction with Reiki.

I am fortunate that Christine was there for me at a time in my life when her professionalism, understanding and compassion were greatly needed. The support group and treatments offered by the Centre have been a great help to me in understanding and coming to terms with my illness.

In 1978, a week before my sixteenth birthday, I was told that I had Hodgkins Disease.  For the next three years I received the very best treatment available but needless-to-say I went through some very hard times.  In those days there weren’t effective anti-sickness drugs, CT machines were few and far between and complementary therapies were only found in fairy tales.

The next twenty years of my life were brilliant but in 2001 the side effects of the radiotherapy I had received started to become apparent.  I soldiered on as my thyroid was taken out and a malignant melanoma was excised from my arm.  I even got used to having the recurring basal cell carcinomas on my torso removed once a quarter.  Then in 2004 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and my life went into freefall.

I had my first mastectomy, I had the chemotherapy, I lost my hair and I spent a lot of time looking at the same four walls.  My doctors, friends and family were and are fantastic, but I felt that I needed something more.

Over the years I had driven past the Cancer Help Centre but I had never contacted them.  However, whilst in hospital having my second (prophylactic) mastectomy I started talking to another patient who was very enthusiastic about the place.  She assured me that the Centre worked in conjunction with the doctors and, encouraged by her experience, I joined.

Oh how I wish I had become a member earlier.  The complementary therapies I receive lift my spirits; the Younger Peoples Support Group enables me to talk to like-minded individuals and the craft workshop allows me to express myself through art.  The most gratifying aspect though is the laughter, the camaraderie and the inspiration I get from the other members.

I have lived with cancer for a long time and I know that there are no certainties in life and nobody has all the answers but my advice is that if you have cancer and need support, don’t drive past the Cancer Help Centre – drop in!

I can’t remember ever having a day off work sick before I had to go into hospital with a burst appendix.

It felt like a calamity to be told I’d be off for three weeks, especially as I was freelance with no sick pay.  The op to remove the appendix went well, so when I was at home recovering I decided I’d be ok to go back to work after just two weeks.

Then came a phone call from a doctor at Mayday Hospital, saying they needed to discuss test results … that afternoon.

I had no idea they’d done any tests and he refused to elaborate on the phone.  But somehow I knew what it meant.  However, it was still a shock when the doctor actually said I had cancer, like being struck by a bolt of lightning.

The consultant said I’d need major surgery in a couple of weeks so, in the meantime, go home and try to relax.  But that was the last thing I wanted to do.  I had a fight on my hands and my survival campaign had to start ASAP.

I got out the phone book, started ringing around and before long ended up at the South East Cancer Help Centre.

I must admit I wasn’t expecting much.  I thought it would be the realm of the living dead.  So I was amazed to walk in and hear people laughing and chatting away as if they hadn’t a care in the world.

Talking to people there it all suddenly didn’t seem like such a big deal.  For a start I didn’t feel like the only one in world who was going through this.

So I left the Centre after my first visit feeling 100 times more positive than I’d arrived.  And people from the Centre continued to lift my spirits during several years of difficult treatment.  I don’t know what I’d have done without them.

The Cancer Help Centre in Purley became a vital part of my life in September 2004, just after an operation for breast cancer. The local McMillan nurse recommended the Centre as being “a really positive place with lovely people” – and how right she was!

It’s a rather scary and confusing time when you have had major surgery and are being asked to make choices about chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Like most people, I didn’t know much about types of cancer or the effects of treatment and was trying to make sense of a host of information and options.

I wandered into the Centre on a Tuesday evening and was met by a smiling and welcoming Kathleen.  She outlined for me the membership arrangements and gave me an outline of all the therapies and group sessions available. The library was comfortable and stocked with a host of publications I could dip into. Although personally I found that I stayed more positive if I didn’t read too much, I did learn more about my particular cancer, some useful information on nutrition and on practicalities such as where to buy a wig or order a turban.

The Centre organised a six week group session for people at different stages of treatment. This was hugely valuable – I could talk direct to people who had had chemotherapy or radiotherapy, some who had had a recurrence and others who had not but were still needing a bit of support in keeping a positive outlook.  There were weekly sessions on topics such as relaxation and diet, and time for us just to chat and compare notes.  It was here I made one friend who was a few weeks “ahead” of me and we have continued to be a support to each other.

The team at the Centre made each session relaxed. They were honest in their comments and encouraging in practical advice. I remember they even bought some soya milk on one day when we decided that was a cure-all!

Throughout a long 6 months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy I was fortunate to have counselling sessions at the Centre with Melanie. I remember saying at our first meeting that I wanted someone I could be completely honest with and not feel I had to put a brave face on for. We’ve had some laughter and tears and throughout I have been encouraged to deal positively with issues that concerned me. Looking back I have to say that these sessions have had benefits far wider than my dealing with my cancer.

I have also benefited hugely from regular reflexology sessions and healing sessions at Purley. I believe that these have helped in maintaining my immune system and in reducing  the physical effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy as well as helping my body to repair. When you are dealing with cancer you are to a large extent in the hands of the medical profession and there are no guarantees that you can be completely healed. For me it was important to feel I was actually doing something to assist my own recovery and to keep myself healthy for the future.

It was with that in mind that I later asked if I could have some hypnotherapy. This assists in maintaining a positive outlook and in feeling that you can have control over what happens in your own body. This was timed to coincide with the end of my treatment which was ideal as many people reach a “dip”when medical treatment finishes and they are left on their own again.

I could have joined group sessions in subjects such as art therapy, drama or yoga and I know many people have found those sessions suit them particularly well. The team at Purley are so friendly and encouraging. During treatment I chose to have two different wigs which were completely different to my own hair. It seemed to me that each time I arrived, one of the team would boost my morale with a bubbly comment about how I looked – very important when you also have no eyelashes and have pencilled in your eyebrows! 

A month ago I completed my medical treatment and with the help of the Purley Centre I now feel able to take myself forward again.  I’ve lost count of the number of people who have commented on my positive and optimistic outlook throughout this episode in my life. I know that it is certainly not all down to me – the team at Purley have been a focal point in my life and supported me practically and emotionally during this journey.

The work done by the team at Cancer Help is vital and I would like to thank every one of them for helping me through so that I can now face the future with confidence.

I believe that if everyone had the services of a Centre like Purley, we would see greater success rates in the treatment of cancer patients. 

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