Support group launched for women with incurable breast cancer
Getty ImagesWomen living with secondary breast cancer are being offered support from a new group to help them share experiences and access specialist advice.
The charity Breast Cancer Now is launching the group after a breast clinical nurse specialist at Wansbeck General Hospital identified a need for dedicated support in the county.
More than 61,000 people in the UK are living with secondary breast cancer - where the disease has spread to other parts of the body. While treatable, it is not currently curable.
The sessions will bring women together in a relaxed setting to talk, listen and learn from others facing the same diagnosis.
Samantha Toward, breast clinical nurse specialist at Wansbeck General Hospital, said: "Northumberland covers a very large area but there was no support available specifically for this patient group before.
"I reached out to Breast Cancer Now to see if we could do anything to address this gap and we're thrilled that it's been given the go-ahead.
"We work with many patients going through similar treatments and diagnosis, so it will really benefit them to connect with others and feel supported."
Each session will be led by a trained counsellor, with occasional extended meetings featuring expert speakers on issues including treatment side effects, fatigue and clinical trials.
'Wide-ranging impact'
The free monthly sessions start on Tuesday 16 June at Hirst Welfare Centre in Ashington, and will then run on the third Tuesday of every month.
Sally Kum from Breast Cancer Now told BBC Radio Newcastle the model had a proven track record of support.
"As you can imagine, the impact of secondary breast cancer on people and their friends and family can be wide-ranging.
"Having to have conversations with family, friends, perhaps children around having a disease that can't be cured... it can impact things like work and finances.
"It can be quite wide-ranging for people," she said.
"Many people talk about needing that support from people who really understand what they're going through."
