Cancer Focus holds Zest for Life in Portadown and Omagh

The courses will take place at Seagoe Parish Hall each Wednesday from 30th April to 4th June, and at Care for Cancer, Omagh, on Thursdays from 1st May to 5th June, both from 10.30am to 1pm.

Deirdre Conlon, Cancer Focus Care Services Manager, said: “The course will explore personal development, with a strong emphasis on making lifestyle changes, which will improve patients physical and mental health.

“Everyone is unique and we understand that cancer affects everyone differently. Cancer can make people feel that they have lost control, increase their feelings of isolation and can often reduce a person’s self-esteem. Zest for Life aims to help people to understand and manage stress, encourage positive thinking, adopt relaxation techniques and explore complementary therapies. 

“By identifying personal values and realistic goal setting, people often regain a sense of balance and become empowered and motivated to move forward and embrace the future.”

Margaret McAteer (r), who works at Stormont and took part in Zest for Life in Lurgan last year, said it had given her so much and she would love other people to benefit as much as she has.

“I was diagnosed with breast cancer on June 13, 2012. I’d found a lump but didn’t go to the doctor immediately because it was under the breast because and I could only feel it - I’d thought I’d be able to see it,” she said.

“Although I am classed as very high risk I still didn’t think it was cancer but I picked up a breast screening leaflet and read that if there was any puckering of the skin you should get checked. There was, so I made an appointment with my GP.

“After my diagnosis I went through chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which was tough. During that time I saw a leaflet about Cancer Focus counselling at Craigavon Hospital and went along. After you finish treatment and have stopped the round of hospital visits and doctor’s appointments there is a void – you simply don’t know what to do or how to cope. You haven’t dealt with your diagnosis emotionally and this is where Cancer Focus can help.

“My counsellor was brilliant. She suggested I try Zest for Life too, though when I thought of people sitting around in a group talking a lot my first reaction was that it wasn’t for me. But I was persuaded to give it a go and I haven’t looked back.

“The first thing we did was draw up a group contract which said things like everyone’s view was important, we were allowed to get angry, and what was said in the room stayed in the room. Everyone contributed to that. It was reassuring to know what was going to happen over the next six weeks. We realised that the more we put into Zest for Life, the more we would get out.

“A facilitator guided us, for example she discussed the difference between needs and wants and reassured us it was okay to have these feelings. She gave us topics to talk about but it was up to us how the group progressed. I liked that we had ownership of it, which gave us a sense of control that some of us hadn’t been feeling through our illness.

“We discussed all sorts of issues from diet and health to exercise and emotions in a caring, confidential setting, and swapped ideas such on how to cope with side effects of our treatment and tiredness.

“One week we had reflexology and another week there was a talk on colour therapy – how various colours we wear subconsciously can affect your mood. I’ve learned that it’s okay to have needs, that I no longer feel I have to bury my feelings and that I’m not the only one going through challenging emotions. 

“There were six people in our group from different walks of life and we would probably never have met anywhere else. Our course is over now but the camaraderie among us is unbelievable and we still meet socially once a month and have taken three trips away together.

“We think that Zest for Life has changed all of us so much. The important thing is that when you attend Zest for Life you realise you are not alone.  Speaking to others who have had the same experiences and feelings really does help. We all want to help spread the word so that other people will benefit from it too.

“I’d encourage anyone going through their treatment or recovering from cancer to go along – it can only lead to positive things. If others get half as much out of Zest for Life as I did they will be much better equipped to deal with life after cancer.”

Zest for Life is entirely free, confidential and takes place in a safe and caring environment. Materials will be provided for participants.

For further information or to make a booking, please contact the Care Services secretary at Cancer Focus on 028 9068 0751 or email [email protected]. Cancer Focus would encourage anyone interested in taking part to pre-book as there are a limited number of places available.