Published on: 12 April 2024
An event will give breast cancer patients a chance to meet others and find out what help is on hand to support them through their treatment and beyond.
Nationwide breast cancer charity Future Dreams is delivering its first innovative ‘pop-up’ Wellbeing Day at Gateshead’s iconic Baltic Centre, in partnership with Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust.
The event, which takes place on Tuesday, 16 April, is an opportunity for 50 local breast cancer patients from the region to come together for a series of sessions led by health professionals.
It will offer help with many of the physical and emotional pain points experienced by primary and secondary breast cancer patients.
The structure of the event was pulled together in conjunction with Caroline Tweedie, Cancer Clinical Lead Practitioner for Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, who is currently seconded into the role of Macmillan Lead Practitioner for Living with Cancer at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.
Breast cancer patients in the region were surveyed and local breast care teams were asked the issues their patients needed the most help with.
The survey identified that many women suffer with the long-term psychological impact of breast cancer including depression and the fear of recurrence.
The aim of the Wellbeing Day is to tackle some of those issues head on, and to empower patients to prioritise their emotional and physical wellbeing, through professional and peer support.
Sessions will cover fatigue, nutrition, and menopause as well as classes on yoga, EFT and mindfulness.
They will also be encouraged to join the many online support groups, help sessions and workshops run by Future Dreams .
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with one woman diagnosed every 10 minutes.
Catherine Walker, 28, from Gateshead, received a diagnosis in October 2022.
Her treatment consisted of chemotherapy, a lumpectomy and radiotherapy, but it’s the period after treatment that she has found the hardest.
She said:
"When receiving treatment, there is so much support out there and you are constantly monitored by your oncologists, surgeons and breast care nurses.
"For me, as the treatment went on, this became a comfort blanket and helped reassure me that the treatment was shrinking the tumour. However, I don’t think many people realise, until they’ve gone through it themselves, how difficult life after cancer can be.
"For me, the months after finishing treatment were the hardest months of my whole cancer journey as this was when I actually processed what had happened to me and the lasting impact of my diagnosis.
"Since finishing my active treatment, I have found it difficult to return to ‘normal’ life and have struggled with the longterm side effects of my cancer treatment, including fatigue, breast pain, menopausal symptoms linked to Tamoxifen, my body image, and restarting my physical activity.
"I’m hoping that the Wellness Day will provide me with strategies to help cope with and ease these side effects."
Gateshead was identified as the first location for an outreach event after Caroline invited Future Dreams to host one in the region.
Jackie Wright.
Future Dreams’ clinical breast care nurse specialist Jackie Wright said:
"We are aware the NHS is under immense pressure currently.
"Future Dreams provides online support and meet-ups accessible wherever you are in the uk. We also run the only dedicated breast cancer support centre in the UK in London where patients can just drop-in.
"For some people it is helpful simply meeting someone in a similar situation, whether it be in person or online, and knowing that you aren't the only one facing problems of loneliness and isolation as well as dealing with the disease itself.
"Future Dreams has the mission that ‘nobody should face breast cancer alone or without hope,’ and the more people we can reach across the UK, the more we can support.
"We run sessions on exercise, back to work advice, help dealing with being plunged into early menopause as a result of certain breast cancer treatments, bra and wig fitting help, and counselling services.
"In our recent impact report, 48% of our service users told us they came to Future Dreams due to loneliness and isolation.
"By co-hosting the Wellbeing Day in Gateshead, we want to connect those affected by breast cancer in a lovely environment outside a hospital setting, as well as provide an insight into some of the workshops we host online and that they can go on to use."
In addition to the Wellbeing Day, 25 local medical professionals will come together in the evening to share knowledge and best practice around ongoing care and support for women living with, and recovering from, breast cancer.
They will also get insight into the services Future Dreams provides that can be accessed by local patients.
Caroline said:
"This type of event is building a local community of people with lived experience of cancer, creating an opportunity to develop a sense of mutual support and empowerment. This joint initiative allows both patients and professionals to collaborate – improving awareness, education and advocacy surrounding breast cancer care."
Caroline, who has run sessions at Future Dreams House in London, added:
"London is a long way to travel for a patient who needs help but the regular online meet-ups provided by Future Dreams are available to everyone and can help with a wide range of side effects that many of those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer community struggle to deal with."
Our Trust hosts a Cancer Information Hub, offering patients and their loved ones access to information, videos and details for other sources of support.
It can be found by clicking here.
