Centre’s vital support praised by families

Anniversary cheers . . . (back, from the left) complementary therapist Jane Markham, Sharon Love, Chris Hoyle, (front) Lisa Thompson and David Lane

‘I always leave feeling stronger’

THREE simple words — “You have cancer” — throw worlds into chaos.

Life becomes a constant whirl of consultations, appointments and treatment. But what happens once that stops and patients and their families are left to cope on their own?

That’s where Oldham Cancer Support Centre steps in.

The charity is three years old today and has helped hundreds of people along the way.

One of those is Sharon Love, a 48-year-old mother from Moorside. She was diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago.

“It was devastating not only for me but for my family and friends,” she said. “All I could think was I was going to die.”

Sharon had a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

“It seemed as if I was living from one treatment to the next. It took over, then once treatment finishes and appointments start to slow down you are left with the enormity of what’s happened.

“I won’t get the all clear for five years, and it’s hard to get a positive way of thinking.

“That’s where Oldham Cancer Support Centre came in for me. I had counselling and reflexology and it all helped me to be strong emotionally.”

Sharon recalled: “I walked through the door the first time and just burst into tears. I was in the throes of chemotherapy, and everyone was so lovely. I felt people understood me, now I can just pop in for a chat at any time with people I see as my friends, and I always leave feeling stronger.

“There are so many things available, including Pamper Days — when my hair first started growing back they did a trim.

“Listening to other people’s experiences helps, knowing other people are going through it too stopped me feeling so bad.”

Support is also available for Sharon’s husband, Steven, and sons 18-year-old Kieran and Kyle (22).

David Lane (43) has an inoperable brain tumour. He and the woman he will marry in August, Lisa Thompson, discovered Oldham Cancer Support Centre three months ago.

A more positive couple it would be difficult to meet.

Weekdays are a constant round of treatment and appointments, with aggressive radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment to shrink the tumour.

“But at weekends, we don’t have cancer,” said Lisa.

David added: “We have not asked a lot of questions. You can’t have a bigger obstacle on your hands than being told you have cancer.

“I’m not interested in how long I have to live, I don’t want to know. We have a future and we are living our lives.”

David has reflexology and also hypnotherapy. It has improved his failing appetite, and, he said: “I always leave feeling relaxed and full of positive energy.”

Lisa said: “It’s fantastic. You don’t get pills and sympathy, you get people saying you are doing well, and that’s what we need.

“There are no taboo subjects, people are not afraid of the word cancer nor afraid of talking about it.

“We felt comfortable right from the start. it’s somewhere you can things off your chest.”

Oldham Cancer Support Centre was the dream of Chris Hoyle, who, like many others, felt lost and without support after initial medical treatment for leukaemia.

Despite his illness, he worked relentlessly to raise money and recruit volunteers to help him open a service so other people with cancer would have somewhere to go for help.

Chris said: “I am very proud of what we have achieved here. It has been a privilege to help and support the people of Oldham who have been affected by cancer, and I am humbled by what they have said about the centre.”

To keep the service running, the volunteers have to work hard to raise money.

Donations have dropped significantly during the recession, making next year’s target of £109,000 incredibly difficult to hit.

Chris appealed to the people of Oldham to keep the money coming, and anyone who wants to organise a fundraising event to support the service should ring the centre on 0161-906 2940.