4 | GPH News – February 2018 Cancer Wellness Coordinator Ranee Saffioti with guest speakers Mark Urquhart and Lois Thompson.
Cancer patients and their carers can receive
practical and emotional support in 2018
through the Cancer Wellness Program,
which is about to mark its first anniversary
at Greenslopes Private Hospital.
Coordinator Ranee Saffioti said the
program will include some popular
topics including mindfulness, relaxation,
stress management, nutrition, exercise,
and carers’ support.
“Often with a cancer diagnosis, the last
thing you’re thinking about is how to best
manage your financial situation. Our first
monthly education session of the year
focuses on financial assistance, insurance
superannuation, estate planning, and
Centrelink matters,” said Ms Saffioti.
The Cancer Wellness Program, which
is funded by the Gallipoli Medical
Research Foundation, offers free
monthly education sessions to the
hospital’s current cancer patients, their
carers and support network.
The classes are designed to offer
practical help, emotional assistance
and other tools to optimise patients’
wellbeing and ensure a smoother
pathway to a better future.
The monthly sessions run for two and
a half hours and usually consist of two
guest speakers and a patient who
shares their personal story.
At the hospital’s most recent session,
former soldier and partial paraplegic
Mark Urquhart shared his personal
story, life lessons, and motivations.
This included details about how he
overcame near-death paratrooper
drops, addiction, and family tragedy
to become Australia’s first parabobsledder.
Another guest speaker, author Lois
Thompson, shared her experiences
with cancer.
The former social worker and cancer
patient said she believed her family’s
journey with cancer, death and grief
further developed her professional
knowledge and ability to support others
jumping these “hurdles on the track of life”.
“Patient story-telling is the most popular
part of our sessions as patients can
connect with each other and feel
supported by their community,”
said Ms Saffioti.
“We have also introduced art therapy
to the Cancer Wellness Program.
If patients wish to partake, they can
find pencils and various colouring-in
sheets in the Wellness Room on Ward
31 and the Cyril Gilbert Cancer Clinic’s
Wellness Corner.”
For more information visit
www.greenslopesprivate.com.au
Community focus in
cancer care