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South Powys residents Invited to Cancer Information Days

ICJ Summer Information Day

13 June 2022

ICJ Summer Information Day
Powys residents in the south of the county who are living with cancer, concerned about cancer, have had, or are currently undergoing tests are being invited to drop in at a half-day information event taking place in Brecon on Thursday 23 June in the Gallery at Theatr Brycheiniog anytime between 12noon - 5pm.

The Improving the Cancer Journey in Powys (ICJ) programme team are hosting two events in the county - one in the North and one in the South - so that people can find out more about the support locally that is available to them.

Residents will be able to pick up information, chat to a range of professionals and third sector organisations and book in for a follow up appointment with one of the trained link workers to discuss their own specific needs.

There will also be the chance to listen to talks from Dr Ruth Corbally, the Powys GP Cancer Lead, Credu who support unpaid carers, the senior nurse from the Bracken Trust, a health board dietician who will talk about nutrition and the senior Community Connector from PAVO (Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations). 

All those attending will receive an ICJ goodie bag and will be entered into a free raffle draw with prizes including a pamper hamper courtesy of Morrisons, a Dragon Cruise canal trip voucher and a £30 voucher for The Hours Coffee and Bookshop plus local honey from the Honey Café near Bronllys.  Visitors are invited to join others who are living with cancer in the gallery space for a chat over tea/coffee and a Welsh cake.      

Members of Theatre Brycheiniog's lunchtime uplift choir and the Alive & Kickin' Community Choir will be singing at 2pm for 20 minutes.  Brecon Beacons National Park Authority are also offering two guided half hour circular walks down the towpath at 3pm and 4pm as part of a Canals, Communities and Wellbeing project funded by Welsh Government.

Meinir Morgan, Programme Manager said: 

"Our Information Day is about sharing the things that we've been putting in place in Powys since the programme began. The overriding aim is to better support people during their cancer journey. With no district general hospital in the county, we know from research carried out by Macmillan Cancer Support - our funders - and from conversations we've had ourselves, how isolating it can be for people before and after treatment.  People can often have questions on an array of issues that aren't necessarily medical and are not sure where to turn. We are in a position to offer people a coordinated package of support based on their needs, whether these are financial, practical, emotional, physical, social, or spiritual." 

Dr Ruth Corbally, Macmillan GP Cancer Lead and the Clinical Lead for Cancer for Powys Teaching Health Board and ICJ Sponsorsaid: 

"If you are living with cancer, supporting someone who is, or just want to pop by and find out more about the signs and symptoms to look out for we'd love to see you.  All four of our delivery partners - PAVO, Credu, the Bracken Trust and our own specialist palliative nurses - will be on hand. Our programme uses Macmillan's tried and tested assessment tool which once completed helps us to provide anyone living with cancer with the things that matter most to them whether that's getting a blue badge, getting their prescriptions collected, their lawns mowed or being able to access massage or counselling to help with anxiety."

Alongside the four delivery partners, there will be information from the council's Money Advice Team, the Books About Cancer project, Assist - the council's information and advice service for adult care, Blood Bikes Wales, Wye Valley Trust's Cancer Information Services Centre, and Macmillan Cancer Support who will share how people can set up their own local support group. 

Hand gel will be available at the event and people attending are welcome to wear a face mask if they feel this offers them added protection.

More details about the Improving the Cancer Journey in Powys programme can be found at:  https://www.powysrpb.org/icjpowys