What’s On at BreaCan Feb - Apr

[Janette]

2011 What’s On at BreaCan
BreaCan is a free, confidential information and support service for people affected by breast cancer or a gynaecological cancer. The service is open 10.00am–2.00pm Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, Ground Floor, Queen Victoria Women’s Centre, 210 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. Call in or phone one of our trained volunteers on 1300 781 500.

February
Sashiko
Monday 7 February 11am–12.30pm
Lea O’Sullivan, owner of Japanese fabric and textile business Kimono House, will teach us the basics of Sashiko, a decorative form of Japanese embroidery. Come and learn this very relaxing technique of hand stitching and create a small piece to take home. No sewing experience necessary. Places are limited and as this session is always popular, priority will be given to those who haven’t participated in a Sashiko, Hana Flowers or Fabric Origami session before.
Limited numbers so please book in early.
Focusing on Ovarian Cancer
Wednesday 16 February 12–2pm
BreaCan and Ovarian Cancer Australia are proudly
co-hosting an information session especially for women living with ovarian cancer. In acknowledgement of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Dr Deborah Neesham, Gynaecological Oncologist at the Royal Women’s Hospital and Frances Perry House will talk about the diagnosis, treatment and new developments in relation to the detection and best practice management of ovarian cancer. There will also be an opportunity to connect with other women living with ovarian cancer with light refreshments following the session. To book, please contact Ovarian Cancer Australia on 1300 660 334 or admin@ovariancancer.net.au. The session will be held at BreaCan, Ground Floor at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre.

Meditation (Evening session)
Monday 21 February 5.30–7pm
You’ve probably heard about the benefits of meditation: clearer thinking, reduced stress, better health, relief from pain, deep relaxation and so on. Join Debbie Ling from the Melbourne Meditation Centre for an introductory session on “What Is Meditation?” so that you can learn how to effectively relax the body and calm the mind.

March
Shrinking the Worries
Wednesday 2 March 12–1.30pm
We all worry about things occasionally. But sometimes, especially after a major event in our lives, such as a cancer diagnosis, we can find ourselves worrying more, about all manner of things. This can affect our sleep, our stress levels and our general well being. This session will look at a variety of ways to help you worry less, so you can feel calmer about the day to day events in your life. Lynda Evans has over 20 years experience as a social worker, and helping people ‘shrink their worries’ has been a constant theme in her work. Limited numbers so please book in early.

Celebrations and Tributes
Wednesday 16 March 11am–2pm
At different times in our lives we may be called upon to give a speech at a milestone birthday or wedding, write a eulogy for a loved one, or simply want to convey the special place someone has in your life. Join Josie Scott — Celebrant, Counsellor and Creative Arts Therapist — to discover how you can draw upon your relationships with people to know how to get started on reflecting upon your times together. The occasions may be happy or sad, so how do we harness those special memories to come up with something appropriate and meaningful? We can also think about ourselves in this process - what would we like said about us at our own celebrations? Limited numbers so please book in early. Lunch provided.

Music for the Mind, Body and Soul
Thursday 31 March 11am–2pm
We all have a connection with music. Our tastes may be different, but still, music has a way of touching our soul.
Emma O’Brien, Senior Music Therapist at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, will facilitate an interactive session about the way music can be used to help heal and maintain health and well being in our lives. Singing optional, ears a must! Limited numbers so please book in early. Lunch provided.

April
Balancing the Scales
Thursday 7 April 12–1.30pm
Prof Joseph Proietto, is an Endocrinologist and a Professor of Medicine at The University of Melbourne. He also heads the Weight Control Clinic at Austin Health. Women often talk about their concerns of weight gain as a result of chemotherapy and hormone treatments. Joseph will give us a better understanding of why our weight fluctuates, why a common side effect of cancer treatment and menopause is weight gain, and why it’s important to manage our weight after a cancer diagnosis. It is sure to be an enlightening session – one in which we hope we will learn what it is about weight control that makes it easier to balance the scales.

Feeling Good with Feldenkrais
Monday 11 April 5.30–7pm (Evening session)
Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais was a physicist and engineer. However it was after a chronic knee injury combined with his interest in martial arts that inspired him to devise a series of movement exercises. Join Ralph Hadden, a Feldenkrais practitioner with over 30 years experience, to learn more about these gentle, relaxing movement exercises. He will give a practical introduction to the Feldenkrais approach. Exercises are taught in a seated position, so there is no expectation of fitness or flexibility. Limited numbers so please book in early.

Take a Bite into Passionfruit
Monday 18 April 10.30am–12 noon
You may have always wanted to walk into a sensuality shop, but haven’t quite been confident enough to do so. Or maybe you haven’t yet found the right sort of place? Passionfruit has done away with the blackened windows, swing doors and fluoro signs and laced sexuality with sensual style and a whole lot of fun. Michelle Temminghoff, Owner, will show us some of the more popular products for women and give you a chance to look, feel, enquire and possibly buy! We’ll meet at Passionfruit in Richmond before the store opens to the general public – morning tea provided; Strictly limited numbers. Further details will be provided at time of booking.

Special Events
Recipes for Living – Forum
Saturday 2 April, 10am – 4pm
BreaCan in conjunction with Western Health will be holding a day forum for women with breast or a gynaecological cancer in the western suburbs on Saturday 2 April 2011 from 10am. The forum will include sessions on living well following a cancer diagnosis, services available to support women in their local area and an opportunity to participate in a creative or relaxing activity. Most importantly, will be the opportunity for women to meet each other and share their experiences. The day will also have a focus on women from different cultural backgrounds.
More details will be available shortly, but if you are interested in finding out more, please contact BreaCan on 1300 781 500 or by email on breacan@breacan.org.au

A Forum For Women With a Gynaecological Cancer
Saturday 14 May, from 10am
The Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg
In conjunction with the Mercy Hospital for Women, BreaCan will hold a day forum for women who have a gynaecological cancer. This forum will include guest speaker Dr David Allen, Gynaecological Oncologist, talking about latest treatments, a session on local services available and an opportunity to meet other women and participate in a relaxing or creative activity.
The forum will be held at the Mercy Hospital for Women in Heidelberg.
Registration is essential. For more information please contact BreaCan on 1300 781 500 or email breacan@breacan.org.au

Regular Activities
Introductory Hand & Foot Reflexology
Reflexology is a system of health care, incorporating mind, body and spirit. It offers tangible benefits to those living with a diagnosis of cancer and complements existing treatments. Jennifer Rigby is a reflexologist and registered nurse offering an opportunity to alleviate some of your stress and tension. Please call to book an appointment.
February 9 and 23, March 9 and 23, April 13 and 27

Feel Good Gentle Exercise Program
This program offers gentle exercise to tone the body and help the lymphatic system. Conducted by a qualified instructor, the sessions are held fortnightly on a Wednesday from 10.30 - 11.30am. Women participating need to complete enrolment forms prior to attending.
February 2 and 16, March 2, 16 and 30, April 13 and 27
Support group for women living with advanced breast or gynaecological cancers
Are you a woman living with advanced breast or gynaecological cancer? Would you like to meet with women facing a similar challenge? BreaCan are hoping to start a group in May 2011, running for 6 to 8 weeks. For more information, please contact Wendy Pullan, Information and Support Officer at BreaCan. Phone 1300 781 500 or email wendy.pullan@breacan.org.au.

Some Information Sessions are recorded and available to borrow on CD, or download as a podcast from our website. For more information visit http://www.breacan.org.au.

BreaCan is a service of Women’s Health Victoria and is funded by the Victorian Department of Human Services



BreaCan is a free information and support service for people affected by breast cancer or a gynaecological
cancer.
Location: Ground Floor, Queen Victoria Women’s Centre, 210 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.
Opening hours: 10.00am–2.00pm, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Call in or phone 1300 781 500.
More information is available from the website, www.breacan.org.au

National Research into the Needs of Women Living With Advanced Breast Cancer – Survey
Results

Thursday, 24 February
10.30am – 12pm

Join us for morning tea and listen to Lisa Sheeran, Nurse Researcher at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
talk about some interesting research. Lisa is part of a team conducting research into the models of care for
people with advanced cancer. She will present some of the findings of the national survey, completed by
nearly 800 women living with advanced breast cancer throughout Australia. Maybe you have participated
in this survey. Now you can hear what other women have said. Some of the initial findings may surprise
and others may affirm what you would expect. The survey focused on the information and support
needs of women with advanced breast cancer. However the findings will be relevant to women living with
advanced gynaecological cancers. What’s really important is how what was learnt may be used in the
future to improve the care and treatment pathways for people with advanced cancer.

Talking About Difficult Issues

Monday, 21 March
11am – 2pm

Are there things that you would like to talk about but family or friends don’t want to hear? Do you intend
to start a particular conversation but time and again don’t get around to it? Do you feel at times that your
needs and wishes are not understood? Do you find it difficult to talk about your illness with your children,
or your parents, or anyone else that matters? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, and you
would like to share your experience and learn some tips and strategies for how to approach these matters,
this session is for you. Josie Scott is a counsellor, celebrant, creative arts therapist and trainer. She has
extensive experience in facilitating a safe, confidential, and supportive environment in which to explore the
sensitive and complex communication issues arising from a diagnosis of advanced cancer.
Breast Cancer & Bones – Issues, Treatment and the Future

Thursday, 5 May
10.30am – 12pm

Dr Richard De Boer is a Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Royal Melbourne and Western Hospitals.
He has a significant involvement in clinical trials, both at the Australian and international levels. Richard
has a major clinical interest in bone health and believes that there is an important relationship between
breast cancer and bones. He will talk about new treatments and highlight current thinking and preventative
strategies. There will be an opportunity to ask general questions.

Bookings are essential for all sessions. Phone 1300 781 500 or email breacan@breacan.org.au