The Norfolk and Waveney Brain Tumour Support Group, a group that aims to reduce loneliness, anxiety, and isolation among brain tumour patients and their families, has been unable to hold its monthly meetings for three years. The first Covid lockdown in March 2020 prevented the group from continuing its supportive work. However, on Friday, the group finally met for the first time in three years at the Big C Centre at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.
The organizer of the meetings, Joyce Bell, was motivated to start the group after her daughter, Jennifer, passed away from an undiagnosed brain tumour at the age of 22 in 2006. The group aims to provide support for all those affected by a brain tumour diagnosis. In an informal setting, patients, their families, carers, and friends can gather and share their experiences, providing a sense of community and the knowledge that they are not alone.
The group collaborates with The Brain Tumour Charity, which operates 34 in-person support groups across the UK. They often invite speakers such as speech and language therapists and physiotherapists to address the needs of attendees and improve their quality of life. Hannah Mills, an oncology nurse specializing in brain tumour patients, leads the group as a health professional. She acknowledges that the feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and isolation can greatly affect brain tumour patients, which is why connecting people with shared experiences is crucial for reducing these negative emotions.
Mills also emphasizes the importance of holding face-to-face meetings in a less clinical environment, as it helps alleviate anxiety for many participants. Recognizing that some individuals might not feel comfortable discussing their health openly, the group provides a private facility in a separate room for those who prefer a more private setting. The meetings are open to anyone affected by a brain tumour, including family members of those impacted.
Overall, the Norfolk and Waveney Brain Tumour Support Group has resumed its important work after a three-year hiatus. By providing a platform for individuals with brain tumours and their loved ones to connect, share experiences, and receive support, the group aims to combat the feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and isolation that often accompany a brain tumour diagnosis. The collaboration with The Brain Tumour Charity and the inclusion of health professionals at the meetings further enhance the quality of support provided to attendees.
