Cancer counselling service launched in Solihull - The Solihull Observer

Cancer counselling service launched in Solihull

Solihull Editorial 28th Nov, 2016   0

SILHILLIANS affected by cancer are being invited to take advantage of free counselling.

Charities Relate and Macmillan have joined forces to launch a free cancer counselling service to help borough individuals, couples or families living with or affected by the devastating disease.

The scheme will offer free relationship counselling from Relate’s understanding experts, who as part of the service have had extra training in cancer awareness from Macmillan.

Eileen Clews, the new Macmillan coordinator for the Relate Macmillan Counselling Service, knows first-hand the impact a cancer diagnosis can have on relationships.




She explained: “When we talk about relationships, it’s not just about your other half – it can also be about brothers, sisters, mums, dads, and carers.

“The people around us make a huge difference to how happy we are, and strong relationships can help us get through life’s tough challenges, like cancer.


“Some of the people who come to see us are single and don’t have a lot of family, we work with them on strengthening the support they do have around them.”

Elieen was just a teenager when her mother was diagnosed with colon cancer.

She said she would have appreciated the help of a scheme like the Relate Macmillan Counselling Service to have known how to better support her mother.

“Looking back, I think I just drifted through in shock and it would have been really useful to talk to someone,” Eileen added.

“The impact of losing her on our family was huge as she was the organiser, the one who said ‘you can do it’, the centre of the family.

“I think treatment has advanced considerably since 1978 and many people are now living through and with cancer.

“Whatever the situation, there are inevitably changes to family life and this is another area where our service can help.”

Anyone affected by cancer who needs to talk about their relationships can contact the Relate Macmillan Counselling Service on 01216 431638 to book an appointment.

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