Welcome to the Broken Hill Prostate Cancer Community Group.
We decided to cancel our April meeting as a few of us (myself included) will be away for Easter holidays. We will meet again in May at the usual place and time (Thanks Uniting!). I will send out a text message reminder - as usual, to all who have supplied a phone number. If you would like to be added to the messaging list just give Ruben a call- leave a voicemail if no answer, I will get back to you
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Summer was cooling off for our March meeting and we had a busy night with about twenty of us sharing stories and hot pies. Ruben handed out various editions of the Nepean/Blue Mountains Prostate Cancer Support Group "Below the Belt" newsletter. A brilliant little publication - we could do something similar here in Broken Hill!
We had a wild rainstorm storm on the night of the February meet-up. Luckily nobody got washed away and we still had a good crowd turn up.
For our Prostate Cancer Support Group meeting in December we had a visit from Dr Karl Braslis. After a very busy week of clinics, surgery and travel Karl was kind enough to spend an hour answering questions. Thanks everyone for bringing some really good and thoughtful questions.
In November Darren Davey and James Georgiou came along and both gave insightful talks from their perspectives as Physiotherapist and Pharmacist. James and Darren's engaging presentations covered visualisations of pelvic floor muscles at work; sexual health and recovery; the importance of exercise; medications which keep cancer under control but at a cost! and many other subjects. The practical advice and ongoing support offered will undoubtedly benefit many of us.
Thank you to all of you who have come along to our Community Group Meetings and those of you who reply to my messages! As usual contact Ruben with any questions or if you would like to be put in touch with any of our specialists/presenters.
For Men Living with Prostate Cancer.
This group has been established with the aim to improve the lives of men living with prostate cancer and their loved ones. We had our first meeting in February 2021 and have established a small friendly group. We are here to support and educate each other.
We are very grateful to Uniting Care for providing us with an excellent venue to meet. There is a kitchen for tea and coffee, a barbeque for the summer and all the usual amenities. Please help out by leaving the place as tidy as we find it.
The group is facilitated by both Kate Butler and Ruben Hillier.
- Kate is the Accredited Exercise Physiologist from Uniting Home and Community Care Far West.
Kate can be contacted via Uniting Far West on 08 8084 4600
- Ruben Hillier is the Far West Local Health District Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse.
Ruben can be contacted on 08 8080 2272.
NOTE: Ruben works Mondays to Wednesdays so leave a message and he will get back to you as soon as he is back on deck.
During our first meeting we drafted a group agreement. We are always open to improving it or amending it. This is what we came up with:
One person to talk at a time.
Talkative people to be mindful of allowing quieter people a chance to speak.
Whether we agree or not, we respect each other's opinions.
We do not share each other's stories outside of the group.
Members have the right to silence.
We share our stories to help one another and ourselves.
We welcome presenters who are kind enough to share their knowledge with us.
We welcome new members.
We want everyone to be able to contribute.
An informal group for men living with prostate cancer. Come along and meet others who have a similar experience. Partners welcome.