Celebrating life despite the

scourge of cancer

Honesty, humour and hope in equal measures were the hallmarks of a service of celebration held by the West Suffolk, Thetford and Sudbury Cancer Support Group at St Gregory's Church in Sudbury on Sunday 25th October. The organisation, which has been helping cancer sufferers through their journeys, also gave thanks for the life of Janet Place, the wife of John, chairman of the support group. Janet passed away in August. Up to 50 people congregated in the church for the service officiated by Revd Canon Gregory Webb, the priest in charge. Bob Cockle, recently retired as Mayor of Bury St Edmunds and who is President of the Support Group, gave the keynote address. In his speech laced with wit and honesty, Mr Cockle, who lost his wife to cancer a year ago, admitted he was still trying to understand why she had fallen victim to the disease. He said of his soul mate: "How do you cope with the guilt? I'm still here, she's gone." Nevertheless he felt her presence and jokingly said: "I still have to ask her permission to spend my own money!" As a widower trying to cope with domesticity, he wondered: "Do you dust first or Hoover first? Perhaps, one dusts only when one can scrawl one's name?" His sincere hope was that "a magic cure for the disease would be found some day". Mr Place, in a response, volunteered a piece of advice to Mr Cockle, saying that he was now in thrall to Aunt Bessie, the "patron saint of widowers". Her food product range meant that one only had to "stick it in the oven and press the right buttons". The camraderie of the group during the service, which was both solemn and celebratory, was visibly evident. Some silently wept as the poignant song Fields of Gold by Eva Cassidy was played during which names of group members who had lost their lives to cancer were read out so that "we remember those we no longer see". Revd Webb acknowledged the honesty, humour and hope in Mr Cockle's address and thanked him for it. Besides the speeches, readings and hymns, Mrs Eileen Borley, Mrs V Mathers of Bury St Edmunds, Mrs M Bedster of Thetford and Mr John Tarling of Sudbury read poems that celebrated life. Revd Tony Stratta, the husband of a member, said a prayer for the group. The service was followed by a reception in the church, and there was a retiring collection for St Nicholas Hospice. For more information about the West Suffolk, Thetford and Sudbury Cancer Support Group please use the contact us page. Matt K George

Different Cancers

On these pages you will find information on some Cancers if you need information about other cancers then use our contact us page and we will do our best to get all the advice and information we can on that cancer.

The NHS

The NHS has different ways of dealing with patients in different departments and in different hospitals.

A good example of this is the friend system. West Suffolk Hospital asked for people who have been treated for Cancer to escort new patients around the hospital. A worthwhile thing to do, you might think, or is it? You are not allowed to speak to a patient about Cancer or what happened to you The only thing you can say is this ward is here,that operating theatre is there. In Papworth, heart patients are escorted by previously treated patients who tell you quite happily about their experience and that I found helped a great deal. Lets hope things change and more people are allowed and able to talk about their experience, so it helps others get through those early days of diagnosis.

Relay for Life

The relay for life raised funds for Cancer Research UK. The idea is that you get teams who have at least one member on a track for the duration of the relay which usually last 24 hours. The team members get friends relations etc to give a donation in return for a candle of hope which is placed in a bag with their personlised message in the form of a design on the outside of said bag. This is the second year we have done this for Cancer research. You can donate to Cancer research on their web site or to the West Suffolk, Thetford and Sudbury Cancer Support Group by using the Paypal Donate button on the right.

If you wish to see videos of the event click on the links following links Group at the start Dragon Dance