The Cancer Society is appealing to people affected by brain tumours to join its Hamilton Brain Tumour Support Group.
The group offers support for people living with malignant or benign brain tumours, carers, family and friends.
Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society support services manager Graham Harbutt says it has traditionally been difficult to attract new members to the group. He says the society faces two hurdles: getting referrals through hospital channels and breaking down people's perceptions the group is "all doom and gloom".
Graham will meet later this year with Waikato Hospital's neurology and neurosurgical outpatient clinic staff to work out how to boost the number of people being referred to the group. "People often leave hospital not knowing their diagnosis so it makes sense that the neurology or oncology staff are the ones who are best to refer patients and their families to us, as opposed to the clinical staff on the neurosurgical ward."
Heather Major, a founding member of the group along with her late husband Glenn, says when people hear about the group their initial reaction is often that it will be a depressing experience so they are reluctant to attend. "It is an incredibly supportive and uplifting group of people on similar journeys who look out for and encourage one another.
