A new support group for Oxford women dealing with cervical cancer has been set up by two women who have fought the disease.
Rebecca McCreath, 28, and Claire Malyon, 28, chose national Cervical Cancer Prevention Week to launch the group, after receiving training from cervical cancer charity Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust. Rebecca, a corporate events manager, was diagnosed with cervical cancer at the age of 25 and was successfully treated at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
She said: “I had a hysterectomy and since then everything has been fine but I haven’t forgotten how lonely it can feel when you are going through a diagnosis and treatment – not to mention after that.
“As good as friends and families and doctors and nurses are, it’s good to know you are talking to someone who actually understands. My family and friends and consultant were fantastic, I can’t fault them but at the same time when you are going through it you almost have to reassure the people around you that you are fine.
Rebecca met Claire, a project manager for a medical equipment company at an event organized by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust. The charity wanted to set up a regional support group and the pair decided to volunteer to run the group together.
“My mum and family were so worried that I found that I often had to say, ‘no, I’m fine,' and I had to put on a brave face to reassure them," said Rebecca. "Because you are trying to reassure them it sometimes means that you are not as honest as you might want to be. Or you might want to be really selfish but you feel that you cannot be that selfish to family whereas having the opportunity to speak to someone else who really gets exactly what you are feeling is very important.”
Claire has had two years of tests and treatment for cervical abnormalities at the Royal Berkshire Hospital but was given the all-clear in January. She said: “This is a brand new thing for the area and with the train line, the park and ride and so on it is easy to reach Oxford from the surrounding areas.
“The Jo’s website with its forum and 'ask the expert' services as well as its national helpline provides fantastic support and information, but if you would rather have a chat to someone face to face or just spend time with women who get what it’s been like for you then this group is ideal.”
For more information about the group, visit or www.jostrust.org.uk/support/support-groups or call the Jo’s Trust helpline on 08088 028000.
