Cancer support group launches

NAMOI Breast Cancer Support marked its official launch with a meeting held at The Crossing Theatre.

Thirteen people attended the first get-together and organiser Dr Karen Kirkby, a breast cancer survivor herself, hopes to see the group gain more momentum.

The support group is open to breast cancer survivors, supporters and associated health professionals.

Dr Kirkby said she was overwhelmed with the initial interest.

A plant pathologist with NSW DPI in Narrabri, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2020.

After three surgeries and five months of chemotherapy treatment she was given the all clear.

Since her initial diagnosis, Dr Kirkby has set out to raise awareness about breast cancer, initially through Pink Up Namoi and its highly successful fundraising campaigns.

With a lack of a support group in the area, and now a lack of a breast care nurse at Narrabri and Moree hospitals, Dr Kirkby hopes the new group will provide advice and information to other women in need of assistance.

“I relied on McGrath nurses, family and friends,” Dr Kirkby said.

Dr Kirkby said at times she didn’t want to burden family and friends with how she was truly feeling during her treatment.

Had a support group existed at the time it would have made a difference, she said.

“We all have so much lived experience,” she said of the cancer survivors who attended the first meeting.

“We want to be able to offer tips from the things we all went through.

“It was also nice being able to sit in a room and talk to people who know what you’re going through.

“When I was going through it, I found the biggest battle was protecting the ones I loved.”

Dr Kirkby said the new group made it OK for those present to explain how they were generally feeling.

“We all talked about the different side effects,” she said.

Dr Kirkby said the group’s formation was ideally timed with the breast care nurse position now vacant.

She has been keeping in touch with the McGrath Foundation about the vacancy and hopes it will be filled as soon as possible.

“Tracy Bevan (foundation ambassador and director) has been very supportive in providing us with information in the meantime,” she said.

Dr Kirkby also continues to advocate for local services, and is particularly keen to see a SOZO lymphatic measurement machine in Narrabri.

In the meantime, her focus is also to ensure people are aware of the new support group.

While focused on breast cancer, Dr Kirkby said they are open to accepting all cancer survivors.

“Predominantly, our lived experience and expertise is breast cancer,” she said.

The group will meet monthly and will hold its next meeting on 11 July at Coogle Cafe.

A Facebook page has also been established and is titled Namoi Breast Cancer Support.