Seven women launch the new UB support group for people with breast cancer

The UB support group for women with breast cancer was created by one of its members: Àngels Molina. “In fact, the idea came up from my boss, who was the commissioner for Social and Ageing Development, Misericòrdia Gràcia. It was 2015 and I had been diagnosed with breast cancer. I was her secretary and she was very close to me throughout my illness”, she remembers. “Being so in touch with me -she continues-, she had the idea of sending an email to create a group of women who had experienced breast cancer and who would want to meet to support or talk about what they had been through, and share some information to help us. I thought it was a good idea”.

The UB support group for women with breast cancer was created by one of its members: Àngels Molina. “In fact, the idea came up from my boss, who was the commissioner for Social and Ageing Development, Misericòrdia Gràcia. It was 2015 and I had been diagnosed with breast cancer. I was her secretary and she was very close to me throughout my illness”, she remembers. “Being so in touch with me -she continues-, she had the idea of sending an email to create a group of women who had experienced breast cancer and who would want to meet to support or talk about what they had been through, and share some information to help us. I thought it was a good idea”.

Gloria joined the group with a specific aim: give back the help she got when she was diagnosed with cancer, nine years ago. “When I received the news I remembered I had an old friend, someone who I had not seen for 20 years probably, and I found out she had had cancer. I didnʼt hesitate. I phoned her and told her “It may sound strange…” “Not at all” she said. And she came home with a box of chocolates and said “Not only one, I had two cancers and look at me, here I am”. For me, that was a big help and I thought that it was what I wanted to do for others”, she says. “Be with them especially in those moments of doubts, when you are diagnosed with cancer, those are the hardest times”, she adds.

Àngels P. wants to be there for others but in a more ludic way. “I will suggest going to the cinema or theatre, and will be happy to go with them. Comedy movies.” She says. Retired from the University “and yes, I want to believe I am also retired from cancer”, she was diagnosed with the illness twenty years ago. She remembers going to the cinema helped her a lot. “I like the cinema, I live in Gràcia and I have Verdi cinemas near my house. Obviously, the plot of the movie didnʼt matter to me. It was more because I wanted to cry and I had the perfect excuse there”. And she continues: “At the beginning I went by myself, but then a friend came with me and the two of us cried. But crying with someone is not the same as crying alone”.

A blog for questions, conferences, and accompaniment tasks and support

But this group is not offering only accompaniment. “This is a volunteering group. Therefore, if we want this to work out, each of us does whatever she likes volunteering so there is a wide range of activities” says Glòria. Àngels M., for instance, is interested in organizing lectures on nutrition, sport and healthy habits in general. “In the University, we have doctors and lecturers who could volunteer and give lectures. This is a subject that can be around all of us, some closer than others, and people will collaborate”.

So far, the group has launched a blog for people who suffer from this illness or have some family member or friend going through this situation. This blog, apart from providing contact, shares breaking news, articles and recommendations on books about cancer, food and sport, as well as healthy recipes “which helped us”. Also, it lists some activities and shares links of other support organizations for people who suffer from some illness. “We do not want to replace Health and Psychology professionals”, says Glòria. “What we have done, during this process, is to find out about a series of things which we consider positive in general. And we want to spread this information to so that people who wish so can use it”.

Maite was operated on ten years ago. She did not have access to any information on nutrition and other complementary therapies. “These were other times. There was not such a boom of information, which is sometimes too much, compared to now” says Elvira. “But although there is a lot of literature on this, you always learn new things. I have selfishly learnt a lot from them”, says Àngels M. “This is not selfish, this is clever” says Glòria.

“With a few words, you understand what the other woman is going through”

All of them say they speak the same language. “With a few words you understand what the other woman is going through” says Maite. “If you talk about this to someone who has not experienced it s/he will listen to you, and can be a very good friend, but itʼs not the same” says Roser. She had bread cancer six years ago. Living with this illness is not easy but it is harder when you have children. “I remember I had to be strong at home. You need a place where you can let it all out, and where you can be more vulnerable. And in this sense, I think itʼs great that we can support each other” she says.

Roser confesses that, although feeling now recovered, “when I have to have a mammogram, everything comes back. You live it over again”. This “worry in your heart”, like Àngels P. says, is experienced by many. But the group is supportive. “For instance, I joined the group because I think it helps you to realize there are people who got out of this and they tell you how they overcame it” values Roser. “We can show we are now healthy, and this is very important” says Glòria.

Any person can come up to the group, even if they are not UB members. “We are open to everyone. Perhaps UB members have it easier when reaching us, because we are also UB, -compared to other organizations that are probably better and have more experience, but maybe they do not see them as close as us” affirms Àngels M.

These seven women hope the group grows with new members, “because our experiences help each other and bring us new things”, they say. In essence, people who might be in this situation (not only women but men too) should know there is a group of people willing to help in anything they need.

Forms of contact include their email address donesub@ub.edu and their blog.