A new online forum has been launched in Ireland, which invites cancer patients to share their stories in order to help others cope with the diagnosis, treatment and recovery process. The Lazarus Community Forum is a unique way for cancer patients to express their thoughts and feelings on their condition.
The forum can be found at http://cancersupport.ie which is the website of Cancer Support Sanctuary LARCC (Lakelands Area Retreat and Cancer Centre). Based in Multyfarnham in County Westmeath, LARCC is the only cancer support centre in Ireland that runs a residential programme.
The Lazarus Community Forum is the brainchild of ARCOIreland member Comdt Frank Russell (Retd.), a former Air Corps officer and retired Inspector of Air Accidents, who has been diagnosed and treated for cancer twice. In 1998 he was diagnosed with neck cancer and at the time he was given two years to live. Then in 2007 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer but again it was treated successfully.
Franks says: “Telling their stories on the Lazarus Community Forum can be a powerful way for cancer patients to express their thoughts and feelings on their condition both for themselves and, importantly, for those more recent patients.” Populating the Lazarus Community Forum has already begun and currently there are stories posted from cancer patients in Dublin, Wicklow, Kildare, Roscommon and Tipperary.
“The idea for the Forum came from listening to cancer patients on social occasions during their stay on the LARCC Residential weeks. I heard some brave and uplifting stories and some sad ones too. My sincere hope is that the Forum will open doors otherwise shut to ordinary cancer patients, and empower them to express their thoughts and feelings on their condition both for themselves and, importantly, for those more recent patients.”
LARCC opened in November 2002 and was the inspiration and design of the late Ita Bourke from Templemore, Co. Tipperary, who after being diagnosed with cancer, travelled to an established centre in England for therapy and support. It is open to all cancer patients and their families and has delivered over 20,000 individual support and telephone counselling sessions since it was established. LARCC is a registered charity (No. 14959) and is mainly funded through donations and contributions from the public.
