Welcome to the OPA London Support Group
Welcome to the support group for London. We welcome anyone diagnosed with, recovering from, or having recovered from oesophageal or stomach cancer. We also welcome those facing gastric difficulties or individuals experiencing difficulty swallowing or eating food. Whatever your circumstances, we are here to offer support, and we hope you will consider joining us at our next group meeting. Details of our meetings are updated here regularly.
Meeting Schedule
Contact John on 07956 562 158 or at johncampolini@gmail.com.
| Date | Time | Venue |
| TBC | 10:00 for 10:30 |
Guy's Hospital, The Roben Suite, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT |
OPA AGM
To be held at The Robens Suite, Guy’s Hospital, London, SE1 9RT. On 5th May 2018 at 10:00 for 10:30.
Refreshments and a buffet lunch will be provided during the AGM.
This meeting is hosted by London for its members. All OPA members, and especially all OPA coordinators are welcome to attend.
Meeting Venue
Guy's Hospital
The Roben Suite
Great Maze Pond
London
SE1 9RT
About us
Who we are
The London is made up of a mixture of current and former patients, their carers and close family members and friends. Patients may be at any stage of treatment, from an individual who has only been diagnosed recently through to someone who underwent surgery several years (or indeed decades) ago. Our group members (both male and female) come from a wide range of backgrounds and occupations, and all have very different stories to tell. We all have one thing in common however, and that is we all aim to help and support each other. We are also very lucky in that representatives from a dedicated team of Upper GI Nurses and Surgeons regularly attend our meetings and we are truly grateful to them for their continued support and advice.
Our aim
We aim to help patients (and their families) pre and post treatment by offering support and guidance from those who have been in a similar situation themselves. We also aim to inform GPs concerning the symptoms of the disease and the nature of postoperative care required.
Meeting Structure
Our meetings are very informal and take place at Guys' Hospital. Each meeting typically lasts for 1.5 hours and gives attendees an opportunity to hear the latest news, share their experiences, and learn from others. There is no obligation for anyone to speak publicly (your level of participation is completely up to you). Going forward, we also hope to be able to offer inspiring and engaging presentations on a wide range of topics, by a number of carefully selected guest speakers. After the main meeting has ended, you are welcome to stay and talk to other patients (either in groups, or on a one to one basis ).
How do I know when the next meeting is taking place?
Details of forthcoming meetings will be displayed on this page. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please contact us at the address at the bottom of this page. Where possible (to save on postage and administration costs) we would prefer to contact members by E-mail.
Can anyone attend?
Yes absolutely. We also welcome visitors from further afield, including representatives from other support groups. You do not have to be a patient to attend (you may be a partner, carer, friend or close family member for example). In fact we positively encourage non-patients to attend. Feedback from attendees suggests that carers (usually spouses or partners) looking after their loved ones can often learn a great deal from other carers (answers to questions such as "Is this symptom normal?" for example). We would also encourage GPs and medical professionals of all levels to attend.
How much does it cost?
Our meetings are absolutely free to attend and there are no 'membership' fees, although we do ask attendees for a small (voluntary) donation to cover the cost of tea/coffee & biscuits and venue hire (where applicable). Any additional leisure activities organised by the group may incur an additional charge, however we will notify attendees of any costs prior to organising an event, and participation is optional.
What if I don't feel well enough to attend?
As former patients, we fully understand the difficulties you may be undergoing as a patient... be they physical, psychological or both. Whilst you might not feel like talking about cancer, wherever possible, we would encourage you to attend, as we are confident you will find our meetings both supportive and informative. From gaining tips on treatments or diet, to knowing how to deal with some of the symptoms, you may be surprised at what you can learn by talking to another patient. You can also take comfort knowing that you are not going through the experience alone and that there are others who you can turn to for help, guidance and support. If you are too unwell to attend in person, please feel free to send someone else on your behalf (e.g spouse, friend, or family member).
Useful Links
| Cancer Research UK | http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/ |
| NHS Choices | http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cancer-of-the-oesophagus/Pages/Treatment.aspx |
| Macmillan Cancer Support | http://www.macmillan.org.uk |
| Wikipedia | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esophagus |
| Guy's & St Thomas' | http://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/Home.aspx |
Getting in touch
If you would like to attend one of our meetings, would like to be added to our mailing list, or have an enquiry specific to the London Group, please email johncampolini@gmail.com.
Feedback
We positively encourage feedback, and we always want to hear your suggestions on how we can make the support group better for you. If you would like to discuss a particular area then please do not hesitate to contact at enquiries@opa.org.uk or by telephone on 0121 704 9860.