Cancer Wellbeing Centre is 'cherry on top' for cancer patient Margie
LONG term cancer patient Margie Shields will open the
doors to a new wellbeing Centre for cancer patients, after receiving over a
decade of treatment for cancer.
Having spent over 12 years visiting the Linda McCartney Centre, Margie Shields
has since paid an extra special visit on Thursday, 30 April 2015, to officially open the
Cancer Wellbeing
Centre, at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
The Cancer Wellbeing Centre is a place for patients and carers to take some time
out to relax during what can be a long and stressful journey through their
cancer treatment. The Centre will provide complementary therapies to patients
and those closest to them during their treatment, including a range of massages
and other relaxation treatments.
Volunteer therapists donate their time in order to provide treatments and the
Centre is run by a Macmillan Cancer Volunteer Coordinator based in the Trust.
The Cancer Wellbeing Centre relies solely on donations and fundraising
activities to sustain and improve their services.
Margie's relationship with the Linda McCartney Centre began in 2002 when she
received the news she had breast cancer and made the decision, along with the
help of surgeons, to undergo a double mastectomy.
Following a successful operation Margie was given more devastating news two
years later when she was diagnosed with bone cancer and has been visiting the
Linda McCartney Centre for regular treatment ever since.
As a long standing patient, Margie knows the emotional effects cancer can have
on people and that sometimes, a bit of relaxation goes a long way to help them
feel better in themselves. Margie commented:- "I once had reflexology at a Marie Curie
Centre and that half an hour to
myself made me feel so relaxed.
Sometimes you can wait around a couple of hours for things like test results, so
to have the Cancer Wellbeing Centre as a place to unwind will be a huge benefit
to patients and their carers.
Cancer can take its toll not only on the person receiving treatment, but their
family and carers as well. The fact that carers and family members can also
receive treatments from the Centre will help everyone involved, as seeing a
loved one go through cancer can be just as stressful."
The Cancer Wellbeing Centre will provide complementary therapies to patients who
have been diagnosed with cancer in the Trust or are receiving treatment for
cancer at the Linda McCartney Centre . Patients can receive up to 6 free
treatments from qualified therapists who donate their own time to delivering
therapies to patients.
Therapies available include aromatherapy, massage, Indian head massage,
reflexology, Reiki and relaxation therapy, some of which Margie is keen to find
out more about. "I tried out Reiki treatment in the Centre and it was so relaxing I fell
asleep! I felt so chilled afterwards and the rooms provide such a calm
environment. I felt like I was on cloud 9."
The Centre will raise funds on Thursday, 30 April 2015, by showcasing some of the
amazing work they do for patients. Therapists will be on hand to provide a range
of treatments for people to sample. Harvey Nichols staff will also be offering
beauty treatments on the day.
Speaking about opening in the Centre , Margie has mixed emotions. She said:-
"I'm really nervous; I don't want to go and say the wrong thing! But I feel
so humbled and proud that they've asked me to do it.
I think the work the therapists do is incredible and even more amazing that they
do it through the kindness of their own hearts. It's going to be amazing for
cancer patients to have this opportunity. You need that special something to
make you feel better whilst going through treatment.
Being treated at the Linda McCartney Centre is like baking a cake. You have
concerns about going in, whether everything will turn out ok and hopefully, it
does turn out ok. But now the Cancer Wellbeing Centre is there, we have our
cherry on top."
