Living with Secondary Breast Cancer online

FAQs

• What's the schedule for online groups?

  The below list shows the typical rotation of groups every month so you can fit at least one group session into your calendar. 

  • 1st Tuesday of the month from 7pm to 8.30pm

  • 2nd Thursday of each month from 2 to 3.30pm 

  • 3rd Tuesday of each month from 11 to 12.30pm 

  • 2nd or 3rd Wednesday of each month from 11 to 12.30pm 

  • 3rd Thursday of each month from 2 to 3.30pm 

  • 4th Monday of each month from 11 to 12.30pm 

  • Last Wednesday of each month, 11 to 12.30pm 

  Our group for younger women is held on the third Tuesday of every month from 1pm to 2.30pm. 

  Please note, this may change due to counsellor availability.

• What happens once I’ve registered?

  Once you’ve registered for the Living with Secondary Breast Cancer service, we’ll send you an email with an invitation to join the group each month. To sign up to that month’s group, you just need to reply to the email and let us know you’re planning on coming along.

  We’ll then email you with the Zoom link to join the session a few days before. The email will also include details of our monthly Speakers Live sessions in case you wanted to attend one too.

• How many people are usually at a group?

  Groups can range from 6-12 people.

• What do people talk about during the groups?

  Conversations often focus on everyday issues and the impact of living with secondary breast cancer. They encourage the sharing of knowledge and first-hand experience with people who ‘get it’ in a way that no one, no matter how hard they try, can understand unless they’ve lived it themselves.

  Sometimes the sessions may bring up themes and feelings that you find difficult. But the counsellor will be on hand to support you and the other group members.

  If you don’t feel like sharing anything, there’s no pressure. You can just sit back and listen to the rest of the group.

  Bear in mind that the groups aren’t a group therapy session, and don’t provide individual medical care or advice.

• How accessible are the online services?

  If you need more support to take part in our services, we’ll do our best to make reasonable adjustments. 

  If you need other types of assistance, please contact us at secondaryservices@breastcancernow.org or 0345 077 1893.

• Do I need to come to every single group?

  No. You can come to as many or as few as you’d like to.

   

• Will a healthcare professional be there?

  We don’t usually invite healthcare professionals to the monthly groups.  They are an opportunity for you to talk openly about whatever’s on your mind with other people in a similar situation. We might invite a healthcare professional along to observe a session to help them promote the service. We’d let you know beforehand in our monthly invitation email.

• What if I don’t feel well enough to come?

  We totally understand that you might not feel up to coming along for whatever reason. If you could let us know that’d be great, but don’t worry if you can’t. We won’t get in touch to ask where you were.

• Do I need to have my camera and microphone on?

  If you can, please keep your camera on for the duration of the meeting. It helps to make the group feel more connected. If your computer doesn’t have a camera, don’t worry, you can let us know in the chat. You’re welcome to keep your microphone on, but if you’re in a noisy environment, you’ll need to mute yourself when you’re not speaking.

• I’ve never used Zoom before, can I still join an online group?

  Yes, definitely. We’ll send you some guidance about how to set up Zoom on your mobile phone, tablet or computer. And if you’re still having trouble, one of the team will give you a call to talk you through it.

• I’m aged 45 or under and living with secondary breast cancer – will there be others my age at the group?

  It depends on the group. Sometimes there’ll be a few other younger women, and sometimes there might not be any. You’re more than welcome to attend any group.

  We also have our Younger Women with Secondaries Together online sessions, for support that’s just for younger women. We know that it might feel like you’re the only younger woman living with secondary breast cancer, but you’re not alone. In a confidential online space, you’ll meet other women your age who understand what you’re going through.

• Are the groups private?

  Yes. You’ll be in a confidential, safe space. The counsellor will help to create a safe environment for group members to be as open as they want to be. And everyone is reminded to keep the discussions confidential.