With Australian Men’s Health Week fast approaching, the Victorian Council of Prostate Cancer Support Groups is encouraging those living with prostate cancer to consider joining a support group.
According to the organisation, too few men know that support groups exist and are often not made aware of the important role support groups can play – with 70 men in Australia diagnosed each day.
One of these groups, the Melmarsh Prostate Cancer Support Group (PCSG), offers men an opportunity to share their experiences with each other, which president and secretary Rhonda Weir said “really does help” members.
“I became involved through my husband being diagnosed with prostate cancer, and he wouldn’t talk to anybody. I saw the ad for group in the local paper, I rang up, and I went along too because he wouldn’t have gone by himself,” Ms Weir said.
“If you joined a support group, that is what it is for – for support. It is not just for the men, it is for the partners as well. We have many partners and wives who come to our meetings which is really great,” she said.
Ms Weir said that she is aware that many men who do not want to talk about their diagnosis – especially with new people.
She said that once her husband – who later died with prostate cancer, but not from it – began attending meetings with the Melmarsh PCSG, he did begin to talk about his condition with his sons and friends in another group he belonged to.
The group meets at the Melton South Community Centre from 12.30 to 2pm on the first Thursday of each month, and if you would like to enquire about joining, you can contact Ms Weir on 0411 264 166.
