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f v pltrffiunieaprill3i992 new support group helping residents with cancer kategilderdale correspondent while the detection and treat ment of cancer has improved immensely in recent years the vital role of emotional support is all too often overlooked that was something sally gyton and merna lummiss found out when they were diag- nosed with breast cancer although the two women had known each other for a number of years it was in facing up to their illness together that they became close friends i heard sally had cancer and id been diagnosed with it explained merna who lives in goodwood i bumped into her at toronto bayview regional cancer cen tre and we started talking about the things that had hap pened to both of us support at the time of the diagnosis she said we didnt know where the uxbridge players present luxury cruise by fred carmichael saturday april 11th saturday april 18th saturday april 25 th dinner theatre 700 pm 2500 play only 830 pm 800 at the historic music hall main street dinner and play only tickets available at radio shack play only tickets available at personal touch tickets may also be available at door uxposition 92 iif uxbridge and district chamber of commerce trade show may 28 29 30 to book space call lois bushell 8527683 whitchurchstouffville minor hockey association annual meeting april 27th 730 pm at latcham hall park dr s any member wishing to submit changes to the constitution must do so in writing and be in the hands of the executive 5 days prior to the annual meeting wsmha box 976 stouffville ont l4a 8a1 ballantrae tennis cll pull em out of the j closet its that time of the year again so sign up and bring spring a little bit closer registration date april 25 101 ballantrae community centre new pro income tax returns 4166401769 6401778 george w brodie certified general accountant 6138 main st w stouffville ont junior beginner advanced lessons wallpaper centre storewide clearance sale notice to the residents of whitchurchstouffville easter holiday garbage and recycling blue boxes normally picked up friday april 17th will be picked up thursday april 16th easter monday regular collections resume happy easter off excluding buy 1 get 1 free our everyday low discount prices entire stock of wallpaper borders we wip not knowingly be undersold oshawa imosimcoesls just sou of john 5791655 ajax 37 harwoodaves between hwy 2 and 401 6664719 scarborough 793markhamrd in the painted pott plaza 4314458 open thursday friday nights until nine to turn for help and we both felt we needed a support group in the area the two women attended a ten week seminar on coping strategies at scarborough cen tenary which both found very helpful but we knew it was coming to an end observed sally we had gotten so much out of that group and the contact with other patients that we started our own group last october with three of us and mernas mother sally said scarborough resident betty kapur who has hodgkins dis ease was the other founding member isolation the group members agree that one of the hardest things to cope with after the initial diagnosis is the terrible sense of isolation you get the feeling that youre totally alone until you find other people in the same condition sally said the terror and fear of the unknown can be overwhelm ing she added all you hear is the word cancer concurred merna in a support group you realize there is life after this family members are welcome to join the group because the family has to learn how to cope too stressed sally although the group has no affiliation with the canadian cancer society most doctors they spoke to were supportive she said they have just released information in the us that breast cancer patients will live up to ten years longer if they belong to a support group they now feel that stress affects the immune system which is an inhibitor of cancer cells stress management as a result the group is hop ing to incorporate stress man agement into their meetings however just talking about the fears and problems they face has given them an enormous senseofrelease you need the support from someone else whos in the same position youre in said sally there are many fears you wouldnt want to discuss with your family we can be our selves say what we want to say and listen to each other merna echoed her senti ments i dont know what i would have done without these girls sometimes although they are consider ing a more structured approach for their meetings weve had so much to talk about weve had no time for anything else said betty worked wonders and talking out their fears and concerns seems to have worked wonders in this group whose sense of camaraderie is abundantly obvious with humor compassion and friendship these six women have given each other a new lease on life anyone who is interested in joining them or who would like to learn more should call sally at 6422329 or merna at 640- 2306 april is cancer month so and the local volunteers are asking residents to please give gener ously when a cancer society canvasser comes to your door