How one charity has been supporting Sheffield people through cancer over the years

Cavendish Cancer Care is one of those charities, which has been helping people across South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

Since 1991, the charity has been providing emotional and physical support to families going through cancer.

It says: “We are here to offer support to local families affected by cancer. Cavendish Cancer Care has over 30 years experience in providing emotional and physical support, and have experienced professional therapists available to help you and your loved ones at this time.

“Although the Tim Pryor Centre is temporarily closed, we are providing telephone and online services, including counselling and body-based therapies.”

The Sheffield based charity offers families the chance to talk in confidence and seeks to help alleviate both the emotional strain of cancer, and the physical side effects of the cancer and its treatment, through therapy.

With October being Breast Cancer Awareness month and last month promoting Childhood Cancer Awareness, those living with those types of cancer may feel more anxious around that time and likewise, those who discover a symptom may find it difficult to process the potential cancer diagnosis.

This is where support systems like that offered by Cavendish Cancer Care play an important role.

One woman who wished to remain anonymous, told how she and her family struggled when they were told her late sister, who was in her early 30s, had terminal cancer in 2018.

She said: “Everything happened really quickly. My sister became very weak very quickly and the family just got upset all the time.

“Noone knew how to deal with it. We tried to be strong for her but this just ended up with horrible long silences for fear of saying the wrong thing.

“I tried counselling and that really helped. I think that probably helped me help my sister to actually enjoy the last days of her life and that’s what I want to remember.”

Michael, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer aged 52, said: “The mental health side of cancer is overlooked. I experienced through what happened to me that the surgeons, urologists and nurses have a job to do and that’s to make me better. The emotional and mental side of it isn’t necessarily their job description. That’s where Cavendish really comes into its element, they’re equally as important as treatment. They go hand in hand.”

Cavendish Cancer Care, which is located on Wilkinson Street in Broomhall, Sheffield, offers services free of charge and they are tailored to each individual’s needs, working alongside the NHS.

It relies on donations and fundraising to keep their doors open, like many other charities in the city.

Sheffielders have raised money for Cavendish Cancer Care over the years by taking part in marathons, walks, fashion shows, head shaves and a duck race at Ponds Forge to name a few.

For more information about Cavendish Cancer Care, see: https://cavcare.org.uk/

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