We’re proud to work alongside Maggie’s Cancer Care to offer supportive courses designed to help you live well with and after cancer. Each friendly session is led by experienced, qualified professionals, and we’ll help you find the right one that suits your needs.
How can a course improve my cancer journey?
Taking part in a specially designed course can be a powerful source of support during a cancer journey, offering structure, guidance and a sense of community at a time when life may feel uncertain. These courses are designed to provide practical tools for managing both the emotional and physical challenges of cancer, such as techniques for relaxation, improving sleep, managing fatigue, and coping with anxiety. They also offer reliable information in a clear, digestible way, helping you feel more informed and in control.
Being part of a group course also helps reduce feelings of isolation, as you connect with others who may be going through similar experiences. Sharing stories and hearing different perspectives can be both comforting and inspiring. Importantly, an organised course gives you time and space to focus on your own wellbeing, away from medical appointments or treatments, reminding you that you’re more than your diagnosis. With support from trained professionals and in a compassionate environment, these courses can help build resilience, restore confidence and encourage you to take small but meaningful steps toward living well, even in the face of cancer.
We are partnering with Maggie’s Southampton to deliver two courses, designed to help individuals live well with and beyond cancer. These supportive courses are designed to help you build resilience and discover tools that can make a real difference during your cancer journey. The courses are free and open to cancer patients and their loved ones. These are the courses Maggie’s Southampton will run for us are:
“Managing Stress”
There are lots of stress-triggers when you are living with cancer, from the diagnosis itself to fitting life around treatments or coping with the responses of others. Maggie’s ‘Managing Stress’ course focuses on how stress impacts us physically and will provide techniques to reflect and how to better manage stress proactively. You will be encouraged to try out different ways of relaxation including managing anxious thoughts, meditation, visualisation, as well as how to use these methods in everyday life.
This course will run from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm and is for anyone impacted by cancer but is not recommended for individuals who are experiencing high levels of distress.
“Where Now?”
Coming to the end of cancer treatment can bring its own challenges. Friends and family may expect you to bounce back, but we know how hard that can be. This course focuses on adjusting to change, fear of reoccurrence and self-care. It will help you prepare emotionally, staying active and positive, as well as consider the practicalities of things like going back to work. (And remember, our Cancer Support Specialists are always here to talk about how you’re feeling post treatment and issues around fatigue and anxiety).
The course will run during the afternoon from 1:30 – 3:30 pm and is suitable for individuals who have finished their cancer treatment, even if that was a while ago.
How it works
Our collaboration with Maggie’s Cancer Care is all about helping you feel more empowered and better equipped to manage your wellbeing. Spaces are limited, even for online sessions, so everyone can benefit from the expert guidance in a comfortable, personal setting. You’re welcome to attend more than one course, although we kindly ask that you don’t repeat the same one to ensure fair access for others. You don’t have to choose the course closest to you; feel free to join online or travel to another centre if that works better. You also don’t need to be a current Wessex Cancer Support client to join, but we do ask that you have a short assessment with one of our Wellbeing Coordinators to make sure the course is right for you. If life gets in the way and you can no longer attend, we completely understand; just let us know as soon as possible. Please note, you won’t be able to switch to another course once one has started, to allow as many people as possible the chance to participate.
When are the next course dates and times?
Each course will run for four weeks and will take place on a Thursday, either in the morning or the afternoon.
Course timings:
‘Managing Stress’ Thursdays, 10.30am – 12.30pm
‘Where Now?’ Thursdays, 1.30 – 3.30pm
Forthcoming course start dates (2025) (for both courses):
Online – 4 September (and following three Thursdays)
In person, Bournemouth centre – 2 October (and following three Thursdays)
In person, Chandler’s Ford centre – 30 October (and following three Thursdays)
How to refer
Anyone can refer, through us, onto one of these courses; you don’t have to have a welcome conversation first. To refer onto any of these courses, please send an email careteam@wessexcancer.org.uk and a member of the team will get back to you.
Help someone today
Your donation would fund a place on one of our four-week courses for someone affected by cancer, or someone caring for them.
