Support for those caring for a loved one with an upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer
We understand that caring for a loved one with cancer can be immensely rewarding, yet at times exhausting and isolating. Our PanSupport Carer Support Groups provides an opportunity to interact with people who share similar experiences with you. Our groups provide a place to talk about the challenges you may be facing; an opportunity to share learnings, practical tips and information; and a community for comfort and support.
We have a variety of PanSupport patient and carer support groups that we run face-to-face and online across the year. We can also connect you with telephone cancer support groups and our telehealth support service no matter where you live in Australia.
On this page:
> Online support groups
> Face-to-face support group meetings
> Cancer Council telephone support groups
Online support groups
We understand that caring for a person living with an upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer can have a profound impact on your wellbeing. Our PanSupport Carer Support Groups provides an opportunity to interact with people who share similar experiences with you.
Peer-to-peer support groups
Held online on the last Thursday of each month.
Once a month we hold a dedicated carers peer-to peer session which provides a caring, an open forum where you can share your experiences with other carers. These groups are suitable for carers of people just diagnosed, going through, or post treatment for pancreatic, liver, stomach, biliary and oesophageal cancer.
Please register here to attend.
2023 meeting schedule:
- Thursday 23rd February 2023
- Thursday 23rd March 2023
- Thursday 27th April 2023
- Thursday 25th May 2023
- Thursday 22nd June 2023
- Thursday 27th July 2023
- Thursday 24th August 2023
- Thursday 28th September 2023
- Thursday 26thOctober 2023
- Thursday 23rd November 2023
Grief, loss and life support group – for bereaved carers
Held online on the second Thursday of each month from 11am – 12:30pm (AEST).
Our monthly peer to peer online support group provides a supportive forum for people who have lost a loved one from an upper gastrointestinal cancer. This group also provides a safe and confidential space for people to share experiences of loss and to give and receive support from one another.
The group will be facilitated by our PanSupport Emotional Wellbeing Counsellor, Mira Patel, who will assist in navigating topics such as:
- experiences of loss
- strategies for living with grief
- changes in roles, responsibilities, relationships & sense of identity
- practical changes in daily life after loss
- looking ahead.
Please register here to attend.
2023 meeting schedule:
- Thursday 9th February 2023
- Thursday 9th March 2023
- Thursday 13th April 2023
- Thursday 11th May 2023
- Thursday 8th June 2023
- Thursday 13th July 2023
- Thursday 10th August 2023
- Thursday 14th September 2023
- Thursday 12th October 2023
- Thursday 9th November 2023
Specialist speaker support groups
Held online on the third Thursday of each month from 11am – 12:30pm (AEST).
Once a month we hold a combined patient & carer online support group featuring a specialist presenter who will discuss a specific, relevant topic, such as survivorship, diet and nutrition and managing side effects of treatment.
2023 meeting schedule:
- Thursday 16th February 2023
- Thursday 16th March 2023
- Thursday 20th April 2023
- Thursday 18th May 2023
- Thursday 15th June 2023
- Thursday 20th July 2023
- Thursday 17th August 2023
- Thursday 21st September 2023
- Thursday 19th October 2023
- Thursday 16th November 2023
Face-to-face support group meetings
If you live in Melbourne or Adelaide you may like to join our face-to-face support groups and connect with others that live near you. Face-to-face support groups combine both patients and carers.
Melbourne
Watsonia Library
Community Room
4-6 Ibbottson Street, Watsonia, Victoria
Held on the last Friday of the month from 11am – 1pm
Please remember to RSVP if you would like to attend any of these groups
Upcoming dates
- Friday 24th February 2023
- Friday 31st March 2023
- Friday 28th April 2023
- Friday 26th May 2023
- Friday 30th June 2023
- Friday 28th July 2023
- Friday 25th August 2023
- Friday 22nd September 2023
- Friday 27th October 2023
- Friday 24th November 2023
- Friday 15th December 2023
Adelaide
The Tennyson Centre
Conference Room
520 South Road, Kurralta Park, South Australia
Held on the last Friday of the month from 11am – 1pm
Please remember to RSVP if you would like to attend any of these groups
Upcoming dates:
- Friday 24th February 2023
- Friday 31st March 2023
- Friday 28th April 2023
- Friday 26th May 2023
- Friday 30th June 2023
- Friday 28th July 2023
- Friday 25th August 2023
- Friday 29th September 2023
- Friday 27th October 2023
- Friday 24th November 2023
- Friday 15th December 2023
Cancer Council telephone support groups
In conjunction with Cancer Council Victoria and New South Wales, Pancare is funding a national pancreatic cancer telephone support group run by professionals to assist in the isolation that can occur for patients living outside metropolitan areas.
The Pancreatic Cancer Telephone Support Group (TSG) is a free, professional facilitated support group from the comfort of your home or workplace, wherever you are in Australia. They are open groups and you can join in whenever you feel well enough on an ongoing basis.
How does it work? Members are telephoned by Cancer Council so there are no costs to participate. You can be called on a landline or a mobile.
To find out more, call Cancer Council NSW national referral line on 1300 755 632 or email [email protected]
- The Carers’ TSG meets the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month from 1.30pm – 2.30pm (EST) and is for people caring for someone with any cancer, including pancreatic cancer.
- The Life After Loss TSG for people whose loved one has died from a cancer-related illness. This is ‘closed’ six-session format, running weekly held across specific dates TBC.
Learn more:
> Head to our homepage and sign up to our newsletter to receive notifications about upcoming support groups and events.
> View our events calendar to learn more about our upcoming Living Well Series webinars.
