Upper gastrointestinal (GI) support groups
Pancare Foundation is here to support you (the patient) and your family from the point of an upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer diagnosis through treatment and beyond. We have a variety of PanSupport patient and carer support groups that we run face-to-face (COVID permitting) and online. 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
> Upcoming support groups
> Face-to-face support group meetings
> Living with pancreatic cancer support days
> PanSupport Living Well series
> Pancare telehealth support
> Cancer Council telephone support groups
Online support groups
We understand that living with an upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer can have a profound impact on your wellbeing. Our PanSupport Patient 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.
Peer-to-peer support groups
Once a month we hold a peer to peer, dedicated patient session which provides a caring, an open forum where you can share your experiences with other patients. These groups are suitable for people just diagnosed, going through, or post treatment for pancreatic, liver, stomach, biliary and oesophageal cancer.
Specialist speaker support groups
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.
Upcoming support groups
Our peer to peer sessions provide a caring, an open forum where you can share your experiences with other patients. These groups are suitable for people just diagnosed, going through, or post treatment for pancreatic, liver, stomach, biliary or oesophageal cancer.
Our dedicated PanSupport Patients Online Support Groups will be run across the year. Additional ‘Presenter Led’ groups for Patients & Carers, where external experts address particular areas of interest, will also take place once a month. Our support groups take place from 11am-12.30pm (AEDT reverting to AEST from April 4th). You may like to make a note of upcoming dates as follows (please remember to RSVP if you would like to attend):
- Thursday 22nd April – Patients & Carers – presenter led session
- Thursday 6th May – Patients Online Support Group
- Thursday 20th May – Patients & Carers – presenter led session
- Thursday 3rd June – Patients Online Support Group
- Thursday 17th June – Patients & Carers – presenter led session
- Thursday 8th July – Patients Online Support Group
- Thursday 22nd July – Patients & Carers – presenter led session
- Thursday 5th August – Patients Online Support Group
- Thursday 19th August – Patients & Carers – presenter led session
- Thursday 9th September – Patients Online Support Group
- Thursday 23rd September – Patients & Carers – presenter led session
- Thursday 7th October – Patients Online Support Group
- Thursday 21st October – – Patients & Carers – presenter led session
- Thursday 4th November – Patients Online Support Group
- Thursday 18th November – – Patients & Carers – presenter led session
- Thursday 9th December – Patients Online Support Group
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 PanSupport Support Groups.
Face-to-face patient support group meetings
Please note that due to current covid-19 restrictions our face-to-face support groups are currently only being held in South Australia. Please consider joining one of our online support groups. Face-to-face support groups will resume once covid-19 related restrictions have been lifted. We will continue to provide our online service for those who are unable to attend the face-to-face groups on an ongoing basis.
Living with pancreatic cancer support days
Are you newly diagnosed or currently receiving treatment for pancreatic cancer?
Explore different ways to support your journey living with pancreatic cancer in a supportive environment at Pancare Foundation’s PanSupport Patient Support Day.
Topics delivered by a team of dedicated health professions on:
- impacts of a cancer diagnosis
- managing symptoms from treatment
- diet & exercise
- nourishing your mental health
- complimentary therapies
- resources to access
- questions to ask your medical team.
Our face-to-face Living with Pancreatic Cancer Support Days are currently on hold. Please consider joining one of our online support groups. Our Support Days will recommence once COVID-19 restrictions are no longer in place.
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 with pancreatic cancer support days.
PanSupport Living Well Series
PanSupport’s Living Well Series is an informative, online webinar series which seeks to enhance the daily health and wellbeing of patients and their carers, living with an upper GI cancer.
To date topics have included:
- Diet and upper GI cancer – what you need to know
- Managing the side effects of upper GI cancer
- Exercise and upper GI cancer – the importance of being active.
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.
Pancare telehealth support
Our Telehealth Nurse and Patient & Carer Support team are dedicated to providing patients and carers with health, emotional, practical and financial support during their pancreatic and upper GI cancer journeys. If you would like to arrange a call with either our Specialist Cancer Nurse or Patient Support Manager please book a call today.
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 Pancreatic TSG meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 1.30pm – 2.30pm (EST) and accepts new members at any time.
- The Advanced Cancer TSG meets the first and third Tuesday of the month from 1.30pm – 2.30pm (EST) and is for people with a variety of cancers, including pancreatic cancer.
- 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.
- The Telephone Support Group program is offered by Cancer Council NSW in conjunction with Cancer Council Victoria.
