Patient support groups

Support groups for people living with an upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer

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 are hosted both online and in-person, giving you access to support 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 living with an upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer can have a profound impact on your wellbeing. Our PanSupport Patient Support Group 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

Held online on the first Thursday of each month from 11am – 12:30pm (AEST).

This dedicated peer-to-peer patient session 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 or oesophageal cancers.

Please register here to attend.

2023 meeting schedule:

• Thursday 2nd February 2023
• Thursday 2nd March 2023
• Thursday 6th April 2023
• Thursday 4th May 2023
• Thursday 8^th June 2023  
• Thursday 6th July 2023
• Thursday 3^rd August 2023
• Thursday 7^th September 2023
• Thursday 5^th October 2023
• Thursday 2^nd October 2023

Specialist presenter led support groups

Held online on the third Thursday of each month from 11am – 12:30pm (AEST).

Once a month we hold a combined patient and 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. These sessions are suitable for patients and their loved ones just diagnosed, going through, or post treatment for pancreatic, liver, stomach, biliary or oesophageal cancers.

Please register here to attend.

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 17^th August 2023
• Thursday 21^st September 2023
• Thursday 19^th October 2023
• Thursday 16^th November 2023

Face-to-face patient 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.

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 24^th February 2023
• Friday 31^st March 2023
• Friday 28^th April 2023
• Friday 26^th May 2023
• Friday 28^th July 2023
• Friday 25^th August 2023
• Friday 29^th September 2023
• Friday 27^th October 2023
• Friday 24^th November 2023
• Friday 15^th 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 24^th February 2023
• Friday 31^st March 2023
• Friday 28^th April 2023
• Friday 26^th May 2023
• Friday 28^th July 2023
• Friday 25^th August 2023
• Friday 29^th September 2023
• Friday 27^th October 2023
• Friday 24^th November 2023
• Friday 15^th December 2023

Cancer Council telephone support groups

The Pancreatic Cancer Telephone Support Group, run by Cancer Council New South Wales, is a free, professional facilitated support group, you can access 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.

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.

Find out about our upcoming support groups.

LEARN MORE

Specialist Support Team 1300 881 698