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Testimonials
Life Force Patients' Groups:
In September, 2002, I was diagnosed with appendiceal cancer. I underwent surgery and after a period of recovery, this was followed by six months of chemotherapy. The experience of diagnosis and treatment was both physically and psychologically traumatic (I do not use the word ‘trauma’ lightly), and I experienced a long period of intense anxiety. While my physical needs were addressed (in a more or less satisfactory manner), it was very difficult to find an appropriate context in which to discuss my psychological needs other than some sessions with an overloaded hospital-based psychologist.
After some months I began to search for ways in which I could gain some sense of under-standing of what was happening to me, and in particular to choose therapies that were consistent with my own needs and circumstances. A friend who had experienced cancer told me about the Life Force Foundation, so I contacted them and began to attend weekly meetings. I attended these meetings for about a year, at which time I felt that my life had resumed a more normal character and I no longer needed this kind of support.
Also during this period I attended two residential retreats run by Life Force. Both the weekly meetings and the retreats offered valuable opportunities for peer support and a safe and supportive environment in which to voice one’s fears and concerns. This kind of support was not available in any other context that I was able to discover, including hospital-based support groups, which seemed to be more focused on the provision of information. Friends and family have limited capacity to engage in such discussion, especially since they are often dealing with their own psychological issues in relation to your illness, and when active treatment is completed it is as if the ‘episode’ is over for everyone except the person with the diagnosis. This is, in some ways, the most difficult time because there is no longer anything tangible to focus on, and the more conventional forms of assistance taper off, but the unspoken threat lingers on for the person living with the diagnosis.
Life Force is very good at recognising the ongoing need for support beyond the period of active treatment, and people are free to make their own decisions about what support they need, and when they need it. Another positive feature of the peer support aspect is that people with cancer are often disempowered and rendered passive by the nature of their treatments, and the experience of contributing to another person’s healing is a very positive moment in the midst of much negativity.
To sum up, the services offered by Life Force filled a void in my process of recovery. The only other comparable contributions to recovery which I was able to discover were in very expensive residential settings which, although of great value, were not nearly so accessible on an ongoing basis. I would dearly like to see the Life Force model extended on a broad basis, so that it is available to anyone living with cancer regardless of where they live, rather than the very restricted availability at present on offer. I would also like to see information about the type of support Life Force provides become much more available in hospital and clinical settings. If I hadn’t had a friend who had been through the experience, I would never have heard of Life Force and my life would have been much the poorer for that.
Dr Lynne Davis
A cancer diagnosis can be an isolating experience. Although you are engulfed with support from family and friends, the fear, shock, extreme emotions of anger and panic can generate a sense of separation from those around you. I was diagnosed with cancer at 30, an age group in which fortunately there are few people who have had a similar experience. However, this meant I had no links with other cancer patients with whom I could share the raw emotions that I didn’t want to expose to close family and friends. Nor did I want to create concern for them by doing so.
Life Force provided me with an environment of immense support not only through meditation and discussion but the strong connection made with other people who are sharing the same experience. Surviving survival involves wadding the emotional quagmire of post cancer treatment, and to share the associated feelings and responses and thus be assured that you are not being irrational, is incredibly healing. The philosophical approach adopted by Life Force ensures a very strengthening, personal, yet non-intrusive, warm and highly professional level of support. Perhaps it was where I was at, but I was unsuccessful in finding this in other support services.
The benefits of Life Force are far reaching. Although I encountered outstanding medical practitioners there is a need for patient care that extends beyond the physical recovery. This is often most realised at the end of treatment when there is an expectation that you should be swamped by relief, almost celebratory in recovery and able to return to normal work and life activities. This was certainly not the case for me - I was recovering physically but was emotionally shattered. The weekly Life Force meetings provided strength to return to an effective and productive working life and an outlet for anxiety that may otherwise generate tension at home. Cancer can have significant impact on family. My husband would frequently comment on the value of Life Force meetings he observed reflected in our relationship. Life Force support extends very effectively to the often neglected carer.
Attending a Life Force retreat offered me an opportunity for escape from the immediate concerns and fears associated with treatment and recovery and enabled a sense of calmness.
ELEANOR BRUCE
"The classic statement is always 'be positive' but if you're having a bad day, you want someone to accept the way you feel. This support group is one of the reasons that I've become a survivor, because it takes care of that part of me that wakes up in the middle of the night and is overwhelmed by that big neon sign that says you have cancer."
Jane C.
"After cancer you have to live with the fact of your mortality for the rest of your life. You need somewhere like this support group where you can feel safe to dump your emotions and express all your fears. One of the most lingering fears for cancer patients is that the slightest twinge of pain or mild cold is signalling that the cancer has come back. In the group you can feel comfortable about expressing such fears and know that they won't be dismissed by the others as 'nothing to worry about'."
Sally L.
"I truly believe that being a member of a Life Force support group saved my life. My doctors told me my prognosis was excellent, but I just knew I was dying. In my group, I was allowed to talk honestly about my feelings and was acknowledged for that. No one tried to make me feel a different way - I was given permission to be a mess for as long as I needed to. This total acceptance of where I was, at any given moment, is what eventually got me to a more peaceful place where I know that life is for living today - not yesterday, not in ten years time, but right here and now. Even if I have a recurrence I know I'll handle it with much less fear because of my wonderful experience with Life Force."
Jane G.
“I found the support very helpful because I had nobody at all to talk to outside. I had a housing crisis and could not have gotten along without the support of the group. Jane gave me very helpful suggestions and she has just been unbelievable. I would recommend the Life Force program to anyone with cancer. I gained a lot of knowledge, understanding, education and support.”
Judy H.
“There has always been excellent information and communication from the facilitators and the group guidelines are especially helpful. Both Caro and Jane are approachable, generous and helpful. The Life Force program fills a grossly obvious gap in cancer care. It provides a place to gather with other people who are living with cancer and all its consequent emotional upheavals - a place where it is safe to discuss specific life issues faced by cancer patients with other similarly affected people; somewhere to meditate and learn how to cope with situations that provoke anxiety.”
Cecile P.
Life Force Weekend Retreats
“The facilitators are always approachable and helpful and after a retreat I feel more confident in my ability to cope with anxiety. I find that attending retreats as often as I can gives me something to aspire to. The whole weekend program is great and no improvement (to it) is needed.”
Robyn L.
“Very comfortable transport was provided for all the participants and this was a nice way of connecting with everyone on the way to the retreat. Once we arrived, Caro went to great lengths to make sure we were all warm and comfortable, as well as providing positive energy, lots of laughs and plenty of support with the ‘work’ we did.
I enjoyed the exercises that involved slowing down, quietening the mind, allowing for deeper connections to oneself and to others and the environment/life/nature. This also made space for the arising of honesty and truth as well as leading to peace, calm and communion.
Thank you for arranging sponsorship for my partner and me to attend the retreat. It was a great break from the daily grind and helped immensely with our relationship. Getting some relief from the standard day-to-day stresses in a supportive environment gave us an opportunity to connect in a deeper way and discover the ways that we value each other and what we value about each other.”
Terry M.
“I love how the retreats always flow naturally and seem to consolidate on the weekly Life Force group meetings. It feels important how the retreats interweave with the weekly counselling/guidance and meditation; an important change always happens for me after each retreat.
The surroundings are gorgeous - the homestead, nature, being in contact with natural life, our hosts’ beautiful hospitality, food and relaxed personalities. I felt absolutely saturated with pampering – yoga/massage – and there’s something very magical and peaceful about ending the program with the Vision Quest. The benefits of the retreats, that I always take away with me, last for a very long time. These weekends are an important reminder for me to slow down. Being ‘given to’ all weekend gets me into the rhythm of looking after myself, loving myself a little more. The unity that I experience with the other participants feels like an important healing part of the retreats.
The last retreat was extremely special to me because my partner came too. Arriving back home afterwards, I witnessed both of us dealing with our anxieties differently, by being given that time for ourselves. I feel so grateful that I had the opportunity to share this experience with other people living with cancer, being involved in their journeys. Life Force has always been there for me in my many ups and downs – thank you.
Matina B.
Life Force Carers’ Group:
“I can’t say enough about how excellent and wonderful the Life Force group facilitators have been. They put their whole heart into what they do. They are highly skilled listeners and show tremendous patience and good will. I receive valuable guidance every week. It has been such a relief to have a place to go where people understand and empathise with the difficulties that occur week to week. Living daily with someone who has cancer can bring up many challenges and difficulties. When difficulties seem insurmountable, tensions, frustration and anger can be consuming and debilitating. Attending the carers’ support group provides an opportunity to diffuse frustration, receive support, validation and useful guidance. It also provides an important opportunity to network with others in the same situation.
It can be awkward and ineffective trying to talk to people in the general community about the difficulties that arise in being a cancer carer. I don’t know of anywhere else that I could find the mutual understanding that occurs in my support group and attending weekly provides me with desperately needed help to make the best of our situation. The carers’ group is a place to go every week and unload/work through the challenges that occur when living with someone who has cancer. Being listened to and validated and then offered insightful guidance means I can go back home recharged and full of love to give to my partner.”
Terry M.
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