Galway Cancer Support Centre

This service is available in our specially designed gym run by our exercise physiologist.

Complementary Therapies including reflexology and massage for cancer patients is available at the centre.

Our psychologists provide professional expert intervention to deal with the distress caused by a cancer diagnosis.   These specialised techniques include Cognitive Behaviour and Emotion Focused Therapy and a range of other evidence based interventions.

Specialised one-to-one information and support is available to help you cope with living with cancer and its treatment, especially side-effects. This service is provided by oncology nurses with many years’ experience in the area.

The aim of the Oncology Nursing Service at Cancer Care West is to provide information, advice and support to cancer patients and their families.

Manual lymphatic drainage is a specialised type of massage for lymphoedema which helps to reduce swelling. The aim is to redirect fluid away from swollen areas towards healthy lymphatics.

We offer a 6 week CTS course approximately twice a year whose aim is to provide patients transitioning from active treatment to living well with and beyond cancer.

The Prostrate Cancer Support Group is an online Webinar offered every 3 months in conjunction with Rachel Dalton Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Urology at NUIG. This co-facilitated session offers talks by specialists addressing a range of topics for men associated with diagnosis, treatment and longer-term adjustment to having had prostate disease.

This is a chance to meet others living with Multiple Myeloma over a cup of freshly brewed tea or coffee in a relaxed atmosphere. This takes place once every two months on the second Friday.

The Galway Support Centre offers a monthly opportunity to meet other people bereaved by cancer and to offer basic knowledge about ways to live with grief.

We offer a range of classes tailored to the individual’s needs which are easily adaptable to everyday life.

Yoga is a holistic practice which brings harmony to all aspects of our being. Relaxation, through simple movements and gentle breathing, is an integral part of the class. The practice is accessible to everyone, and all are made to feel welcome.

A occasional meeting that offers an opportunity to chat and share stories about living with a brain tumour.

Difficulties frequently arise for children when a family member is diagnosed with cancer. We offer individual support to these children in terms of one-to-one counselling, especially for older children who are able to explore these issues by verbalising their concerns.

Cancer Care West offers therapeutic play skills to complement the support offered to children within our service, following a diagnosis of cancer or a diagnosis within the family.  Play therapy uses a variety of play and creative art therapies, including toys, art, therapeutic storytelling, puppets, clay and playdough, and creative visualisation to help children to find a way of speaking about how they are feeling.

With the support of the therapist, therapeutic play provides a safe space, medium and language whereby a child can identify and communicate what they have difficulty articulating, helping the child to identify emotions and explore anxieties, and learn skills to help them cope.

Parents sometimes seek support in terms of advice about how to manage their children at the time of, and following diagnosis.  Our team of psycho-oncologists have developed expertise in this area and are available to offer guidelines regarding child management and other concerns that may arise.

CUBS is an online structured bereavement support programme developed for children aged between 8 and 12 years whose parent has died from cancer. Through play and art, children will learn about grief responses and learn how to cope with feelings.

Cancer Care West also offer the CLIMB programme.  CLIMB is a programme for children aged five to twelve years who are living with the reality of a parent being diagnosed with cancer.  This offers children in this age group the opportunity to come together to explore in a safe way the experience of a parent living with cancer.