ON THE WAY TO RECOVERY – SELF-HELP PROGRAMME FOR CANCER PATIENTS
30 years of volunteer cancer support in Slovenia
Andreja C. Škufca Smrdel, Marija Vegelj Pirc, Blaž Bajec Slovenia: in year 2010: 2 million inhabitants Incidence of cancer (all sites): 12.966 Prevalence: 88.393 Cancer Registry of Republic of Slovenia
ON THE WAY TO RECOVERY – self-help programme for cancer patients (OWR) is being conducted within the Cancer Patients’ Association Of Slovenia
• Programme beginnings go back to 1984 • Programme is based on a premise that well rehabilitated cancer survivor can be a valuable source if support to another patients facing the similar experience of cancer • Individual peer support, support groups
INDIVIDUAL BREAST CANCER PEER SUPPORT started in 1984 as a part of the International Reach to Recovery and spread in all hospitals where surgeries for breast cancer are performed
Slovenj ● ● Maribor Gradec Francine Timoty (right) at her visit in Ljubljana in Celje ● 1983, first volunteer Vida Zabric (middle), ● Ljubljana psychooncologist Marija Vegelj Pirc (left) ● Nova Gorica
● Izola
Women with breast cancer can recieve individual peer support on the hospital wards after the operation; the volunteers offer information, counseling, Associations‘ publications. Breast cancer volunters in Maribor, 27.1.2012 INDIVIDUAL CANCER SUPPORT – INFO CENTRES
Intended for patients (hospitalized and outpatients) with different cancer sites at all stages of treatment and rehabilitation and their relatives.
The volunteers are avaiable for • conversation, • Counseling, • Associations‘ publications.
Info Centre Poster
Cancer volunteers at the opening of the first Info Center at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, 20.4.2009
The Associations‘ publications ● Maribor
● Ljubljana Info center Maribor opening ceremony at the University Medical Centre Maribor, 27.1.2012 SUPPORT GROUPS
The first support group in Slovenia has been established in Ljubljana in 1984. Currently 21 support groups are spread all over the country.
● Murska Sobota Slovenj ● ● Maribor Gradec ● Velenje ● Ptuj Radovljica ● ● Tržič ● Celje ● Kranj ● Trbovlje ● Ljubljana Nova Gorica ● Novo ● Krško Sežana ● Postojna ● mesto ●Ribnica ● Ilirska Bistrica
Koper ● ● Črnomelj ● ● Izola
The 21st started in 2013 in Ilirska Bistrica. Each support group is lead by a volunteer team – volunteer coordinator of self-help group (with personal experience of cancer) and professional manager.
Support groups carry out their activities in cooperation with the local health institutions.
Support groups provide • regular monthly meetings, • organizing other activities (expert lectures, supervised gym exercises, swimming, awareness activities, hiking, relaxation techniques exercises etc.)
Volunteer teams on the supervision meeting 5.3.2008
The founding meeting of the first support group 15. ascent to Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia intended for all cancer patients, Tržič, 2009 (2864m) for members of support groups SUPPORT PROGRAMME ORGANISATION
The programme content and the operational issues are defined by programme regulations; they define topics such as whom and when can start with training, how to start with individual or group work and also required educational activities and cessation of active participation.
The volunteers of cancer support programme are cancer survivors, who:
• had successfully completed their cancer treatment at least two years ago and are successfully rehabilitated OWR rule book • had successfully completed the initial training • take part in the regular supervisions.
„Living for each other.“ On the Way to Recoveries‘ Motto The initial training of volunteers 6 one day seminars with the programme: • Cancer support programme • Cancer facts • Communication skills • own experience of cancer, attitudes toward the illness, motivation for the volunteer work
Our initial training programme has been included into the international Reach to Recovery Manual.
Regular supervisions
Our Initial Training Manual, 2009
Regular supervision meeting All work, from the volunteers and volunteers professionals is free, only their activity-related expenses are refunded. It is free of charge for all patients, accessing the programme. The programm in steered by the board, that consists of 5 members of programmes‘ volunteers and professional managers.
In 2013 • 37 cancer survivors volunteers and • 21 professional managers participated in the cancer support programme. Clinical psychologist Milena Pegan Fabjan, the president of OWR board
Slovenia‘s peer support programme has been awarded the Reach to Recovery Medal in 1994
In 2014 the Associations‘ President Marija Vegelj Pirc, MD, was decorated by the president of Slovenia Borut Pahor for the development of the Associations‘ programmes Life is a value – let's make it complete by giving personal meaning to each moment.
Cancer Patients‘ Association of Slovenia‘s Motto