17th June 2025
We recently hosted a Health and Wellbeing event for patients with Colorectal cancer which took place in Seagoe Parish Centre, Portadown. The event was organised in collaboration with the Colorectal Clinical Nursing Team, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon and Macmillan Information and Support Service.
Our clinical teams and Macmillan Information and Support Service are committed to looking at ways to improve the follow-up and ongoing support for people who have a cancer diagnosis. We are committed to providing better access to services, ensuring our population know and understand how to access the right service at the right time. Throughout the event we provided individuals with information that will help them feel more confident about how they can optimise their health and wellbeing and provided an opportunity for patients, carers and family members to meet with each other for peer support.
Stoma Team & Colorectal Cancer Nurse Specialist
The programme for the event included a range of speakers presenting on relevant topics from aftercare/follow up, healthy eating, managing fatigue, emotional wellbeing and pelvic health. Attendees also had the opportunity to engage with cancer charities and local support services/organisations hosting information stands, to learn more about support on offer in Southern Trust area.
Mr Epanomeritakis, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
The Colorectal event was very well attended by patients and family members with 52 attendees. The road to wellbeing is often made easier with the support of family and friends, and so we were delighted to have family members come along to the event also. Attendees found the event enjoyable and beneficial in terms of increasing their knowledge of support services. One attendee stated that “Everything included in the event today has helped me and reassuring to know there is so much support out there. Well done”. Another attendee highlighted how the event helped her “Enjoyed this colorectal health & wellbeing event, lots of information which helped answer our questions. Thank you”.
Macmillan Information & Support Staff
Our Health and Wellbeing events are an important part of the patient pathway and follow up care that patients receive in the Southern Trust. For more information on our cancer Health and Wellbeing events or if you are affected by cancer and would like more information on financial, emotional and/or practical support available in your area, please contact Macmillan Information and Support Service at 028 3756 1001.