Need a residential retreat? Can get to Bristol... - CLL Support

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Need a residential retreat? Can get to Bristol in the UK?

AdrianUK profile image
13 Replies

Has anyone heard of or done this Penny Brohn course? It is essentially a retreat for people with cancer. They have a way of helping us deal with cancer that addresses Body Mind Emotions and Spirit. This course is also taught in some NHS hospitals but a country home type retreat sounds really appealing. If you are like me you don't have much in your diary anyway. So...

I have just booked myself in last minute to attend NEXT WEEK...they have still have one more place who will join me? Or if you are not so into last minute changes you can actually plan to attend one at a later date too.

pennybrohn.org.uk/services/...

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AdrianUK profile image
AdrianUK
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13 Replies
mrsjsmith profile image
mrsjsmith

Will be interested to find out how you get on Adrian. When I was first diagnosed many years ago I used to look at this website frequently, but it seems to have dropped off my radar until now. Hope you find it useful.

Regards

Colette

stunned profile image
stunned

I looked at this last year when my CLL became very active and i was being jostled between starting treatment and not meeting the Flair Trial Criteria.

I was at an all time low and i wanted to escape from the hospital appointments, the effects of my worsening illness and from CLL itself.

It sounded just what i needed but it never happened sadly.

Unfortunately i can't make next week Adrian which is really disappointing as we could have met face to face at last.

It is still somewhere i would like to go but while i am still having fortnightly check ups while they try to get me back up to full dose Ibrutinib whilst trying to keep the side effects at bay, i am afraid i am unable to go.

Please let us all know how you get on.

Anne x

AdrianUK profile image
AdrianUK in reply to stunned

Anne, hopefully in a little while you’ll be able to muster up enough strength to go. It feels like just the right time for me now tho I’m a little daunted by it. But I’m hopeful that it will feel restful (they are bit into relaxation for example). In the meantime see if you can get yourself w massage or some other way to relax. I found listening to music (in my case Christian) really helped when I was at my lowest point. It can even be a from of meditation which is something that I also strongly recommend.

BallparkChaser profile image
BallparkChaser

Thanks for sharing Adrian. A quick look led to an introduction to PNI - a subject I will be putting some focus toward. Always interesting how we get connected to things at seemingly random points in time but find the timing to be almost precisely as needed. Best of luck. Tim

AdrianUK profile image
AdrianUK in reply to BallparkChaser

PNI? What’s that?

BallparkChaser profile image
BallparkChaser in reply to AdrianUK

From Penny Brohn website - Psychoneuroimmunology. The Bristol Approach is based on the connections between our mind, nervous and immune system.

Newdawn profile image
NewdawnAdministrator

It’s a very good service Adrian. I’m sure you’ll gain something from it.

I’ve got too many caring commitments to go unfortunately but I wish they had a centre close to me for non residential pop-in support.

Newdawn

annmcgowan profile image
annmcgowan

Hi Adrian unable to attend at short notice. Hope you enjoy and benefit from the retreat, let us know.

Ann

GPip profile image
GPip

Hi Adrian

I’m sure you will get a lot of relaxation and support this weekend. Thanks for the heads up on this; it sounds like a great resource. I will see if I can get there at some point as it could be a perfect place to get away. Pippa

Newcastle1962 profile image
Newcastle1962

Hi thanks for sharing link i have never heard of this organisation. Please let me know how it goes as i would be interested in attending a future course.

SueKRM profile image
SueKRM

Hi Adrian. I've done two courses with Penny Brohn. One was an outreach one at Sheffield. The other one, I went and stayed down at the centre in Bristol before I was due to have chemo. I found it wonderful and it really helped me cope with treatment. I love the whole person 'model' that they have - mind, body, spirit, emotions- all coming together for healing and resilience. It's a lovely place. You'll be well looked after. Enjoy the retreat.

AllanJardin profile image
AllanJardin

Hi Adrian. Sounds very good training. Best of Lucky

AdrianUK profile image
AdrianUK

Unfortunately I had to cancel last minute as I wasn’t feeling up to it. You have good days and bad days and this was a bad day. I think I’ve been fighting off a minor cold virus all week. It’s really set me back quite a bit. They are very gracious, however and said they’d be more than happy for me to book again. They obviously get a lot of people who feel sick and have to cancel.

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