Is there anyone else who would like to go to the Younger Womens Group but lives up North?

[dundeegirl]

I just wondered how many ladies are interested in the Younger Womens Group but live further away from London...am wondering if there's some way of setting up groups in other cities?

[Joelle]

I would be - I'm in Birmingham.

[dundeegirl in reply to Joelle]

Thanks for your reply Joelle - I was wondering about somewhere in between Scotland and the Midlands, maybe Manchester? Or maybe that's not much easier than London for yourself?

love

Cat

[Helens]

Hi Catherine, I am a gynae CNS in the North West and we are looking at setting up a group in the North West area if you or anyone else would be interested

[dundeegirl in reply to Helens]

Hi Helen,

Anything north of London would be handy - I had been wondering if the North-West of England would be a natural in between point for ladies from the Midlands to Scotland...please keep me posted.

Many thanks

Catherine

[ScardyCat40 in reply to Helens]

I live in the North West and would definitely be interested

[linnet]

Hi catherine

I am eastmidlands based- which to southerners is 'up north'

but have been going down to the group in london as my city is on the main line down to the capital.

I can say it has been making a difference, but I have found the trip v tiring- so am interested in any developments in the regions that would be easier to get to- the main problem with me at the moment is travel- I am reliant on public transport

I know that the accessablity in the regions is an issue- and at one time virtual technologies were considered.

It may be that futher partnerships with maggies centres and ovacome in the regions would be desireable- they are certainly great venues for the groups- and may be a natural progression for a 'younger womens network'- it would be good to keep as many connections between groups as possible as there are not that many of us in any one geographic region

I think that sometimes the confidenuality that protects us- also prevents us from getting in touch with others in our situation and hence accessing peer support- therefore I think that ovacome has such an important role to play! ( thankyou!) as do the wonderful CNS's ( thankyou!) and we oursevles sometimes need to find the ability to speak out for what we need- and be persistant!

(omg- lin's in lecture mode big time- time to round up!!!!)

I hope that we will be able to find ways of reaching every 'young ovarian' that wishes for peer support- because it can be such an isolating experience.

I am aware that this is a personal wish list.....

all kind wishes

Lin

[dundeegirl]

Hi Lin,

Thank you so much for your message. It sounds like we are in a similar boat - it's great that you've managed down to London for the meetings, but it does sound tiring too. Thank you too for all your ideas about how regional networks might work - I have been to my local Maggie's Centre (I'm lucky to have one close by) and as you say, perhaps a partnership in different areas with Ovacome would be one way forward. It sounds very exciting actually! Thank you so much for sharing the idea.

As you suggest, the fact that we are probably quite a small group nationally as 'young ovarians' means we maybe need to be more creative in networking across big distances. Until this week I was feeling really isolated, although Ovacome has been a big help, and the Maggie's Centre was great when I was first diagnosed. (Although everyone at Maggie's is very kind, I haven't met anyone around my age there, so sometimes going there makes me feel more lonely somehow. And as you will appreciate, certain issues we face are probably unique and hard to cater for in mixed groups.)

I'd really love to try to find out how many younger women there are who would like to meet but can't always get to London - I only just found the MacMillan forum yesterday, but I'm wondering now how many forums there are out there, and how scattered young women with OC are across the country. I wish I was more tech-literate than I am! I wonder if you know of any other forums where I could ask around?

Last of all, I wondered if you're going to the meeting in London next week? I finally snapped yesterday and bought myself a train ticket and I can't wait to come down and meet you gals...

thanks again for your reply

Cat

xxx

[glinda77]

Hello,

I would be interested in joining a group up north. I was diagnosed in June this year so everything is rather new for me. I'm 34 and I live in the North West. I haven't met anyone remotely in my age group with OC so it would be good to link up.

Glinda x

[dundeegirl in reply to glinda77]

Hi Glinda,

Thank you very much for your reply. I don't know if you have read the other comments on this thread, but there is a CNS from the North of England called Helen who has replied saying that she is potentially interested in setting up a group. I have messaged her separately to ask if she will let me know if this goes ahead. And of course if I hear from her I will let you and the other girls know, if you don't already of course! In the meantime do keep in touch in the forum. Like you, I haven't met anyone in my area who is in my age group, but meeting the other girls at the London group which Ovacome runs with the Maggie's Centre was very nice, even if there's no way I can make it every month!

Cat xx

[linnet]

hey all- was wondering anyone was still 'on the case' of thinking about the regions on this one- I am 'bumping' this up to see where we are!!!

kind wishes

lin

[dgrundy]

Hi has anything been arranged with regards a group further up north, with children and finances stretched I am unable to travel to London as much as I would like to be able to talk to ladies around my age. The hardest thing I found with everything since my diagnosis was I always seemed so much younger than other patients around me who were at different stages in their life. I have had lots of useful advice and joining this website has really helped.

Kind Regards Donna x

[dundeegirl]

Hi Donna, I'm afraid I don't know of anything and I just kind of gave up really. I've met another contact through Target Ovarian who is my age and don't know if maybe Target Ovarian are running any events your way? unfortunately it does seem tricky finding people our age. I'm not a big fan of Facebook but maybe that would be the way forward? I notice that the other networks I'm in (DC Network, Daisy Network) use FB. Sorry I can't be more help! cheers, Cat x

[dgrundy in reply to dundeegirl]

Thanks for your reply, I am not really a fan of FB either but i will keep looking.

Take care Donnax

[dundeegirl]

Hi Donna, I'm afraid I don't know of anything and I just kind of gave up really. I've met another contact through Target Ovarian who is my age and don't know if maybe Target Ovarian are running any events your way? unfortunately it does seem tricky finding people our age. I'm not a big fan of Facebook but maybe that would be the way forward? I notice that the other networks I'm in (DC Network, Daisy Network) use FB. Sorry I can't be more help! cheers, Cat x