I thought I knew how difficult it was for people to experience cancer but now I know how tough it really is.
45 stories for 45 years. Throughout 2026, we’re sharing the stories of our clients, volunteers and staff who make the Wessex Cancer Support community what it is.
Through our community’s lived experience of cancer, we can provide our clients with the tailored support they need.
In this edition, staff member Andrea, shares how her personal experience shaped her decision to come and work with us.
I have been an oncology nurse at Southampton General Hospital since 1994 and have always had a passion for working with people with cancer. I launched and developed the complementary therapy service for inpatients, outpatients and carers and managed the Macmillan Support Centre for many years as well as offering therapies there. This brought role brought me into close contact with Wessex Cancer Support; people didn’t always want to have to come into a hospital to have counselling or a relaxation treatment so it was great to be able to refer them to the lovely Wessex centres in the community rather than people having to come into a more clinical environment, centres. I even trained in hypnotherapy myself so I could offer non-medical support, too.
When my husband, Jerry, was diagnosed with two different types of cancer in 2019 we were all devastated. The cancer was already stage 4 in his bones and lungs.
I thought I knew how difficult it was for people to experience cancer but now I know how tough it really is.
One of the most challenging things about supporting Jerry was how often I felt like an administrator, on the phone sorting out appointments, medication, transport, transport for my three children – their lives didn’t stop. All this time was very difficult as I just wanted to support Jerry and our kids.  I needed counselling myself at one point during Jerrys last three years as my head was all over the place but I wanted to be the best I could be for everyone – wife, mum, colleague, managing the cancer support centre services at the hospital– so I came to Wessex Cancer Support for help.
Being hospital based, I thought I knew how much help is out in the community from Wessex Cancer Support but then I lived it!  I’d like people to really understand how much is available remotely, too. Telephone or online counselling is amazing – it particularly helped me during Covid that I could maintain the support that I was receiving. Many people are not able to come to see us in person so it is of so much benefit to be able to access support from our team
I’m not sure many people really understand what support is: I could talk about it for hours!
I remember one time I needed to ring the hospice team to ask for Jerry’s steroids to be increased as one of his brain tumours had clearly bled but the person who answered the phone said he doesn’t have brain metastases! I did get clarity and was able to increase steroid dose as we had done before. I had to nip upstairs afterwards and call Wessex support to help me decompress and I felt more upset thinking about all the people who have no one to advocate or get support in the moments when it is really needed! The centre manager also talked me through some breathing relaxation before the call ended ensuring I was in a better place to get on with the afternoon in a calmer way for Jerry and the kids.
I really want people to know that, however distressed, angry or emotional you are, there is always someone to turn to at Wessex. We are not clinical but have had so much experience in helping and supporting people through the most difficult situations.
When Jerry died, almost five years ago now, I had bereavement counselling, remotely.   I did also go back to work, managing another Cancer Centre, which was challenging in many ways. My passion for this work has not faded by any means. My children accessed support through Wessex signposting us to specialist, children and young peoples’ services. Two of our kids were over 18 and one of them did have support about a year after Jerry died.   I have since met someone else and am very happy, but it still makes me emotional at times thinking about that time and what we all went through. It really was a rollercoaster. Today would have been Jerrys birthday (29th July) so it feels somewhat apt to be writing this today.
Unfortunately I had to stop working in the hospital following a series of very difficult events when the cancer support centre was closed. I am still a fully registered nurse and when I saw the job at Wessex Cancer’s Chandler’s Ford Centre advertised, it felt like the stars had aligned!
Wessex is so much more community spirited than previous places I had worked; there is a completely different vibe here. Although the needs of our clients are the same, the way we deliver our services is so different. I have come with a determination to grow the therapies that we can offer, more therapists, more volunteers, and I want more people to know about us.
I want people to get the support they need because it really helped me.  If I’d fallen apart, I would have been no use helping to nurse Jerry at home.
Reading the feedback from people and to see the difference we make for them makes me feel so grateful. People may come in who feel completely lost, anxious, perhaps not sleeping, we can help them and give the support they need.
The difference that something as simple as joining in our coffee morning has made to a lady who has popped into my head has been astounding to see.
I’m so grateful to our team of volunteers. They come in week after week, usually one shift a week, because they see and feel the value of what they are doing. It’s really rewarding to be able to sit with clients and listen and offer that safe space for people to share anything they need to, without feeling any judgement but knowing they are understood.  The value of being able to talk to someone, to ‘offload’, is priceless. Client’s often come in feeling stressed and they say they actually feel lighter after a conversation with one of the team. The volunteer teams also get lots of support, from us and from each other.
Anyone who might consider volunteering with us, just give me a ring. Volunteering to give people that safe and confidential space is very fulfilling.
Our community provides a safe, supportive space for people affected by cancer. Through our emotional and wellbeing services, we provide the support to our communities in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
We’ve been here for you since 1981.
You can call or email your local cancer support centre today, or drop in to speak to our friendly team.
And if you would like to learn more about volunteering and becoming part of #TeamWessex, you can see more about becoming a volunteer here.
