How a 6 week hope course run by McMillan has totally changed my life for the better

Welcome to the Community  and well done in being proactive and doing the Hope Course.

Taking the time to do these types of courses can indeed help to unpack a lot of the stuff in our invisible ‘rucksack’ of stuff we collect over our cancer journey and unknowingly carry around post treatment.

Well done and your post will be very encouraging to others looking in.

Fir others looking for course check out these links Local Macmillan Supportin and Maggie’s Centre and I am sure there are others.

I also did the HOPE course, way back in 2013- just before being diagnosed with a brain met. However, that was treated with cyberknife n I'm still here to tell the tale. I'd definitely recommend the course - 6:sessions n time well spent.Wish it had been longer . 

Sue 

? Sounds good, what is the HOPE course how would i get on it? 

Am facing gamma knife,  possible in January and then again when the next tumour grows, am terrified, not least as i am needle phobic. The mask isnt an option for me...did yo have a mask ?

HOPE is an anacronym.Will c if i can  find out/ remember what it stands for. It's led by 2 facilitators (nurses)  from Macmillan  I was referred to it by my specialist at the time, I think but I would think u can self- refer too possibly-  via the Macmillan website.

There were about 10 to 12 on the course.

I was due to have gamma knife in March but they then found out on doing the treatment plan guided by a double contrast MRI that the met was inactive. So I  didn't need it after all.Phew.

You will need to have a mask, so they can ensure your head doesn't move- unless the tumour's not in your brain?

Do tell them now if having a mask's going to b a problem for u, n also re your needle phobia.

?where was it run..have do several courses at my local Macmillan but HOPE has never been offered as one?

My tumours, which are meningingomas arent suitable for a mask (which i could cope with. Instead they are going to fix a metal halo around my head with 4 screws into my skull, whilst awake. The halo is fixed to the gamma knife for aound 3 hours in which time the only movement of my head will be controlled by the computer. They are very aware of my phobia from the multitude of mri scans over the last 2 years , the craniostomy and my previous leukaemia treatment.

 at all

Just popped into the thread to give a bit of information

H elping to

O vercome

P roblems

E ffectively

See also on HOPE 

I'm not sure if the courses are still available but if you open the green link above it gives an email address to contact.

Hope this is of help and interest.

Ian

By clicking on the green text above will open up a new page for you.

Thanks 

Thanks Ian!

Learned another acronym while on that course- 

Feelings

Inside

Not

Expressed

So true

Your halo sounds similar to my mask, ie fitted with 4 screws into my head. Glad they know of your phobia.

My HOPE course was in N Herts 

Looks like the HOPE info is currently out of stock