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Written by Jan Rutter
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Proving that cancer need never be a lonely experience
Cancer Buddies Network (CBN) is an online support network for anyone affected by cancer. Our aim is to create a haven where people living through similar cancer experiences, be they patients, carers, family or friends can get together with others in the same situation to share the ups and downs, laughter and tears with someone who knows how it feels because they've been there.
Our sole purpose is to put people directly in touch with each other from the comfort of their own homes on a one to one basis via a simple, safe and easy to use database and search engine. We also have a Forum where members can get together to offer each other that much needed support and chat about what is happening to them.
Cancer Buddies Network is a non-profit organisation supported by Macmillan Cancer Support and Millennium Grants UnLtd.
Ian Smith MD FRCP FRCPE, Professor of Cancer Medicine at The Royal Marsden Hospital says "As an oncologist I see patients and their families who are frightened and worried about the impact that cancer will have on their lives and how it will affect them. From my personal experience I have learnt that patients cope better when they are able to talk about what they are going through and share their experiences with someone who understands and this is why I wholeheartedly support CBN, an exciting new concept in cancer websites."
Jan's story - our beginnings
When I first heard those fateful words, 'you have cancer' in March 2001, my world started to crumble. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears and my head began to swim. From that day on, my comfortable little world changed forever. Through the haze of voices and the jumble going on around me - I was aware of another lady who was receiving the same devastating news - I resolved to find out who she was so we could help each other through this.
We became the best of buddies and discussed all the things that were happening to us that no-one else understood because WE were the ones experiencing it, feeling it and living through it. How it felt, the treatments, the laughter and the tears along the way. For the nine months of treatment, we walked hand in hand until we emerged cancer-free at the end after the most incredible roller coaster journey of our lives.
The idea for Cancer Buddies Network had been born. I wanted everyone going through their own cancer experience to have the comfort of a buddy who could understand them, the way that I had done. After being unable to find anywhere on the internet where you could get this kind of one to one support, Cancer Buddies Network was launched in August 2006 after 3 years of hard work, fundraising and help from family and friends. Do come and check us out, we'd love to have you visit us at http://www.cancerbuddiesnetwork.org and find your own buddy among our many members.
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