Cancer Care Club

About

The most important thing to say is that, although named. The Cancer Care Club, everyone touched by cancer in any way automatically belongs, the meetings are open to everyone, patient or not, for one visit or many. We do not offer counselling but we are a supportive network of people who have experienced Cancer either as patients or carers.

Cancer Care Club holds two meetings a month excepting January & August:

The 1st Wednesday evening at 7.00pm in The Cathedral Day Unit, K & C Hospital, when there is usually a speaker either involved in the professional care of cancer patients, or an outside speaker from an area of interest.

The 3rd Thursday each month Cancer Care Club has a lunchtime gathering between 12.00pm and 2.00pm at The Abbots Barton Hotel in New Dover Road. This is an informal social gathering where the club subsidises coffee/tea and sandwiches and the hotel allows members to use their Garden Room. The Club asks for a contribution of £3.50 per head towards the cost.

Previously named ‘The Optimists’ the Cancer Care Club was formed more than 30 years ago by Dr Mark Rake and Andrew Jackson, along with a committee, to raise money for a designated Cancer Unit to improve the care and treatment of cancer patients.

It was one of the first Cancer Support groups in the UK. Patients, staff, local supporters and businesses joined them.
The Mountbatten Centre, K & C Hospital was built and the club has continued to provide support and friendship to cancer patients.
Cancer Care Club holds informative monthly meetings, social events and funding for specially requested items and equipment within the hospital.
Treatment now takes place in the Oncology Department and the Cathedral Day Unit. Cancer Care Club provided the special relaxing chairs for Chemotherapy patients to use whilst having treatment in the Day Unit.

The club is now organised by a committee of patients, ex-patients carers and retired NHS staff and is chaired by a Consultant Cancer Surgeon.