Meena's Story

“It was so helpful to go somewhere peaceful, away from everything, a place where people understood. It was the first time since my diagnosis that I felt safe and relaxed.”

My breast cancer at 27 came as a complete shock. I accessed help from Penny Brohn Cancer Care’s community support service, Cancerpoint.

I really liked the Shiatsu massage. When you are that ill, you do need to feel like you are not a stranger to your own body – you do need to be touched. When I was tired at the end of my hospital treatments, Shiatsu was so comforting. I could stay clothed, which was reassuring, and it made me more comfortable with my body.

There was a lot on offer that helped me to cope better. The counselling - talking was good – and I also used aromatherapy massage, another therapy that had a great and healing impact on me so much so I have gone on to study and practise it. Advice on nutrition and learnt relaxation techniques have also been a great aid.

The creative writing course made me realise how much stronger my experiences have made me, it was very therapeutic to share thoughts and feelings through writing with fellow cancer sufferers. The course made me look at my cancer journey in another light, a better one. I have also co-written and directed a play based on a young woman’s experience of breast cancer, and been given wonderful support and creative input from new forum friends on the creative writing course at Cancerpoint. 

The Bristol Approach is nurturing and grounding, something so needed when you experience cancer; I think it’s essential to healing: it gives what a hospital often can’t.   All the advice and help given by everyone at Penny Brohn Cancer Care has given me a strong inner voice that reminds me to take better care of myself. 

MEENA REETORAZ-YEOMANS, 31
Teacher, Bristol based singer under the name of Lady Raz and a dedicated yoga practitioner. Breast cancer diagnosed April 2003. No recurrences.