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Gavin O’Connor speaks to Tommy Frank O’Connor about the Saoirse Men’s Group in Recovery Haven and how they are helping each other through their battles against cancer…
A CANCER support group for men has celebrated its one year anniversary with an event at the Recovery Haven last night.
Through comradeship, honesty and a good sense of humour, over the last year The Saoirse Men’s Group at Recovery Haven have lightened the load of living with cancer and they are always looking for new people to join their group.
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At the one year anniversary of the Saoirse Cancer Support Group were, from left, front: Teddy Drumm, Siobhan McSweeney, John Barrett, Tommy Frank O’Connor and Barney Dowling. Bak; Dieter Gogsch, Pat Doolin, John Healy, Paul Horan, Patricia Gogsch, Eckhard Gogsch, Sheila O’Connor, Steven Molloy, Caroline Bulman and Liam O’Dowd. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
The group averages around 12 members with ages ranging from men in their late 40s to 70s. They meet fortnightly in Recovery Haven, Killerisk.
Last year, Recovery Haven, treated the group to a day out in Dingle which, unfortunately, Mother Nature conspired to spoil. Though this didn’t stop the group from having a great sing song on the way back to Tralee.
“Whether the distillery had anything to do with that we won’t say!” said Saoirse Men’s Group member, Tommy Frank O’Connor.
Tommy is a 17 year long survivor of prostate cancer, while the longest surviving member in the group is coming up to 21 years.
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“Of course we’ve been teasing him about having a 21st later this year!” said Tommy. “It gives great encouragement to someone who is only two or three years into their journey.”
“It makes it so much easier for someone coming in because they realise ‘I can say anything to these lads’. It enables the reluctance of men to speak about their problems and open up completely,” said Tommy, originally from the Sliabh Luachra area, now living in Cloonanorig.
Before being diagnosed, he worked as an accountant, but now he is a writer/poet, with seven published books and he mentors other writers.
“It can be a very lonely existence when you’re a Cancer patient,” said Tommy. “Sometimes it can be great, no problems at all and sometimes it can be bloody awful to be honest with you.”
“So the rest of us will come in behind those who are suffering a bit and help get a bit of perspective to that darkness, that loneliness and pain because the next fortnight it could be ourselves. Regardless of how dark the room might seem, if there are two or three people down, they don’t mind if there’s a bit of a laugh and there always is,” he said.
“Sometimes with people you’d think butter wouldn’t melt in their mouths – you’d be amazed what comes out at times. Each one of us are on a whole lot of medication and sometimes they don’t always agree with us. There can be just those days when even though we’re taking painkillers there is another sort of pain that no painkiller can get at. We know that the house is a phone call away and we will all be meeting again very soon,” he said.
To find out more about the group contact Recovery Haven on 066-7192122.
