Roscommon Cancer Support Centre

The Roscommon Cancer Support Centre is located at Vita House Abbey Street Roscommon. It was established in June 2013 and is affiliated to the Irish Cancer Society. By participating in the affiliation process we are part of the National Network of groups who provide information and support services to people with cancer.

Our aim to provide a range of support services to individuals undergoing their cancer journey.

Our vision is to provide support that will enhance recovery from cancer for individuals and for their families. We provide an ongoing range of services which are available by appointment basis. These in include massage, reflexology, Indian Head and Reiki Therapy. We also have well-being courses: Pilates, Yoga, Meditation and weekend workshop on gardening, colour me beautiful and nutrition advice.

Referrals for this service come from a number of sources. These can be self- referral, GP’s, Hospital consultants, clinics, Irish Cancer Society and community based nurses as well as other relevant organisations in our community.

All our services are provided by suitably qualified practitioners and strictly confidential.

Our Services

Counselling

Complimentary Therapy

Courses & Programmes

MLD-Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Foot Clinic in oncology

Counselling services within the community setting are evidenced to improve the recovery process when we are in a time of crisis, such as getting seriously ill, we face many anxiety inducing challenges. We may be worried and stressed buy our illness, encouraging the wordy and stress of our family, or be faced with the financial burden of being ill.

A counsellor is available to help you by providing emotional support and allowing you to express your feelings and fears during this difficult and traumatic time. They will not tell you what to do but may help you to see things differently and enable you to make decisions when you are feeling fearful and distressed. Counselling is provided by an experienced, accredited psychotherapist.

We provide up to 8 one-to-one counselling sessions per client free of charge. One-to-one counselling is grant aided through the Irish Cancer Society.

We also provide Bereavement counselling as we recognize its importance for families when they experience loss.

We offer clients and their families a programme of eight complementary therapy sessions. The 8 sessions are free of charge. GP or Oncologist consent is required. Confidentiality assured.

Complementary therapies are treatments and activities that you can have along with your standard medical treatment to try and feel better.

REFLEXOLOGY

Reflexology can help give relief to cancer related symptoms such as anxiety, pain, nausea and lethargy, thus improving the quality of life. Reflexology involves applying pressure to points on the feet which correspond to various parts of the body. Each session is adapted to the individual needs.

REIKI

Reiki is meant to resolve emotional distress by allowing healing energy to flow freely throughout the body, which results in relaxation and reduced pain and tension throughout the body. It can also help reduce stress and anxiety, which can decrease pain perception as well.

Post Mastectomy Care Fitting Clinic

A Post Mastectomy Care Fitting Clinic, is now available at Vita House. This is run by Dr Zita Fitzpatrick, Barna, Co. Galway who has run this Clinic for the past 26 years at Roscommon Hospital Out-Patients . She is one of the most experienced people doing this work, in the country.

When a lady has breast surgery, Dr Zita can meet her and provide suitable bras and a silicone breast form, or whatever she needs to, to help her look and feel great again. After breast surgery all women are entitled to a first fitting free. Thereafter, ladies who have a full medical card can get two mastectomy bras free each year and a prosthesis (silicone breast form worn in the bra) when needed, usually every 2-3 years. If a lady knows exactly the bras they like and want, then they do not need to attend the Clinic but just contact Dr Zita and the items will be sent by post. The past two years have been difficult with Covid-19 and face to face fitting clinics were much reduced. However, all the ladies who had seen Dr Zita in the past, continued to get their bras by post each year.

All consultations at the Post Mastectomy Care Fitting Clinic, with Dr Zita Fitzpatrick are FREE.

This Post Mastectomy Care Fitting Clinic is also available at:

  • Home Clinic, Barna, Co. Galway.
  • Tuam Cancer Care Centre, Tuam.
  • East Galway, Midland Cancer Support Centre, Brackernagh, Ballinasloe.
  • Brew Street Clinic, Kilrush, Co Clare.

Also, HOUSE CALLS are possible, by arrangement

For more information, please contact Dr Zita Fitzpatrick on
086 2624385 or Vita House.

Monthly clinic will be available here at Vita House

Foot care in oncology patients is extremely important. There are a lot of complications that can appear during or after the cancer treatment, some of the most common being

  • Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
  • Hand-foot syndrome
  • Hand-foot skin reaction
  • Paronychia and onycholysis
  • Edema, lymphedema
  • Skin and soft-tissue infections

These events may impede a patient’s ability to use footwear, bear weight, ambulate, or perform activities of daily living. It can cause great discomfort or pain.

The goal of Foot Care in oncology patients is to educate them about these conditions/ complications and explain how they can deal with them. Keep the feet in the best possible shape during and after the cancer treatment as any abnormality (example: corn, callus etc) can make the situation worse. It is very important for patient to screen the feet condition every day at home and have a regular foot app with their FHP/Podiatrist every 6-7 weeks to avoid any further complications.

Ingrida can offer the following procedures to the patients:

  • Foot assessment & consultation
  • Foot screening
  • Advising on footwear
  • General foot health pedicure
  • Treatments for fissures, corns, callus, fungal infections, Onycholysis
  • Nail trimming and filing
  • Ingrown toenail
  • Nail reconstructions
  • Referrals in risk foot

To book an appointment contact us on 0906625898

Manual Lymphatic Drainage also known as MLD

Ursula practices as a Healthcare Therapist and as clinical specialist in Lymphedema, Lipoedema and other Lymphatic Disorders. Ursula’s aspirations are that all patients living with Lymphedema get early intervention to enable them to live life comfortably. Manual Lymphatic Drainage also known as MLD, was pioneered in the 1930s by Dr. Emil Vodder PhD. MLD is a light, slow touch technique which works to circulate the body’s lymph node stations in order to speed up and excel cleansing and detoxification within the body.
The only means of lymph fluid circulation is from the body’s movements during exercise, deep diaphragmatic breathing or of course through Manual Lymphatic
Drainage Massage. Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is recognised as an effective treatment for a wide range of medical conditions. Manual Lymphatic Drainage is the most effective treatment for lymphedema as it reduces symptoms of and improves patient’s functionality, mobility and quality of life. During a lymphatic massage therapy session the body’s waste, which is contained in the lymph fluid, is moved to the lymph nodes which then act as filters to cleanse and purify the lymph fluid and re-circulate it back throughout the body. The therapist exerts different intensities of pressure to increase the activity of normal lymphatic vessels and to encourage the fluid away from congested areas by bypassing ineffective or injured lymph vessels. The treatment is very gentle and will involve drainage of the neck, trunk, and the affected extremity. Specialist bandages and sleeves may be recommended and utilised as part of this treatment. There are enormous therapeutic benefits from Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD). It is a very gentle massage which helps to promote relaxation, immune function and reduce edema (build-up of fluid) in the body. MLD is a non-invasive process which has a calming effect to the nervous system due to its repetitive rhythmic sequence and it also
has an analgesic effect which is a huge aide in pain reduction and discomfort.

Appointments with Ursula can be made on 0906625898