The Marie Keating Foundation created SurviveandThrive.ie to provide a specific online space which would contain resources and information that would help to support cancer survivors, carers and people living with advanced cancer.
Cancer survivorship begins at the time of diagnosis and continues until the end of life. According to the National Cancer Strategy 2016 – 2025, based on data collected from 1994 onwards, there are currently more than 180,000 cancer survivors in Ireland. Survival for some cancers has increased greatly in recent years e.g. the survival rate for testicular, thyroid and prostate cancers is over 90% whilst the breast cancer five year survival is now over 80%. The Marie Keating Foundation acknowledged the increased number of cancer survivors in Ireland and that cancer survivors have very specific physical, psychological and social needs, therefore, creating the Survive and Thrive website.
The Marie Keating Foundation’s Survive and Thrive workshops and seminars have been created to help men and women who have finished cancer treatment to adapt to the ‘new normal.’ Both the workshops and the seminars include advice from experts as well as peer to peer advice from survivors on issues that cancer survivors often face including: coping with emotions; fatigue and other symptoms; changing nutritional needs; coping with feelings and change; managing stress and physical activity. Sometimes the courses are for men or women only and sometimes they are mixed.
The aim of our Positive Living programme is to help both men and women who have metastatic cancer reach an improved quality of life by providing specialised supports and connecting them with experts in their local community. Patients attending the programme also have the opportunity to meet with other patients who they can relate to on a peer-to-peer level.
Attendees are welcome to bring a friend or family member to support them through the course/workshop. You can find out more about these workshops and seminars by visiting our events page on the Marie Keating Foundation website
All courses and seminars are free to attend but places are limited and registration is essential.
To register your interest in our next Survive and Thrive course or Positive Living course, please contact us on 01 628 3726 or email info@mariekeating.ie.
“There are now more than 173,000 people in Ireland who have survived cancer which is heartening and gives great hope to people going through cancer treatment at the moment. However, we also have to acknowledge that surviving cancer comes with its own unique challenges. Survivors can struggle with learning to cope with the ‘new normal.’ Everyone will have their own unique experiences and responses but by coming together and by getting some expert advice, this adjustment can be made a lot easier and we are looking forward to helping people who have been through cancer treatment not only to survive but also to thrive.” Helen Forristal, Director of Nursing Services, Marie Keating Foundation.