A NEW support group for cancer sufferers, their families and carers has been launched in the Durham area.

The Helping Hands Cancer Support Group held its first meeting last Thursday at Chester-le-Street Hospital.

It will provide support and help for cancer sufferers and offer complementary therapies for patients and their carers.

It is hoping that many cancer patients and people who want to help the group will attend future meetings on the first Thursday of each month.

The group has been inspired by the Bristol Cancer Help Centre, which uses complementary therapies.

Co-founder Jeanne Whitehead, of Durham, said: "We will offer a support service which will meet the needs of each individual who has been touched by cancer.

"We will offer the chance to chat and have a cuppa and supply any other information people feel they need, such as therapy, news on the latest research, nutritional information and so on.

"County Durham has more than 2,500 new registrations of cancer every year and it is a sad and frightening thing to go through. From my own experience, when I was diagnosed I was devastated. I felt as if I had been run over by an express train.

"By giving people the chance to meet others, both men and women, who have been there, bought the T-shirt and are still alive years down the line, we feel we can help cancer patients and their families come to terms with the illness and suggest possible other ways of coping."

Another co-founder of the group, George Wilkinson, who has advanced prostate cancer, said: "At the moment we have 14 active members, all of whom have first hand experience of cancer, both men and women.

"At the moment we range in age from 18 to myself, who at 70 was diagnosed four years ago."

The group is planning a series of talks and workshops relevant to members' needs on subjects such as healing, healthy food and drink and flower remedies.

For further information about the group and its activities call Jeanne Whitehead on (0191) 373 7475 or George Wilkinson on (0191) 388 5893