Red Head long-term cancer survivor, Tonia O'Hara will be forever grateful for a wellness program which has not only exercised her body, but kept her mind fit and active.
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Conducted through Manning Hospital,the eight-week Inform program gives cancer patients, survivors and their carers information about the many different options available following treatment, and at the same time the skills to safely continue exercise at home.
The program was co-ordinated by the hospital's occupational therapist and physiotherapist.
Mrs O'Hara, who participated in the program in 2019, looked forward to the weekly sessions with a mixture of enthusiasm and anticipation, saying it had been extremely beneficial not just for her health, but her state of mind as well.
"The program has given me hope and the incentive to carry on," Mrs O'Hara said.
"It was something I could look forward to every week; the staff were encouraging and very good to us; they were so involved with the activities."
Research had found that program participants demonstrated physical improvements as well as improved quality of life.
"It is an outlet for the fear and distress we all feel about our cancer and treatment, and helps give us the ability to cope and maintain a positive attitude."
Husband of 49 years, David said Inform had also been a valuable experience for partners and carers.
"It is an outlet for the fear and distress we all feel about our cancer and treatment, and helps give us the ability to cope and maintain a positive attitude.
- Tonia O'Hara
"Tonia was a very enthusiastic member of the Inform group," Mr O'Hara said.
"She looked forward to attending and participating each week, and I certainly saw a great improvement in her wellbeing, physical condition and positivity facing her ongoing illness over those eight weeks"
A one-time aged-care music therapy co-ordinator and music teacher, enthusiastic piano player and passionate dancer, Mrs O'Hara gained a lot of strength and enjoyment teaching her fellow-patients traditional Greek dance
The opportunity to contribute to the group with some music and dance, and a little of her heritage, was encouraged and appreciated by staff and patients.
Seventy-two-year-old Mrs O'Hara, and her family, emigrated from Athens as a five-year-old.
"As I was born in Greece, I taught the Inform participants some Greek dance moves. We made a circle and joined hands, and we all had a wonderful time," she said.
"The staff are all wonderful and so involved with the activities of the group program.
"Their support, knowledge and encouragement are a credit to their professions."
Mrs O'Hara's challenging cancer journey began back in 2006 when her regular mammogram through Breastscreen at Forster revealed a lump initially the size of a walnut, which grew to the size of an apple by the time she had a mastectomy.
Just one month later she returned to the operating theatre to undergo lymph node surgery.before six weeks of chemotherapy followed by a gruelling five weeks of daily radiation therapy.
Mrs O'Hara paid tribute to the oncology staff at Newcastle's Mater Hospital
"They were honest and forthcoming with me; they were thoughtful and I trusted them," she said.
Less than 12 months later she suffered a heart attack, and then in May 2012 had a minor stroke.
Doctors later discovered the heart had miraculously healed itself.
"The heart had naturally grown a new artery like the bad one; specialists had never seen this before."
Mrs O'Hara enjoyed a handful of years of relative 'good' health before a nuclear scan revealed the cancer had metastasised into her breast bone.
"It seems a little bit of cancer was left behind from before," she said.
She is grateful for the recently opened oncology unit at Manning Hospital.
"Actually I was the first patient; it was open on the Wednesday and I was in there on Thursday.
"I think it is wonderful."
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Inform program has been adapted for delivery within individual patients' homes until it is safe for the usual group format to resume without any risk to immunocompromised patients.
The Inform team is continuing to develop COVID safety plans in consultation with the oncology service so a group format can recommence in 2021, pending the impact of COVID-19 in the Lower Mid North Coast region.
For further information about Inform Manning, contact the Inform co-ordinators on 6592 9963 or Manning oncology unit on 6592 9306.
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