New support group coming to Ballymena for people living with secondary breast cancer

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust is working with Breast Cancer Now to offer a new support group for people living with secondary breast cancer.

The group will provide a safe space for people living with secondary breast cancer to come together to share experiences and benefit from the support of others. It will be facilitated by a qualified counsellor, with regular guest speakers who can provide advice on a range of useful topics.

The support group will be held in Ballymena, with the first drop-in morning session taking place on Tuesday 30 September.

Alison Craig, the Northern Trust’s Macmillan Palliative Care Service Improvement Facilitator, said: “The group is open to anyone with secondary breast cancer – and you don’t have to live in the Northern Trust area to come along.

“Our first session will be a good opportunity to call in and meet the therapist, find out more about the group and how it might help you. You can bring someone with you to the first drop-in session if you want, but from October onwards, the group will be for those living with secondary cancer only, meeting on the last Tuesday of every month.

“Breast Cancer Now support groups aim to provide an extra layer of emotional and practical support, and a timely reminder that you’re not alone and we would encourage anyone living with secondary breast cancer to come along.”

Coffee morning

Before then, a coffee morning in aid of Breast Cancer Now will take place in Thompson House at Mid Ulster Hospital in Magherafelt on Tuesday 19 August from 9.30am – 11.30am. All money raised will be used to help improve the lives of people affected by breast cancer, both now and for generations to come through research and support.

If you would like to find out more about the new support group or to register, please contact Breast Cancer Now on 0345 077 1893 or email secondaryservices@breastcancernow.org

 

14th August 2025