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Cancer support group formed to assist people in Banff area


By Kyle Ritchie

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A support group has been created in the Banff area to help those who have been diagnosed with cancer and their families.

Isabel McArthur formed Can Be OK after she was diagnosed with breast cancer and realised there must be others in the community who needed assistance.

The group that started with a few friends has now grown to 38 members.

Isabel said: "I was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2020 and the following month a close friend found out she also had breast cancer.

"We were of good support to each other but came to the conclusion that there must be others out there going through this horrible, life-changing situation on their own, who we thought would benefit from some help.

Isabel McArthur has formed the Can Be Ok cancer support group in the Banff area.
Isabel McArthur has formed the Can Be Ok cancer support group in the Banff area.

"At the time I was diagnosed and going through treatment there was no local support to anyone during lockdown.

"The group is for anyone going through any type of cancer, is a survivor, or a husband, wife, partner or family member.

"Can Be Ok can offer a listening ear, a place for those to feel supported and to share their thoughts and fears within a group who have all experienced the same."

It can be found on Facebook under Can Be OK and its meetings are held in The Vinery on Mondays from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

There are also one-to-one sessions on Thursdays at 10am to midday at the venue and anyone who would like to attend these can call Isabel on 07852740767.

A special session will be held on Saturday, September 10, which will focus on the subject of sleep and be hosted by Dr Aileen Alexander in Whitehills hall at 2pm.

Dr Alexander is from the village and attended Banff Academy. She graduated from Aberdeen University in 2013 with a degree in Medicine (MB ChB) then went onto study nutrition and complete a diploma in Lifestyle Medicine (Dip BSLM/BLM).

She worked in Aberdeen as a GP until 2019 when she left to follow her passion and build a career in health and wellbeing.

She now offers help to busy, professional women to look and feel their best by building healthy habits so they can beat fatigue, manage stress, eliminate food guilt and lose weight sustainably without restrictive dieting, relying on willpower or falling back into old patterns.


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