As women around the world celebrated the strides they have achieved across sectors, Solaris Cancer Care wellness facilitator, Cathy Brown, reflected on the courage and perseverance of those who have faced cancer in their stead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For her, International Women\u2019s Day isn\u2019t just a day. It\u2019s a movement that emphasises the struggle women, particularly those diagnosed with cancer, undergo in order to survive, recover, and support their families. Ms. Brown noted that Solaris Cancer Care\u2019s Women\u2019s Circle represents a crucial setting in which the power of the woman is recognised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have often reflected back over the last couple of decades and thought about the hundreds of women who have come through the women\u2019s groups I have facilitated; I remember them with fondness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat an honour it has been to witness their journeys and then pass on the insightful wisdom we have discovered together, to the women who now find themselves seeking more in their lives,\u201d Ms. Brown said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Women\u2019s Circle at Solaris is an open group that brings female cancer patients together in a relaxed setting to share, converse, explore arts, meditate and have a good time while forging meaningful relationships. Ms. Brown notes that the group is \u201cdiverse\u201d with women from all walks of life and nationalities. Some of them are consistent participants of the group while others drop in when they need to connect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Encouragement is a core quality within the circle. \u201c[We] have the ability to really listen to each other \u2013 beyond words and without judgement. We often laugh together, relaying stories about our lives, which may perplex many other people but make real sense to us. We have cried together when the unexpected has happened and nobody else really understands.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is this deep sense of compassion that embodies the group\u2019s \u201cgentle but feminine energy\u201d of those who know there is more to life and aren\u2019t afraid to be fearless. When asked if she could break down the group\u2019s strength into one idea, Ms. Brown didn\u2019t hesitate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI read a quote by Christiane Northrup, author of Women\u2019s Bodies, Women\u2019s Wisdom<\/em> recently which said: \u2018Every woman who heals herself helps to heal all the women who came before her, and all those who come after her.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ms. Brown, a cancer survivor once diagnosed with melanoma, turned her life around after attending Cancer Support WA\u2019s Wellness Course and Cancer Support Group for five years. Having had multiple shoulders to lean on, she realised that there was power in uniting with fellow women and experiencing the spectrum of feelings that come with a cancer diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s a yearning for that deep soul connection \u2013 [helping] each other to find the courage to explore and heal the unresolved issues.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ms. Brown feels the circle goes beyond just its ordinary meaning. To her, the circle is never-ending. \u201cIt has no beginning and no end, just like the powerful feminine energy we embody and are rediscovering in this group.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A passionate advocate of collective strength, Ms. Brown hopes more women will welcome others’ support in weathering the pain, tied to cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n