The official opening takes place on 31 March 2023.

The centre will be open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 17:00. During this time, anyone affected by cancer can receive information about the disease, treatment, use the relaxation area or meet and discuss with other people affected by cancer.

In addition to the free program, the center also offers a structured program coordinated by our specialists as follows:

1. Support group for people with cancer diagnosis (coordinated by Dr. Psychologist Elena Bouleanu)
2. Art therapy group (Art Therapist Phronetik® Laura Candea Burnete)
3. Social assistance (social worker Călina Croitoru)
4. Nutrition (online sessions with a specialist in diabetes, nutrition and metabolic diseases – Mondays from 15:00 to 17:00);
5. Second Opinion (online sessions with Dr Laura Sinea, collaborating oncology doctor);
6. 1 to 1 psychotherapy (with psychologist Maria Filip);
7. Lymphatic drainage (offered by Reflexovital);
8. Navigating the oncology patient (navigator Violeta Rusu)
9. Clinical Psychology (with Clinical Psychologist Mădălina Pirneci)

Address: 26 Constantin Noica Street, ap. 4 4

Support group for oncology patients – Elena Bouleanu

“In October 2021 I started to moderate the support group for oncology patients, in collaboration with the Association Sus inima from Sibiu. It is certainly one of the most difficult and beautiful things I have the chance to contribute to as a psychologist.

Every Monday, in the house (and often in the garden) at 26 Noica Street, we listen to incredibly painful stories (physically or emotionally), but it is also where we hear the most powerful declaration of LOVE of life, the most sonorous form of the word VICTORY and, in all its forms, we meet HOPE.

Cancer is relentless with our body, our mind, our psyche and it is very hard to face it. It’s hard to get through a round of cytostatics, the 25th or 39th session of radiotherapy, the excruciating post-operative pain when the lymph no longer finds its way through. You hang on, because it’s between you and… oblivion! If you can share the pain with others who know what you’re going through, it’s a blessing, a comfort, a gift you give yourself.

It’s hard for the cancer patient, but it’s also hard for family, friends, colleagues, the doctors who care for these people, it’s hard for an entire community. It’s a shared struggle, and the victory is everyone’s. Sus inima!”

Oncology Patient Navigator – Anamaria Gavrila

“After the shock of receiving an oncology diagnosis, the helplessness that patients and caregivers feel due to the lack of concrete information about the medical system’s solutions immediately kicks in. They don’t know where to turn and who to turn to in order to get from diagnosis to treatment as quickly as possible. They don’t know where the fastest and most conclusive investigations can be done, who to turn to in order to find out the steps they need to take for the most correct diagnosis and treatment of the disease they are facing.

This is how the occupation of PATIENT NAVIGATOR became necessary in Romania.

The navigator is the person who accompanies patients and their relatives, at their request, throughout the whole process – from the suspicion of illness to treatment. He or she provides guidance and explanations, working with them to find the best solutions for each step they need to take, helping them to manage the multitude of documents that accumulate in their medical records.”

Clinical Psychology – Mădălina Pirneci

“Clinical psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on the study, diagnosis and treatment of people’s emotional or psychological problems.

Clinical psychologists are specialists in the assessment and treatment of a wide range of psychological problems, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, sleep disorders, personality disorders, and more.

Clinical psychology draws on scientific theory and research to understand and treat mental and emotional health problems.

Clinical psychology practitioners use a wide range of therapeutic techniques and interventions to help people improve their mental health and emotional well-being. These may include clinical interviewing, history taking, psychological tests and questionnaires, psychological counselling and other types of interventions.”

Art therapy – Laura Cindea Burnete

“Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that stems from the idea that the creative, artistic process facilitates the reintegration and recovery of the human being, representing a nonverbal form of expressing thoughts, emotions, feelings. Like other forms of psychotherapy and counselling, art therapy is used to encourage personal growth and is found in a variety of settings: schools, hospitals, day centres or companies, and is aimed at everyone from children, adults, families, couples to groups with different characteristics.

It is an approach that supports individuals of all ages to create meaning and gain new perspectives, to free themselves from overwhelming emotions or trauma, to overcome periods of crisis, to improve their daily lives or to raise their level of well-being (Malchiodi, 2006).

Art therapy supports the belief that every human being has the ability to express themselves creatively and the artistic product is less important, the focus is on the creative process, the needs of the client during the session, what they need to choose the materials needed, the supportive framework to strengthen the courage in artistic expression, accompanying the client in understanding the meaning of the process and the work and last but not least the moments of sharing with the therapist.

Although still in its beginning stages in our country, this form of complementary psychotherapy already enjoys a lot of scientific evidence. Hospitals were a first incubator for art therapy, so nowadays there is a wide variety of interventions based on expressive arts, used according to the specifics and needs of the beneficiary. Working with the imagination and guided meditations used in art therapy also induce relaxation, increased well-being, confidence and grounding in one’s own essence, reduce symptoms such as pain, anxiety or apathy, improve immunity and inner chemistry, supporting healing processes (Van Kuiken (2004), Malchiodi (1999a, 2012b).”

Social Work – Calina Croitoru

Calina is in charge of the social counselling of the people in our day centre, the preparation of the intervention plan, the weekly filling in of the evaluation/reassessment sheets of all the people who benefit from the services offered in the centre, support and guidance for people who need to be classified as disabled (in order to obtain the disability certificate). Moreover, it offers support in order to obtain any other necessary document (documents from the town halls or other units: drawing up identity cards, birth certificates, etc.); maintaining contact with the Sibiu town hall and sending them the monthly number of beneficiaries in the day centre, maintaining contact with any other institution that may be required.

Nutrition

Nutrition plays an important role in the prevention and development of cancer. At least 30% of cancers are linked to poor nutrition and organisations have shown that in some organs, poor nutrition is responsible for as much as 60% of cancers. Many people still don’t know that diet can influence cancer and that obesity can promote it. An anti-cancer diet is an important strategy that can be used to reduce the risk of cancer. In addition, researchers have found that certain foods that prevent the disease can be an important part of an anti-cancer diet. The proposed workshop presents a series of basic foods recommended in any person’s diet, as well as eating behaviours that can positively or negatively influence the health of any cancer patient. The sessions are free of charge and are funded by the association.

Second opinion – Dr. Laura Sinea

A second opinion is a review of the diagnosis and therapeutic strategy initially proposed by another doctor. The diagnosis of cancer is frightening for anyone and immediately there is a desire to go to the best doctors who, through the proposed treatment, will give the maximum chance. Requesting a second opinion is a legitimate right and is most often initiated by the patient.

Psychotherapy 1 to 1 – Psychologist Maria Filip

“As a therapist in this journey, I sustain, I am there no matter how arduous the road is, how difficult, full of obstacles, how many joys or sorrows. Because there is pain, and when we are in pain we need to remember love. When you hear the word cancer, hope disappears. And when hope disappears, energy drops and the fight gets harder. I’m often asked what I do in the office: I’m present. When the body is in pain, there is a need for acceptance, for psycho-emotional support, so that depression and anxiety don’t kick in full force. I am part of a team: Sus Inima – Beneficiary – Their Family – and I feel honored to be able to accompany them.”

Lymphatic Drainage – Reflexovital

Lymphatic drainage is a gentle massage combined with the application of light pressure to the lymph nodes, key points in the body where toxins collect to be drained into the lymphatic circulatory system. Lymph nodes are found in the neck, breast, abdomen, inguinal and knee areas. Lymphatic drainage provides deep cleansing and regeneration of the body, improves the immune system, sleep quality and some circulatory problems. Lymphatic drainage also stimulates the elimination of stagnant water from the body.

Following medical procedures involving the removal of certain lymph nodes, most patients experience lymphoedema. Lymphoedema is an abnormal accumulation of a protein-rich fluid – lymph – in the interstitium due to a defect in the lymphatic drainage system. Manual lymphatic drainage decongests such a blockage. This massage technique contributes to the development, over time, of a collateral lymph circulation.