• Tuam Cancer Care Group was formed in the early 1980’s when a number of women from the Tuam area (Josie Fahy, Eileen Hussey, Fionnuala Lynch and Sr Felicitus) who had all been diagnosed with cancer, came together to support each other. These inspirational women were joined a short time later by other women, some with a cancer diagnosis.  Two of these women, Vera Bray and Ann Frawley, continued to serve on the management committee, Ann, until her recent death. A few years later, local oncology nurse, Margaret Feely also became involved with the Group.
• Over the next 10 years this group of women, supported each other through illness and for some, until the end of life. They also provided essential financial assistance to enable Tuam people with a cancer diagnosis access respite/palliative care in the local Bon Secours Hospital. They were enabled to do this with funding provided by a fundraising committee formed by family members and friends.
• Towards the end of the 1990’s Margaret (who had being diagnosed with cancer a few years earlier) saw the need for expansion into a larger voluntary organization. A public meeting was held to request more volunteers and the larger Group that emerged identified a need for cancer support services and began to work towards realising the dream and vision of opening a Support and Information Centre in Tuam. The ethos of the Group was established at this early stage and although it was a voluntary organisation there was a determination on behalf of all concerned to provide a professional level of service.
• In 1999 Tuam Cancer Care Centre was opened on the Galway Road, more volunteers were recruited, therapists were employed, fundraising was stepped up and the work of  providing support and information to those with a cancer diagnosis, their families and close friends in Tuam and surrounding areas began.
• Soon Tuam Cancer Care outgrew its first Centre and moved to more central premises in Temple Jarlath Court in 2001.The Group continued to expand both its volunteer force and the services it offered.
• In 2004, Margaret lost her battle with cancer and Tuam Cancer Care lost a visionary and inspiring colleague. However, the work continued, guided by subsequent chairpersons.
• The Group continued to work hard, not only to expand the services offered in the Centre but also to lobby for the provision of a palliative/respite unit, which had been lost with the closing of the Grove hospital. Bert Gilliard (Chairperson) led an intensive campaign to have this service restored until his untimely death in 2006. Eleanor Barrows and Tony Kelly continued fighting for this facility.
• In 2006 this facility was opened by HSE in Arus Mhuire Community Hospital, Tuam. In Cuan Aoibhinn, the dedicated nurses and staff provide an essential service to seriously ill cancer patients in the Tuam area, who can now be cared for in their own community and close to their families.
• In 2008, thanks to the generosity of the people of Tuam, through their support of fundraising events in aid of Tuam Cancer Care, the Group began to look for a larger premises in order to meet the growing demand for cancer support services in the area. Later that year work began on building a new Centre.
• In January 2010 the new Centre opened and since then the number of callers using the services has increased, and under the current Chairperson, members of the Group are committed to identifying the needs of its clients and expanding the service to meet those needs.

Since it was formed in the 1980’s Tuam Cancer Care has sadly been forced to say good bye to some of its closest colleagues and loyal friends. But their memory lives on in the Centre, and their spirit continues to motivate Tuam Cancer Care and inspire the development of the service.