A local facility is offering a chance for those affected by cancer to express their experiences and feelings through journaling and is holding a six-week class to do so.

The Marion L. Shephard Cancer Center in Washington is welcoming all patients, caregivers and survivors to join a group journaling class each Thursday, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Brown Library. The class will start Oct. 9 under the instruction of Joan Fischer, a cancer survivor who has participated in the class before when offered.

Fischer, who has been journaling since 1989, said she got her start while taking an English class in college. At the time, she hated it, but she learned to use it to express her feelings and deal with the stresses she was going through, which is exactly the idea behind offering the class, Fischer said.

“We write the same way that we speak,” Fischer said. “It’s very reflective of who we are. I found that with everything I was going through, it enabled me to release a lot of stress. “Even though I didn’t like it at first, I reached a point where I was journaling every day even when it wasn’t required. This class is an opportunity to express yourself through written word about what you’re experiencing, what you’ve experienced, where you hope to go or just random thoughts.”

Fischer said the opportunity is especially beneficial to participants because of the comradery developed between those who have gone through similar experiences. Each class, participants will be given cues, or topics, to write about. However, participants can choose to pick and cue and follow it or just write about something they desire to. Members of the group are welcome to share their entries with the class, but are not required to, and the journal entries will not be judged based on English like punctuation, grammar or sentence structure. In fact, the entries will not be judged based on anything.

“If you absolutely cannot write about a particular cue, at least write,” Fischer said. “A cue may bring too strong or hurtful emotions. Everyone is free to write from several cues. There is no pressure from the other members of the group about how they share or if they don’t share. It’s an idea and place where you are accepted. We don’t have to like or agree with it, but nevertheless, we will take it with no judgment or condemnation. It’s about being a part of a group that has similar experiences and we draw from each other’s experiences. It’s pretty much guided by each person’s feelings and emotions or even perhaps by their faith.”