Problems

Cancer

Agencies providing advice, support and information

Action Cancer (N.Ireland): 028 9080 3344, email info@actioncancer.org, www.actioncancer.org - Helpline and other support services for people concerned about cancer. Early detection and mobile clinics throughout N.Ireland, counselling and support programmes.

Bowel Cancer UK: 0800 840 3540, www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk - Information on all aspects of bowel cancer.

Bristol Cancer Help Centre: 0845 123 2310, www.bristolcancerhelp.org - Helpline and range of other support services for people with cancer. Information, emotional support, access to local support groups. Holistic complementary therapies, including sessions on diet, relaxation, mediation, healing and art therapy. A charge is made for residential therapy but financial help can be offered to those on low incomes.

Cancerbackup: 0808 800 1234, www.cancerbackup.org.uk - Helpline and other services for anyone affected by cancer. Staffed by cancer information nurses. Information, support and treatments and local support groups. Information, booklets, factsheets.

Cancer Black Care: 020 8961 4151, email info@cancerblackcare.org, www.cancerblackcare.org - To provide practical, emotional and psychological support for people affected by cancer. Counselling, advocacy and outreach work.

Cancer Counselling Trust: 020 7704 1137, email support@cctrust.org.uk, www.cancercounselling.org.uk - Counselling for cancer patients, families ad friends who seek counselling to talk through the difficult issues after a cancer diagnosis. Face to face counselling based at their centre in Islington, North London – charges on sliding scale. Telephone counselling also available.

Cancer Information and Support Service (S. and S.W. Wales): 01792 655025, www.cancerinformation.org.uk - Service for cancer patients, carers, families and friends. Information, counselling drop-in, complementary therapies, library.

Cancerkin: 020 7830 2323, www.cancerkin.org.uk - Information, treatment, supportive care and rehabilitation for breast cancer patients and support for relatives.

Cancer Research UK has three services available to people affected by cancer:

• CancerHelp UK: www.cancerhelp.org.uk - The CancerHelp UK website provides clear, easy to understand information on all aspects of living with cancer. Includes information about cancer diagnosis, treatment, clinical trials and much more.

• Cancer Information Nurses: 0808 800 4040 - The Cancer Information Nursers provide a confidential service for anyone who is affected by or concerned about cancer. Call the freephone number or email them via the ‘contact us’ page on www.cancerhelp.org.uk

• Cancer Chat: www.cancerchat.org.uk - Cancer Chat is an online forum for people affected by cancer to share their information and experiences.

The Caron Keating Foundation: PO Box 122, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1UB, www.caronkeating.org - Providing financial assistance to small number of significant cancer charities, professional carers and support groups. Makes vital donations to creditable individuals which in many cases will completely transform their lives.

Chai cancer Care: 0808 808 4567, www.chaicancercare.org - Range of services for Jewish cancer patients and their families and friends. Helpline, well woman and well man screening clinics, counselling, advice, information, complementary therapies, libraries.

Christian Lewis – Cancer Care for Children: 01792 480500, email enquiries@christianlewistrust.org, www.christianlewistrust.org - Bereavement support, befriending, self help parent support groups. Compassionate care grants. Crisis breaks, holiday programmes, play therapy, travel insurance.

ClicSargent: 0800 197 0068, www.clicsargent.org.uk - Caring for children and young people with cancer and their families in hospital and the community.

Gaps:line: 0845 1214277, www.gapsline.org.uk - Telephone support line for parents and carers of children and young people with cancer. Staffed by a trained team of volunteer parents, all of whom have had a child with cancer, the line is open from 8pm to 10pm, seven days a week.  Gaps:line is not a medical helpline, but provides a caring, listening ear and emotional support. The line is also open to calls from concerned grandparents, relatives and friends.

GaysCan: 020 8368 9027, email gayscan@blotholm.org.uk - Helpline for gay men living with cancer, their partners, families and friends.

International Myeloma Foundation (UK): 0800 980 3332, www.myeloma.org.uk - Helpline providing information and support to people affected by myeloma (bone marrow cancer) and related disorders.

Kidney Cancer UK: 01889 565801 www.kcuk.org - Support group for people with kidney cancer. Practical advice and information, leaflets, helpline, newsletter, chatroom etc.

Leukaemia Care Society: 0800 169 6680, www.leukaemiacare.org.uk - 24hr helpline and support for people whose lives are affected by leukaemia and other allied blood disorders. Network of regional care teams, local contacts and support. Discretionary financial assistance and holiday programme for families in need.

Lymphoma Association: 0808 808 5555, email information@lymphoma.org.uk, www.lymphoma.org.uk - Telephone information and support on lymphomas and also local support groups.

Macmillan Cancer Relief Cancerline: 0808 808 2020, www.macmillan.org.uk - Support, care and practical and emotional support for people living with cancer including families, friends, carers. Also produce leaflets and booklets.

Marie Curie Cancer Care: 020 7599 7777 (England), 01495 740827 (Wales), 0131 456 3700 (Scotland), 028 9088 2060 (Northern Ireland), www.mariecurie.org.uk - Run ten centres throughout the UK which provide inpatient hospice services, respite care, rehabilitation and day care. Provide nurses nationwide to care for cancer patients in their own homes, day and night and free of charge.

New Approaches to Cancer: 0800 389 2662, email help@anac.org.uk, www.anac.org.uk - Maintaining a directory of Cancer Help Centres throughout the UK offering complementary treatments in cooperation with conventional treatment wherever possible.

Ovacome: 0845 3710 554, email ovacome@ovacome.org.uk, www.ovacome.org.uk - Support service for anyone affected by ovarian cancer. Helpline, telephone support network, factsheets.

The Prostate Cancer Charity: 0800 074 8383, email help@prostate-cancer.org.uk, www.prostate-cancer.org.uk - Helpline and other support and information about prostate cancer. Network of patients willing to share experiences.

PSA – Prostate Cancer Support Association: 0845 601 0766, www.prostatecancersupport.co.uk - Helpline providing support and information about prostate cancer, its treatments and their side effects for anyone affected by the condition. Can put people in touch with their local support groups.

Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation: 0871 2205426, www.roycastle.org - Helpline offering information including details of lung cancer nurse specialists and local patient support groups.

Tenovus Cancer Information Centre: 0808 808 1010, www.tenovus.com - Telephone information, support and counselling for cancer patients, friends, families and carers.

Ulster Cancer Foundation (Northern Ireland): 0800 7833339, www.ulstercancer.org - Helpline for patients, families, drop-in service, counselling and support groups.

Useful websites

www.hothair.co.uk - wigs, hair pieces, extensions etc.

www.jameswhalefund.org – specialist kidney cancer charity.

www.medicdirect.co.uk - information relating to all types of cancer.

back to top