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Cancer Support

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Whether you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, or you are caring for or supporting someone who has. Or whether it’s just someone you know, there is lots of help and support available for you.
You are not alone, and don’t think you need to keep it to yourself. Whatever you are going through, people will be willing to help and support you. Make sure you ask for it though!
Below are some of the links for some cancer support organisations.
As cancer is such a common occurrence, this list is not all the support available. Ask your medical professional about support that may be available to you, and don’t forget to share with your friends and family!

This website is written mainly for a UK audience. However, there will be similar support available wherever you are in the world. Please make sure you ask for it

I hope this section will go some way to make you feel that you are not alone
There is support and help available all around you
Please make sure you reach out and ask for it!

I’ve been diagnosed with cancer
I’m a carer for someone with cancer
Someone I know has cancer

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What if I’ve been diagnosed with Cancer ?

Being given a cancer diagnosis can be a scary and isolating time. But you are not alone.
It will not be comforting to know that many people before you have also been though this. But those people have helped build up support networks around the world for people who have received a diagnosis, or who suspect they may have cancer. Please make sure you reach out to these support networks as they can help you through the next steps.
There is information and advice available for things like how to tell your family and friends, practical advice about what cancer is, the symptoms and effects you may feel, and potential treatments and side effects. You should be careful to discuss any treatment with your medical professional though, as everyone is different and will require a treatment programme tailored to them. What is reported as a treatment for some people, may not be the answer for everyone!

  • Cancer Research UK
  • Find out about the UKs leading cancer research charity (and the one I’m raising money for) with information about different types of cancer, and the fight against it! Cancer Research UK
  • Financial Help and Support
  • There is information on Government support and benefits for people living with all sorts of health conditions (not just cancer) here:
  • These benefits are there to support you, but can seem complicated and difficult to claim, particularly if you are not used to the claim system, and have the difficulties of dealing with cancer to cope with. Thankfully there are a number of organisations in the UK who can help you deal with this and will guide you towards making a claim and working out what support you are entitled to. You can find some of them here:
  • Turn-2-Us
    • Turn-2-Us is a UK wide charity dedicating to supporting people who are struggling financially. They aim to end financial insecurity in the UK.
      • You can find our more about them and their aims here: About Turn2us | Turn2us
      • Their support page to help you check what benefits and grants you may qualify for, and to help you apply for them is here: Get support | Turn2us
  • Citizens Advice
  • MoneyHelper
    • MoneyHelper.org is an independent advice site which is backed by the UK Government. It is to provide information and make choices about your money and finances clearer.
    • This site covers a range of benefits which are not all cancer or health related.




I hope this section will go some way to make you feel that you are not alone
There is support and help available all around you
Please make sure you reach out and ask for it!

What if I’m looking after someone who has been diagnosed with Cancer ?

Looking after someone who is living with cancer can be a scary idea. You will have worries of your own, there may be financial pressures to think about. You may have emotional upset, the feeling you always need to put them first. It can also be a difficult time for you Emotionally and Physically, especially with any added pressure to always “stay strong” for the person you are looking after.
Don’t worry, all of these feeling are normal, and there are support networks in place for people who are caring for those diagnosed and living with cancer, throughout the process. Read on to find out more about the help and support available, and where to find it.
Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask for help. You may be better able to help the person you are caring for if you have help and support in place yourself, rather than trying to do it all on your own. You are not alone.

  • What is a carer ?
  • You may not think of yourself as a carer. You may think that because you are a partner, sibling, parent, child, friend or neighbour to the person you look after, you are not a carer. But you are a carer, even if you are close to the person you look after.
  • Understanding that you are a carer can be an important step in getting the extra help and support you need.
  • You are a carer if you give any unpaid help and support to someone with cancer who could not manage without your help.
  • Being a carer for someone can mean: 
    • emotional support
    • helping with daily tasks
    • driving them to appointments
    • talking to other people on their behalf, such as health and social care professionals
    • helping with personal care such as bathing and dressing.
  • Macmillan Cancer Support
  • One of the best known cancer support charities in the UK. Macmillan operate across the UK and Northern Ireland. They have sections devoted to those caring for people with cancer are able to support you with the Physical, Emotional and Financial strains that caring for someone with cancer can bring. Click here to go to their home page, or find out about their particular services here:
  • Carers UK
  • Carers UK is a UK wide organisation committed to supporting and assisting those who provide care in the UK (not just for people who are caring for those with cancer)
  • They can provide help and advice on a range of subjects affecting carers, including things like:
    • Financial Support for Carers
    • Practical Advice and Support
    • Your Rights as a Carer
    • The relationship between work and care giving
  • Find out more about them here: Help and advice | Carers UK
  • Advice for Carers
  • There are two American websites offering advice for Care Givers below:
    • Cancer.net
    • This gives advice on being a care giver to a cancer patient and puts particular emphasis that caring for someone with cancer is a team effort, it will involve a range of people from medical professionals, doctors, nurses, friends, family and care givers. Each one of these people will bring different skills and strengths to caring for the person with cancer.
    • You should not try to do it all alone!
    • Find their information page on care giving here: Tips for Being a Successful Caregiver | Cancer.Net
  • There is a website available offering advice on finding the right words and how to talk to someone living with cancer here: Finding the Right Words to Talk About Cancer | Fox Chase Cancer Center – Philadelphia PA
  • Cancer Research UK
  • Find out about the UKs leading cancer research charity (and the one I’m raising money for) with information about different types of cancer, and the fight against it! Cancer Research UK
  • Financial Help and Support
  • There is information on Government support and benefits if you are caring for someone with all sorts of health conditions (not just cancer) here:
  • These benefits are there to support you, but can seem complicated and difficult to claim, particularly if you are not used to the claim system, and have the difficulties of dealing with cancer to cope with. Thankfully there are a number of organisations in the UK who can help you deal with this and will guide you towards making a claim and working out what support you are entitled to. You can find some of them here:
  • Turn-2-Us
    • Turn-2-Us is a UK wide charity dedicating to supporting people who are struggling financially. They aim to end financial insecurity in the UK.
      • You can find our more about them and their aims here: About Turn2us | Turn2us
      • Their support page to help you check what benefits and grants you may qualify for, and to help you apply for them is here: Get support | Turn2us
  • Citizens Advice
  • MoneyHelper
    • MoneyHelper.org is an independent advice site which is backed by the UK Government. It is to provide information and make choices about your money and finances clearer.
    • This site covers a range of benefits which are not all cancer or health related.



I hope this section will go some way to make you feel that you are not alone
There is support and help available all around you
Please make sure you reach out and ask for it!

What if someone I know has been diagnosed with Cancer ?

Finding out someone you know has been diagnosed with cancer can be a scary and worrying time. Whether it’s someone you know, a close friend, a family member, a work colleague or anyone else. You will likely have questions about how to approach the subject with them, whether you should treat them any differently, what treatment they need and what you can do to help them. This section will try to answer some of those questions, and give you links to sites which might be useful.

I hope this section will go some way to make you feel that you are not alone
There is support and help available all around you
Please make sure you reach out and ask for it!