Online Support
There are many great sources of online support and information for cancer patients and their carers/families and the internet can be one of the first places people go when looking for information and support.
It is important that you choose your internet sources of information carefully, even from highly regarded and professional, science based websites. In the main, health information accessible online tends to be for general information purposes only, and as such, it might not apply to you and your circumstances. Information found online should not take the place of medical advice given to you by your healthcare doctors and nurses. Your healthcare team are the ones that know your personal health history and your unique medical situation - it is important that you talk to them if you have any health-related problems, concerns or queries.
The American Cancer Society have further advice about accessing cancer information on the internet - if you are interested, click here to access this.
We have listed below some of the reputable and reliable sources of cancer information and support that are used regularly in the Cancer Wellbeing and Information Centre, by other Healthcare professionals, or have been recommended to us by cancer patients and their families. The list is in alphabetical order and includes a brief description of the resources available on that website, to help you decide which is the most appropriate for you.
It is not possible to list all the dedicated tumour site cancer charities here as there are so many. Your clinical nurse specialist/doctor should be able to direct you to cancer charities that are dedicated to your specific cancer type. Many of the specific cancer types (such as Bowel, Prostate, Breast, Ovarian, Lung etc) have associated charities and organisations that provide dedicated support and information - some of them include helplines and online communities and forums where you can talk to healthcare professionals and/or other patients.
These organisations can be found by searching the internet; type your tumour site into an internet search engine (such as Google) followed by ‘UK charity’. For example “Lung Cancer UK Charity”. Alternatively, click here, to access the Cancer Research UK list of different cancer types. From here you can choose your specific cancer type for further information written just for you. Most have a heading titled ‘Living with……’ (Prostate Cancer/Lung Cancer/Breast Cancer etc) which includes a section called ‘resources and organisations’ - if you click on this, it will list appropriate support organisations.
If you are a young person aged between 16-25 who has been diagnosed with cancer, please click here to access our webpage which has a list of organisations dedicated to information and support for younger people and their families.
Click here to access the main ESNEFT (Colchester and Ipswich Hospital trust) cancer services webpage.
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK is the world's largest independent cancer research charity, it conducts research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Their website provides access to both cancer information (including the causes, types of cancer such as prostate and breast ,details about diagnostic tests and treatment and cancer research and clinical trials) and support (such as their ‘Cancer Chat Forum’ - various moderated online cancer patient/carer chat forums where you can talk to others who have been affected by cancer and a telephone and email helpline (Mon-Fri, 9-5), where you can obtain help and advice from qualified nurses). Click on the links below to access some of the main options.
Main website: www.cancerresearchuk.org Information about the different cancer types: www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type Cancer Chat Forum: www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-chat Telephone Helpline: 0808 800 4040 Click here to access the Email Helpline contact form.
Cancer Support UK
UK registered charity, providing practical and emotional support to people across the UK with cancer, during and after the treatment period. Their services are designed and delivered by people who have experienced cancer themselves – to improve the experience of others.
They offer a Cancer Coach support group, which is available to anyone over the age of 18, who has completed their physical cancer treatment and is experiencing low mood, anxiety, worry or how to move forward in their recovery. . It is a telephone or Zoom course that takes participants through a series of weekly facilitated group sessions, run over a six-week period. The weekly sessions take you through a series of tips and exercises that aim to give you the tools, support and coping strategies that can help with your recovery. The trained group facilitators will talk you through the negative patterns of thinking that you might have after treatment ends and how we might challenge them, as well as how to manage your worries. You also get the chance to talk to other people that have also had a cancer diagnosis, enabling everyone in the group to receive and give valuable peer support and encouragement.
Cancer Coach Support Group: cancersupportuk.org/life-after-cancer/cancer-coach-telephone-groups/
Macmillan Cancer Support
Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the largest British charities and provides specialist health care, information and financial support to people affected by cancer. It also looks at the social, emotional and practical impact cancer can have, and campaigns for better cancer care.
Their website provides a wealth of both award-winning cancer information and access to various different support services for cancer patients and their carers. See links below for further details:-
Macmillan general cancer information (including details of the different cancer types, diagnostic tests, treatments and the impacts of receiving a cancer diagnosis)
www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support
‘Get Help’ and advice from Macmillan about the various physical, emotional and financial impacts of a cancer diagnosis.
www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/get-help
Macmillan online community - click here. From this page you can access various patient and carer online chat groups, forums and blogs.
Macmillan also offer a support line, which can be accessed via Email, Telephone or via online chat (Telephone and Online chat services provided 7 days a week, 8am-8pm). Please see video below which details the type of help that is offered by the Macmillan support line.
Click here to access the email form.
Telephone: 08088080000
Click here to access the online chat.
Maggie’s
Maggie’s is a charity providing free cancer support and information in centres across the UK and online. The service is provided by Support Specialists, Psychologists and Benefits Advisors to cancer patients and carers. Although their services are primarily delivered within their centres located throughout the UK (none immediately local to Essex) their website provides a lot of information and advice and it is possible to get telephone and email support.
Main website: www.maggies.org
Marie Curie
Marie Curie is a registered charitable organisation in the United Kingdom which provides care and support to people with terminal illnesses and their families. Their website provides information and support to those who have received a terminal diagnosis, and their carers/families.
Website: www.mariecurie.org.uk Support helpline: 0800 0902309 Click here to access their online magazine ‘Talk About’. Click here to access the Marie Curie online community chat rooms/forums.
Penny Brohn UK
Penny Brohn UK deliver a pioneering ‘Bristol Whole Life Approach’ to help those with cancer to live as well as possible for as long as possible. They support people in looking after their ‘whole self’ to help them take back control and improve their health and wellbeing. They offer a range of courses and individual therapies, including nutrition, physical activity, mindfulness and stress management, from their National Centre near, Bristol as well as across the country. Their services are available to anyone over the age of 18 with a cancer diagnosis and their supporters.
Main website: www.pennybrohn.org.uk
Self-care resources page (with links and videos to help with healthy eating, benefits of exercise, mindfulness etc) - click here.
Online group ‘Zoom’ Self-management courses (meditation, healthy eating etc) - click here.
Telephone helpline: 01275 370 163.
Shine Cancer Support
Shine Cancer Support is the only registered charity in the UK that is exclusively focused on supporting people in their 20s, 30s and 40s with cancer. They support men and women, with any type of cancer. Their vision is that every adult in the UK diagnosed with cancer in their 20s, 30s or 40s can access the help and support that they need in a way that suits their lifestyle, and that they are a part of a confident, supportive and empowered community of young adults living with cancer. Via their website you are able to access information and online support services that have been created specifically for those aged 20-49.
Main website: shinecancersupport.org
Click here to access information about their various online support services.