Cancer Support Groups
These provide the opportunity to chat and share experiences, listen to speakers, have social events and meet new friends who will have a unique understanding of each other. Very occasionally the time or date may change, so please check before attending.
Local support services - face to face
Lymphoma Action Support Group
Usually meet on the third Tuesday of every month (except August and December) from 7:00pm - 8:30pm in The Cancer Wellbeing and Information Centre
Contact: Brian George on 01206 384586 Email: brian.george.mersea@gmail.com Website: lymphoma-action.org.uk/events/colchester-support-group
Head and Neck Cancer Support Group
Meets on the second Wednesday bi-monthly at The Cancer Wellbeing and Information Centre 7:00pm-9:00pm.
Contact: Sally-Anne Philpott on 01206 286900
All Cancers All Ages Support Group
A safe space to meet up, ask questions and gain peer to peer support. Anyone can attend, no need to book a place, just turn up. The group will run every Monday, between 10-1pm. The location will change fortnightly between Harwich & Clacton.
Starting 22/5/23 at 10am -1pm.
Harwich.
Royal Oak (Acorn suite). Main road, Dovercourt, Harwich, Essex. CO12 3PL.
Next group starts 29/05/23. 10am-1pm.
Clacton.
Pier Avenue Baptist Church. 117 Pier Avenue, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. CO15 1NJ.
Contact: Kelly Stanford - kelly.stanford4@nhs.net
Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma Support Group
Meeting dates: 2023 dates - 16/6; 21/7; 18/8; 15/9; 20/10; 17/11; 15/12
Time: 1.30-3.30pm
Where: Colchester Cancer Wellbeing Centre, Colchester Hospital
You can just turn up, no need to book.
General Cancer Support Group (for all tumour sites).
When: Held on the second Wednesday of every month
Time: 1.30 to 3.30pm
Where: The Cancer Wellbeing & Information Centre.
Based on peer to peer support – for all patients with a primary cancer diagnosis.
Please contact the centre to get more information.
Cancer Choir - Colchester
A friendly group for cancer fighters/survivors, having fun singing and supporting each other. They meet every Monday evening 7:00pm - 9:00pm at The Cancer Wellbeing and Information Centre.
Contact Shirley Cochrane on: 07811 248775
Email: shirleycochrane@btinternet.com
North East Essex Urology Cancer Support Group
When: This group meet on the first Wednesday of every month (except January and August)
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Where: Training Rooms South, Colchester Hospital
Contact us on either: 07754 887907 or 01206 742964
Email: col.cansuport@gmail.com
Breast Cancer Social & Friendship club
Wivenhoe area only, meeting monthly for lunch.
Contact: Brenda Harvey on 01206 826346
Mersea Breast Cancer Telephone support
West Mersea only
Contact: Gill on 07590 046261 or Lin on 07813 874371
Myeloma Cancer Support Group
When: This group meet on a Thursday every 2-3 months
Time: 1-3pm or 2-3pm
Where: Weston Homes Community Stadium, United Way, Colchester CO4 5UP.
Contact: Richard Cowell on 07771 555079 Email: jrichard.cowell@gmail.com Website: www.myeloma.org.uk/help-and-support/support-groups/colchester-myeloma-support-group
North Essex Lymphoedema Support Group
When: This group meet on the second Wednesday of every month
Time: 11am - 1pm, with April and October meetings on the second Monday of each month 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Where: Ventura Centre, Bromley Road, Lawford, Manningtree CO11 2JE.
There are also some ad-hoc evening meetings.
Contact Lorna Campbell on: 01206 501150
Email: nelsg@btinternet.com
Website: www.nelsg.org.uk
Facebook page: ‘North Essex Lymphoedema Support Group (NELSG)’
Essex Melanoma Support Group
Meets last Thursday of each month at Helen Rollason Research & Development Centre, rear of Broomfield Hospital, Court Road, Chelmsford CM1 7ET.
Contact: Tracey Camburn on 01245 516599 Email: anne201252@gmail.com Website: https://www.helenrollason.org.uk/support-groups/
Ovarian Cancer Support Group
Meets first Tuesday of every month, 12:00pm-2:00pm at Helen Rollason Support Centre, Yvonne Steward House, The Street, Hatfield Peveral CM3 2EH
Contact: Hazel Keane on 01245 382888 Email: hazel.keane@helenrollason.org.uk Website: https://www.helenrollason.org.uk/support-groups/
East Suffolk Ostomy Support Group (ESOG)- Ipswich
Mostly meets on the first Monday of the month from March to November in The Pavilion, Martlesham Heath (opposite the Douglas Bader pub). A social and friendly environment with wide range of speakers. All members will have a colostomy, ileostomy or ostomy, you are all welcome.
Buddy Support is available
Contact: Ian Denison on 01473 684865 or Jenny Roache on 01394 284637 Contact: Stoma Care Dept at Ipswich Hospital on 01473 703301
Colchester Hospital Palliative Support
For those living with an incurable, life limiting illness, offering management of pain, psychological support, social support and spiritual support. Supporting you and your family to try and achieve the best possible quality of life.
Contact: 01206 746272 Website: https://www.esneft.nhs.uk/service/palliative-care/
National support services
Macmillan links to support groups - National
This link takes you to a directory of many of the local support groups
Website: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/in-your-area/choose-location.html
Lymphoma Action national charity - National
They have an on-line community forum and closed Facebook groups. They also offer a buddy system that matches you with a volunteer to offer you support over the phone or by email
Visit: www.lymphomas.org.uk
Cancer Research UK support resources - National
This link takes you to a number of recognised local services
Cancer Support UK - National
Cancer Support UK provides practical and emotional support to people living with cancer, both during and after the treatment period.
Website: www.cancersupportuk.org
Marie Curie - National
Directory of Services available
Website: www.mariecurie.org.uk/help/support/support-directory/health-organisations#cancer
CLIC Sargent - National
National support for Children and Young People diagnosed with Cancer
Website: www.clicsargent.org.uk
National Cancer Research Institute NCRI - National
This is a good place to start if you are looking for (or wish to get involved with) National research projects
Red Trouser Day - Colorectal cancer
Red Trouser Day is a charity created by people like you who have been treated for colorectal cancer, and we want to help others facing this difficult journey. You’re going through a difficult time, but you don’t know who you can talk to.
We run many social activities and have free online meetings where the personal experiences of our members help others in a similar situation.
Website: RedTrouserDay.com
Email: talk@redtrouserday.com