Family and general advice
CancerHelp
cancerhelp.org.uk; 0808 8004040
A wealth of information about all aspects of cancer from the UK’s largest cancer charity, Cancer Research UK.
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Macmillan Cancer Support
macmillan.org.uk; 0808 8080000
Practical, medical, emotional and financial support. The Macmillan CancerLine offers support Monday to Friday 9am-8pm.
Healthtalkonline
Healthtalkonline.org/cancer
Award-winning charity online forum, led by experts at the University of Oxford.
Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres
maggiescentres.org; 0300 1231801
Advice, psychological support and stress-reducing strategies. Activities range from knitting to creative writing.
Marie Curie Cancer Care
mariecurie.org.uk; 0800 716 146
Free nursing and care for terminally ill people who choose to die at home. The charity also has ten hospices around the UK.
UK cancer centres
Royal Marsden Cancer Centre
royalmarsden.nhs.uk
World-leading cancer centre with excellent patient advice and liaison service. Website has information about clinical trials and patient support groups linked to the hospital.
Bart’s Cancer Centre
bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk/our-services/cancer-centre Information on referrals, cancer types and treatments.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS trust
guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/services/cancer/cancerhome.aspx
This month it unveils a new £3.9 million patient-designed cancer day unit.
Complementary health
Cancer Active
canceractive.com
Gives information on integrative treatment programmes and lists holistic and medical centres of excellence.
Penny Brohn Cancer Centre
pennybrohncancercare.org; 0845 1232310
Formerly the Bristol Cancer Help Centre. Offers an approach developed by doctors and nurses that combines therapies alongside medical treatment.
Lifestyle
Anticancer: A New Way of Life
by David Servan-Schreiber (Michael Joseph)
Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD, co-founder of the Centre for Integrative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre, explains the dietary and lifestyle changes that could reduce chances of a recurrence.
Living and Working with Cancer
published by Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW UK)
From how to tell your boss to prosthesis services, a directory of contacts for working women. Download it at cancerandcareersuk.org or e-mail maddie@cewuk.co.uk for a free copy.
Books and films
Cancer: The Facts series
Excellent in-depth guides focusing on different cancers, (OUP; available on Amazon).
The Poetry Cure
edited by Julia Darling and Cynthia Fuller (Bloodaxe Books)
Anthology of uplifting poetry compiled by experts from Newcastle University’s School of English.
Cancer at Your Fingertips
by Val Speechley and Maxine Rosenfield (Class Publishing)
Everything you need to know about cancer set out in question and answer form.
The Big C
channel4.com/programmes/the-big-c/4od
American sitcom about a woman living with a terminal cancer diagnosis.
A Lion in the House
lioninthehouse.com
Emmy Award-winning documentary tells the story of five families facing childhood cancer across six years.
Going to Hospital
speakup.org.uk
A DVD produced by Speakup, a self-advocacy group run by and for people with learning difficulties. Addresses all issues of medical treatment.
End of Life Film Guides
mariecurie.org.uk
Series of films from Marie Curie Cancer Care that aim to support the care of someone who is coming to the end of their life.
Children
Christian Lewis Trust
christianlewistrust.co.uk; 01792 480500
Best known for its holiday programme, which provides breaks for families at venues such as Disneyland.
CLIC Sargent
clicsargent.org.uk; 020-8752 2800
Professional help for young people diagnosed with cancer, and their families, from the day of diagnosis.
Help Adolescents With Cancer
www.hawc-co-uk.org; 0161-6886244
Self-help group providing telephone and letter support and an annual holiday in Jersey.
Teenage Cancer Trust
teenagecancertrust.org; 020-7612 0370
Purpose-built teenage cancer support units.
Youthhealthtalk
Youthhealthtalk.org
Forum providing real-life experiences of young people with a range of illnesses, including cancer.
Medikidz
medikidz.com
Range of comics, films and books featuring superheroes to educate children about disease and medication. Developed by doctors.
Catscan
www.catscan.scot.nhs.uk
The Children and Teenagers Scottish Cancer Network has produced a series of two-minute videos, each addressing a different theme such as chemotherapy.
Milo and the Restart Button
by Alan Silberberg, (published last month by Simon and Schuster, £5.99)
Written to help children cope with the death of a parent to cancer.