Many organisations offer advice and support to people living with cancer, and their families.
Macmillan’s Support Line is a free and confidential service, open Monday to Friday from 9am to 8pm. They can:
Call free on 0808 808 00 00 or visit macmillan.org.uk/talktous
Marie Curie provides care, both at home and in their hospices, and support for people with terminal cancer. Their helpline is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, and Saturday from 11am to 5pm.
Call free on 0800 090 2309 or visit www.mariecurie.org.uk
The charity Blood Cancer UK, with the support of the British Dietetic Association’s Oncology Specialist Group, has produced a patient booklet called Eating Well with Neutropenia, which is full of safe dietary advice for people who are neutropenic, to help them avoid infection.
There are many cancer charities in the UK, so knowing which advice you can trust can be difficult. A simple way of telling if an organisation is giving evidence-based and trustworthy advice is to look out for the Information Standard logo.
This logo can only be used by organisations that have shown that they have a robust procedure for producing their health information, and use the most up-to-date evidence.
To find a registered dietitian in your area, call 0121 200 8080 or visit bda.uk.com
Caring for a loved one who is going through cancer can be incredibly difficult and isolating, so it’s important to seek support if you need it.
Carers UK offers support to carers, and can help to put you in contact with local support groups. Their helplines are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm.
Call free on 0808 808 7777 (028 9043 9843 in Northern Ireland), or visit www.carersuk.org
