The Minster Practice, Lichfield

Updated 05/08/2007

One in three of us will develop cancer.
6000 people per week are newly diagnosed with cancer.

This section will cover prevention, diagnosis, referral and treatment issues of a steadily increasing number of types of cancer. Use links on left to go direct to information on this site about a particular cancer. There are web links and phone numbers below for support groups and cancer related topics.

The Befriending Network provides trained volunteers who visit the homes of those with a life threatening illness or who are receiving palliative (control of symptoms) care. At the moment active in North West London, Brighton and Oxfordshire but can give details of similar services nationwide. 07041 420 192  

Breast Cancer Care: Includes support for women who think they have breast cancer 0808 800 6000
Breast Friends Helpline: Based at Good Hope Hospital, this helpline is manned by a trained volunteer who has had breast cancer. 0121 378 6203 Line open weekdays 11.30am to 1.30pm. On Wednesdays, there is an additional evening service 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

Cancer in the young:
Association for Children with Life Threatening or Terminal Conditions
(ACT) 0117 922 1556
Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood Charity: 0117 311 2600
Help Adolescents with Cancer (HAWC): Niki Winnard 0161 688 6244 or 0468 474 999 (any time) or Richard Buffrey 01473 711463 (evenings) or Nina Cutbush 01277 211515 (evenings)
Sargent Cancer Care for Children: Support for all people with cancer aged under 21 including grants to help with heating, travel etc. They also have 2 family holiday homes. 020 8752 2800
Teenage Cancer Trust: Aims to save and improve the lives of teenagers with cancer  www.teencancer.org/

CancerBACUP: Cancer nurses provide information and emotional support to patients, relatives and friends. 0808 800 1234 Monday to Friday. The charity is expanding the service as demand currently (Nov 2000) outstrips supply of specialist nurse time.

CancerHelp UK: A free information service about cancer and cancer care, written especially for patients and their families and presented by Cancer Research UK. "Over 3,000 pages of world class information". www.cancerhelp.org.uk

Cancer Information service: "Probably the most complete on-line resource about cancers"  www.cancerbacup.org.uk 

Cancer Link: Aims to track support options. Publishes annual Directory of Cancer Self Help and Support which is available free to those affected by cancer. Please let us know via the Minster Feedback Pageif you use a group not listed here so that we can add the group to this list in order to provide the information for others.

National Cancer Plan: www.doh.gov.uk/cancer/cancerplan.htm

Cancer Research UK: Information about various types of cancer http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/

National Cancer Research Institute: www.ncri.org.uk

National Cancer Research Network: www.ncrn.org.uk  

Carcinoid: 020 8398 3931

Colon cancer concern information line  020 7381 4711

British Colostomy Association: Advice and free information pack 0800 328 4257

Gynaecological cancers: CHRIS Gynae Group offers friendship, support and practical help for women and their families and carers. Meetings third Thursday of each month at Good Hope Hospital Contact Winifred Pollard 0121 373 8006 or Maggie Smith 0121 373 0428

Ileostomy and Internal Pouch Support Group: 0800 018 4724

National Association of Laryngectomee Clubs: 020 7381 9993

Leukaemia Care Society: Free membership; offers family caravan holidays. 0800 169 6680

Major information resource for Lymphoedema: www.lymphoedema.org 

Lymphoma Association: 0808 808 5555

Macmillan Cancer Relief: Supports and develops services to provide specialist care for people with cancer at every stage of their illness (including paying salaries of professionals associated with hospices). Also provide financial help through patient grants. www.macmillan.org.uk  0845 601 6161

Marie Curie Cancer Care: Runs 11 hospices and provides nationwide community nursing service. 020 7599 7729

O Patients Association: Oesophageal cancer sufferers are given leaflets and guidance during and after treatment. 0121 704 9860

Ovacome A support group for ovarian cancer www.ovacome.org.uk

NHS Prostate Cancer Programme: www.doh.gov.uk/cancer/prostate.htm
Prostate Cancer Charity: http://www.prostate-cancer.org.uk/

Teenage Cancer Trust: Aims to save and improve the lives of teenagers with cancer  www.teencancer.org/

Urostomy Association: Assists people about to undergo or have undergone surgery resulting in the removal of the bladder due to cancer 01245 224294