St Helens Cancer Support Group run a specific monthly support group for Prostate Cancer, held on the first Saturday of every month (from 10am to 12pm at 93 Corporation Street) and available to patients and their partners/Carers.
The Prostate Cancer Charity provide specialist information for men affected by prostate cancer and their friends and family. Their helpline (0800 074 8383) is staffed by experienced specialist nurses to provide information about all aspects of prostate disease – they are able to provide emotional support and also signpost callers to other organisations that may be able to provide additional help. They also have an online community to talk to other people with prostate disease.
Prostate Action (formerly Prostate UK and Prostate Cancer Research Foundation) fund research and education into all three prostate diseases and have a wealth of information on their website.
Further information about prostate cancer, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and living with the condition can be found via the specific Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support pages.
Bowel Cancer UK have a wealth of information and resources to support you with your diagnosis. Bowel Cancer UK run a General Enquires line 020 7940 1760 Monday to Friday 9am- 5pm or email [email protected]
Further information about bowel cancer, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and living with the condition can be found via the specific Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support pages.
The British Lung Foundation provides a national helpline (03000 030 555) for information and advice about all forms of lung disease and lung cancer. (more…)
Breast Cancer Care helps anyone affected by breast cancer with information and support. Their helpline (0800 800 6000) is free, confidential and there to answer any questions about breast cancer or breast health, and as part of their helpline they also have volunteers available to provide emotional support and listen to whatever you want to talk about.
St Helens Cancer Support Group run a monthly support group specifically for breast cancer, and they are also able to provide one-to-one information and support for people affected by breast cancer. The group is held on the last Wednesday of every month from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at their office on 93 Corporation Street.
Further information about breast cancer, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and living with the condition can be found via the specific Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support pages. See also Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Campaign, Against Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer UK.
Macmillan Cancer Support have a variety of different ways to provide financial information and support to people with cancer. They have a team of specialists who are able to give information and advice about benefits, and they also offer a means-tested one-off grant payments for adults, young people or children with cancer to cover a wide range of practical needs (e.g. bills, a break or leisure opportunities).
If you have recently been diagnosed with cancer, your Keyworker (or Specialist Nurse) can help signpost you to local services that may help you to come to terms with the spectrum of thoughts, feelings and worries that a diagnosis may leave you with. There are local people and support networks that can help you with this:
Support groups
St Helens Cancer Support Group run two separate monthly support groups:
- one for people with Breast Cancer
- one for men with Prostate Cancer
There is also a ‘Patient Partnership Group’ that consists of patients, carers and representatives from the hospital clinical team and cancer services. The group meets up every six weeks at Whiston Hospital to represent the voice of service users for the Trust. For further information about the Patient Partnership Group please contact 01744 646 775 or visit their webpage by clicking here.
Courses
Macmillan Cancer Support are currently running two information courses:
- ‘Living with and Beyond Cancer’ open days, held every three months
- Self-Management courses for cancer survivors, a six-week programme
Counselling
St Helens Cancer Support Group have drop-in sessions twice a week where you can talk to someone in confidence. They are also able to arrange sessions with a professionally qualified Counsellor. You could also look at our section that outlines general counselling available from other charities and organisations in St Helens.
Online communities
Cancer Buddies Network is an online social community that matches you up with others who have been affected by cancer, allowing you to talk to others who have experienced similar feelings and experiences. Cancer Research UK and Macmillan also have their own online communities.
Activities/Therapies
St Helens Cancer Support Group also provide arts & crafts activities and opportunities for relaxation and massages.
The Lilac Yoga Group provides gentle yoga sessions for patients and Carers affected by cancer, helping to reconnect body, mind and spirit. The yoga sessions consist of breathing exercises, gentle physical exercises and relaxation techniques that can help to overcome come of the overwhelming emotions that come with the diagnosis of a life-changing illness.
Make an appointment with your GP for a check-up – early detection of cancers is critical to their successful treatment.
The Health Improvement Team run a programme called ‘Get Checked’ that works with local people to increase early detection of breast, lung and bowel cancers.
More information about cancer and symptoms can be accessed via Macmillan Cancer Support , St Helens Cancer Support Group and Cancer Research UK.
If you have recently been diagnosed with cancer, your Keyworker (or Specialist Nurse) can help signpost you to local services that are available.
Macmillan Cancer Support can provide practical, medical, financial and emotional support and push for better cancer care. They have a local base on the lower ground floor of St Helens Hospital that is able to provide information and support over the phone, by email or face to face. Macmillan run courses for survivors of cancer and can provide a one-off means-tested grant payment to help cover a wide range of practical needs. Macmillan Nurses are also based within Willowbrook Hospice, however you will need to be referred by a health professional to access this service.
St Helens Cancer Support Group is a local charity that provide various services for people living in the St Helens borough that have been affected by cancer. They have a drop-in service held twice a week where you can talk to someone in confidence for practical or emotional support, and they have a library of information and leaflets that you can take away.
Cancer Research UK is one of the world’s largest charities that conducts research into cancer, and supports people affected by cancer. They can provide information and answer any questions for everyone – patients, Carers or anyone who would like to know more about preventing or spotting cancer. Their main website has comprehensive information about all types of cancer, and they have a separate Cancer Help section of website dedicated to providing information for patients with cancer, and Cancer Information Nurses can be also contacted free on 0808 800 4040. They also have an online community called Cancer Chat, where you can interact with other people who have been affected by cancer.
The St Helens Youth Offending Service is there to support and supervise young people who have broken the law, have been in trouble with the police or have to go to court. After being referred by Merseyside Police, the Youth Offending Service will make an assessment of the young person’s background and talk to anyone else involved in looking after them (e.g. family, school, social services). Appropriate on-going support can then be provided.
Further information about the role of Youth Offending Services can be found on the St Helens Council and DirectGov websites.
If you are a victim of crime, hate-crime or anti-social behaviour you are encouraged not to suffer in silence and either:
- Contact Merseyside Police on 0151 709 6010, or alternatively use their online reporting form
- If you want to submit information about a crime anonymously you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
- Alternatively, you can also report hate-crime to the independent charity Stop Hate UK via their 24 hour helpline on 0800 138 1625.
The St Helens Vulnerable Persons Unit is a team of specialist officers who investigate criminal offences against vulnerable adults. Criminal investigations may include physical abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. The unit is specifically designed to investigate allegations where the vulnerable person knows their abuser, for instance if the abuser is a family member or carer. If you are being abused, or if you suspect that someone you know is being abused, please contact the Vulnerable Persons Unit on 0151 777 1585.
Anti-Social Behaviour Victims & Witness Service (01744 673 112) helps bring those responsible to justice and to support you throughout the whole process. You can report anti-social behaviour to an ‘anti-social behaviour Victim Champion’, who will contact you to assess your needs and provide practical support (e.g. panic alarm and window locks) and advice to ensure that you have everything that you need to feel safe and protected.
