Resources and support
The organisations, support groups, books, videos and other resources to help you cope with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and treatment.
Cancer Research UK information and support
Cancer Research UK is the largest cancer research organisation in the world outside the USA. We fund research on all aspects of cancer from its causes to prevention and treatment.
We are committed to producing high quality information for people affected by cancer. As well as looking at the information on this website you can call our nurse freephone helpline on 0808 800 4040. They are available from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Or you can send us a question online.
Cancer Chat is our online forum where you can share experiences.
Specific leukaemia organisations
Blood Cancer UK fund research into leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma. It also provides patient information booklets and leaflets that you can download or order from their website.
Support line: 0808 2080 888 (10am to 7pm, Monday to Friday and 10am to 1pm on Saturday and Sunday)
Leukaemia Care is a national blood cancer support charity, committed to ensuring that anyone affected by blood cancer receives the right information, advice and support.
It provides a range of support services to patients and their carers, including information, support groups, patient and carer conferences, and nurse education days.
Nurse or support team number: Freephone 08088 010 444 (Monday to Friday 9am to 10pm, Saturdays 9am to 12:30pm).
CML Support is an online patient support group for people with chronic myeloid leukaemia and their families and carers.
The African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) aims to increase the number of bone marrow and stem cells donors for African, African Caribbean and mixed parentage people in the UK who need a transplant.
Tel: 020 3757 7700
Blood and marrow organisations
Anthony Nolan runs one of the largest bone marrow donor databases in the world. It has regional centres which are listed on its website. It also provides information about being a stem cell or bone marrow donor.
It is looking for people in good health aged 16–30 to join the Anthony Nolan register. In particular, they need more young men and people from black and minority ethnic communities to sign up.
General enquiries: 0303 303 0303
The National Blood Service runs the blood donation scheme and organises the supply of blood products. They also run the British Bone Marrow Register. People aged between 17 and 40 can join the register. Let the staff know you are interested in being a stem cell or bone marrow donor when you next donate blood.
Phone the number below or look at the website for more information about becoming a blood stem cell or bone marrow donor.
Tel: 0300 123 2323
DKMS used to be called Delete Blood Cancer. It aims to provide a matching donor for every blood cancer patient in need of a blood stem cell donation. It has offices in the UK, Germany, Chile, Poland and the United States. The register now has more than 300,000 people in the UK.
People between the ages of 18 to 55 and are in general good health can join the register.
Email: donor@dkms.org.uk
Phone: 020 8747 5620
Other support and information organisations
Macmillan Cancer Support is a charity that gives practical, medical and financial support to people with cancer in the UK. Its helpline gives guidance on cancer and advice on benefits. It also publishes booklets about cancer and treatments. Information is available in other languages.
Freephone: 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week, 8am to 8pm)
Contact email form
The American Cancer Society has information for patients about CML. As it is an American organisation some of the information might not be relevant for a UK audience.
Booklets and factsheets
Macmillan Cancer Support is a charity that gives practical, medical and financial support to people with cancer in the UK. Its helpline gives guidance on cancer and advice on benefits. It also publishes booklets about cancer and treatments. Information is available in other languages.
Freephone: 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week, 8am to 8pm)
Contact email form
Here is some information they can provide:
- Understanding chronic myeloid leukaemia
- Healthy eating and cancer
- Sexuality and cancer
- Understanding donor stem cell (allogeneic) transplants
- Understanding chemotherapy
- Understanding radiotherapy
- Talking to children and teenagers when an adult has cancer
- Talking about your cancer
Some of these booklets are available on audio CD.
Blood Cancer UK fund research into leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma. It also provides patient information booklets and leaflets that you can download or order from their website.
Support line: 0808 2080 888 (10am to 7pm, Monday to Friday and 10am to 1pm on Saturday and Sunday)
Booklets and factsheets that they provide include:
- Chronic myeloid leukaemia
- Blood stem cell and bone marrow transplants
- Blood transfusions factsheet
- Understanding infection factsheet
- Your guide to clinical trials
- Eating well with neutropenia
Videos of people's stories
Find out about the experience of living with and beyond cancer by seeing and hearing people share their personal stories on film. Healthtalk’s researchers created a library of interviews with people who have survived for 5 years or more after a cancer diagnosis.
Find out what people said about issues such as lifestyle choices, physical effects and the impact on work and family.
Find local cancer support and information services
NHS Choices has a service that tells you about local information and support.
