Secondary cancer resources and support

An independent network that provides free advice about money, legal issues, housing health and social welfare issues. Often provides advice in English and other languages.

Visit the Citizens Advice website

Cruse provides bereavement counselling. It offers help, support and information to anyone facing bereavement or who has been bereaved. It has a network of local branches throughout the UK.

Helpline: 0808 808 1677

Visit the Cruse Bereavement Support website

Family Action helps families with the most complex and difficult issues they are facing. This includes financial difficulties, mental health problems, social isolation, learning disabilities, domestic abuse, or substance misuse and alcohol problems.

Phone: 0808 802 6666 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm) Text: 07537 404 282

Email:  familyline@family-action.org.uk

Find out more about Family Action

An online comprehensive guide to planning a funeral. It covers what to do after a death, how to organise a funeral, and how to deal with legalities and financial issues. It also lists a number of organisations to help you.

Visit the Funeral Services Guide website

Grief encounter is one of the leading providers of support services for bereaved children and their families throughout the UK. Their website has resources and information for bereaved children and teenagers. 

Helpline: 0808 802 0111 (Weekdays 9.30am to 3pm)  Email: bereavementsupport@griefencounter.org.uk

Find out more about Grief Encounter

Macmillan Cancer Support is a charity that gives practical and medical support to people with cancer in the UK. Its helpline offers support with clinical, emotional, general and welfare benefits needs. They also publish 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

Visit the Macmillan Cancer Support website

Telephone: 0121 711 1343 Email: info@nafd.org.uk

Advises on arranging funerals. Gives information on the services provided by funeral directors and advises on what to do after someone has died. Has a list of funeral directors across the UK.

Find out more on the NAFD website

This site is designed to guide you through the practical side of bereavement. It has advice on arranging a funeral and dealing with the legal and financial issues. They offer a service to stop your loved ones unwanted mail after their death.

Telephone: 0800 0246 121 (Monday to Friday 9am - 6pm and Saturday 9am - 2pm)

National Bereavement Service website

This organisation aims to support you through a bereavement, connect you with others who have experienced something similar and help you get the information and assistance you need.

Phone: 0300 200 4112 Email: hello@thelossfoundation.org

Find out about The Loss Foundation

Gives information and support to carers on many issues. Has local groups all over the UK. The head office puts you in touch with your local group.

Helpline: 0808 808 7777 - Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm (including Bank Holidays) Email: advice@carersuk.org

Visit Carers UK website

Provides information and support, including advice on financial support to carers. The website has a search function to find local support in your area.

Visit the Carers Trust website

This is part of the NHS website. It can help you with information about caring for someone else.

Visit the NHS website

British Red Cross services vary in different parts of the country. They provide medical equipment, transport and hospital escort services, home emergency personal care and home respite care. There are branches throughout the UK.

For general enquiries, telephone: 0344 871 11 11 (from overseas: +44 207 138 7900)

British Red Cross website

Living Made Easy is part of the Shaw Trust. It provides information and advice on equipment and aids to help with daily living.

Email: lme-enquires@shaw-trust.org.uk

Go to the Living Made Easy website

A charity that is being run entirely by volunteers. They provide support, advice, and help to people affected by chronic pain and those close to them.

Telephone Pain line: 0345 603 1593 (Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm) Email: aopisat@btinternet.com

Write to: Action on Pain, 2 Mill Close, Terrington St Clement, Norfolk, PE34 4JG

Visit the Action on Pain website

The Bladder and Bowel Community supports people living with bladder and bowel disorders and has a telephone helpline. The service is confidential. They can also give you information about stoma products.

They have a 'Just Can't Wait' card which allows holders access to toilets in shops and when you are out. It's free to order on the website.

Forward House 17 High Street Henley-in-Arden B95 5AA

Home Delivery Service: 0800 031 5406

Email: help@bladderandbowel.org

Visit the Bladder and Bowel Community website

Breast Cancer Now is a charity dedicated to funding breast cancer research. They also provide breast cancer information and support across the UK. Services are free and include a helpline, website, publications, and practical and emotional support. It was formed by the merger of The Breast Cancer Campaign and Breakthrough Breast Cancer in 2015. 

6th Floor The White Chapel Building 10 Whitechapel High Street London E1 8QS

Tel: 0333 20 70 300 E-mail: hello@breastcancernow.org Ask a nurse: Contact form  

Find out about Breast Cancer Now

This is a UK support group for people with a colostomy. It provides information and support and booklets to anyone who has or is about to have a colostomy.

24 hour free helpline: 0800 328 4257 Email: hello@colostomyuk.org  General enquires: 0118 939 1537 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm)

Visit the Colostomy UK website

A registered charity that aims to improve the lives of those with lymphoedema. They actively contribute to improving the management of lymphoedema worldwide, especially in developing countries. They have a number of booklets that can be downloaded free of charge. Their head office is in Denmark.

Email: info@lympho.org

Tel: 0045 7020 0305 (International phone number from the UK)

Visit the International Lymphoedema Framework website

A national charity offering information and support to anyone affected by lymphoedema. It has local support groups, a helpline and a website. It also produces a range of information including factsheets about lymphoedema and its treatment, videos about self management techniques for lymphoedema, and a newsletter.

Telephone: 020 7351 4480 Email: admin@lsn.org.uk

Visit the Lymphoedema Support Network website

MLD UK promotes public awareness of Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD). They publish a register of practitioners of MLD.

Telephone: 0844 800 1988 Email: admin@mlduk.org.uk

Visit the MLD UK website

A support group for anyone who suffers from chronic pain. They deliver self management training to help those with chronic pain.

Freephone: 0800 783 6059 (Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 4.30 pm) Email: info@painassociation.com

Visit the Pain Association Scotland website

Pain Concern offers information and support to people with pain and those who care for them. They run a helpline staffed by volunteers and have an online forum called HealthUnlocked for members to share experiences. You can listen to podcasts that feature interviews with experts and people managing their pain. You can also subscribe to their newsletter, Pain Matters.

Helpline: 0300 123 0789 Email: help@painconcern.org.uk

Visit the Pain Concern website

This organisation provides information and support for people who need artificial feeding. They also have regional support groups for PINNT members.

PO Box 3126 Christchurch Dorset BH23 2XS

Telephone: 020 3004 6193 Email: comms@pinnt.com

Visit the PINNT website

A charitable membership body of health care professionals with an interest in the care and support of people with lymphoedema. Their resources include a directory of lymphoedema specialist practitioners.

Tel: 01452 790 178

Find out about The British Lymphology Society

Age UK provides information, advice and support for people in later life.

7th Floor One America Square 17 Crosswall London EC3N 2LB

Advice line: 0800 678 1602 (8am-7pm, 365 days a year)

Visit the Age UK website

Provides information around the rights and choices associated with having 'a good death' as well as free templates for compiling an advance decision. Also conducts research into rights and choices at end of life. 

Phone: 0800 999 2434 - a specialist nurse-led team is available to help from 11am to 2pm, Monday to Thursday. Email: info@compassionindying.org.uk

Visit the Compassion in Dying website

Disability Rights UK provides an information and advice service and campaigns for disabled people's rights. 

They also provide a Just Can't Wait card and radar keys that give access to toilets throughout the UK for people who might need to use a toilet in a hurry. They also have several helplines providing information and advice.

Tel: 0330 995 0400 Email: enquiries@disabilityrightsuk.org

Visit the Disability Rights UK website

Hospice UK answers enquiries about any aspect of hospice care. The website includes a directory of hospice services in the UK and Ireland.

Telephone: 0207 520 8200

Visit the Hospice UK website

SCOPE is a disability equality charity in England and Wales. They provide practical information and emotional support when it's most needed. They also campaign to create a fairer society.

Phone: 0808 800 3333 Email: helpline@scope.org.uk

Visit the SCOPE website

Gives support and information to help people die naturally at home. Advises on arranging inexpensive and environmentally friendly funerals. 

Phone: 01962 712 690 Email: contact@naturaldeath.org.uk

Visit the Natural Death website

R B Patt and S S Lang Oxford University Press, 2006 ISBN 9780195312027

Written to help people with cancer and their close friends and family make decisions about living with cancer and managing symptoms. Some sections are specific to the US. But it is still helpful for people in the UK.

Charles Cowling Bloomsbury Publishing, 2010 ISBN 1441133224

This practical guide talks about the choices available when arranging a funeral. It covers all aspects of planning a service and creating a ceremony that both commemorates and celebrates a life, and provides comfort, inspiration, and good memories.

Julie Spencer-Cignoz Age Concern books, 2003 ISBN 0862423678

Has information and practical advice for people caring for someone who lives some distance away. Has information on keeping in touch, financial support, and caring for physical and emotional needs.

Dorothy Rowe Harper Perennial, 2007 ISBN 000736914X

This book discusses fear of loss, bereavement, old age and death, and has guidance on how to work with fear. Written by a psychologist.

Stephen Levine Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2010 ISBN 030777368X

Sensitively explores all aspects and issues of death. Especially the feelings and emotions people might experience when they or a loved one is dying.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama and J Hopkins Atria Books, 2004 ISBN 978-0743244695

Discusses how to approach death as a natural part of life. It is written in a warm, humorous and sensitive style.

The Natural Death Centre Strange Attractor Press, 2012 ISBN 1907222057

These books have comprehensive information about arranging funerals and working with funeral directors to get the best care. They cover preparing for dying and caring for a dying person, drawing up a will, living wills and memory boxes. The 5th edition contains more detailed information and includes essays on dying by various well-known authors.

C Murray-Parkes, P Laungani and W Young Routledge, 2015 ISBN 1317520920

Discusses beliefs about death and mourning and how people use ritual to cope with death.

Earl A. Grollman Beacon Press, 1993 ISBN 9780807025017

Discusses how to talk about and cope with grief after the death of a close friend or relative.

C Sawyer and M Spero Routledge, 2015 ISBN 9780415720519

Covers the law and issues you need to be aware of when dealing with wills and probate. Also discusses what happens if there is no will.

Harriet Sarnoff Schiff Souvenir Press, 1979 ISBN 9780285648913

A sensitively written book that discusses all the issues that affect parents who have lost a child. Contains many personal accounts.

Susan Wallbank Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd, 2010 ISBN 0232526397

Covers the death of a partner and the effects this has. Looks from the point of view of various groups of people.

T Romain and E Verdick Free Spirit Publishing Inc, 2003 ISBN 1575420554

Describes the emotions people have after the death of a close friend or relative and advises how to cope.

Paul Harris Which? Books, 2009 ISBN 1844900711

Covers the law and describes issues you need to be aware of. Has a list of useful addresses.

Check what to do after a death, how to register the death, notify government departments and manage financial issues. 

Visit the governments website